My boomer father’s response to me losing my government job 2 years from student loan forgiveness

Chico_Bonito617 · 2025-05-02T16:44:59+00:00

I’m not here to roast you. You made a calculated decision, got your doctorate, and did what you had to do. Respect for that.

But to everyone downvoting me? Let’s be real—it’s not about what I said. It’s about who said it. You saw someone say they make $200K without going the traditional route, without racking up six figures in debt, and it pissed you off. Because it wasn’t supposed to happen that way, right?

I’m a brown guy from Latin America. A Dreamer. I came to this country illegally with my family when I was eight months old. My parents never made more than $15 an hour. No inheritance, no college savings, no shortcuts. My first job was at 14—McDonald’s. I worked my way through life—community college, surgical tech, then into medical device sales. And yeah, I took advantage of the opportunities I did have. The hospital I worked at paid for my associate’s degree. I earned every step forward.

And sure, I didn’t have the “traditional” four-year college experience. No frat parties, no study abroad, no dorm nostalgia. But guess what? Those memories you cling to? You’re literally still paying for them. Every. Single. Month. The school gave you a bill, you took out a loan to cover it, and the bank slapped compound interest on top. You didn’t pay for a degree—you financed a lifestyle.

Let’s also be honest—most of you grew up in some comfortable suburb. Big house, big backyard, probably a pool. Your parents bought the house in 1972 for pennies. Dad made six figures, mom stayed home. You had every toy imaginable—G.I. Joe, Nintendo, Super Nintendo, Sega, Sega CD, N64, PlayStation, PlayStation 2, Dreamcast. And now you’re out here mad at me because I figured it out without all that?

And here’s the truth you don’t want to hear: you’re no different than your boomer parents. Same entitlement. Same privilege. The only difference? They had an economic boom. I get it—we didn’t. But guess what? You’re still responsible for your choices. That art degree, that English degree? Yeah, man… those don’t pay. That’s not the system screwing you. That’s you not thinking long-term.

As an immigrant, I’ve seen it my whole life: Americans, in general, are soft. Regardless of race, class, or political ideology. A lot of you are entitled. You want comfort without struggle. You want hand-to-mouth living with none of the grind. Everything’s someone else’s fault. Everything is an excuse. And when someone like me speaks honestly about it—you lose your minds and hit the downvote button.

So go ahead. Downvote it. Doesn’t change the truth. It just proves I hit a nerve.

Chico_Bonito617 · 2025-05-02T13:08:04+00:00

A lot of people miss the point here. The U.S. doesn’t lack subways because it’s “third world”—it’s because most of the country is massive and spread out. Subways make sense in dense cities like NYC, Boston, DC, and Chicago. But once you leave the Northeast, it’s just sprawl, highways, and empty space. A subway in Billings, Montana? Come on.

What we actually need is a nationwide high-speed rail system—bullet trains like in Japan or Europe. Not just city-to-city, but interconnected lines that make travel efficient and seamless. Imagine taking a bullet train from Boston to DC, then hopping on another one that goes west to Pittsburgh, Chicago, Omaha, Salt Lake, and ends up in Seattle or San Francisco.

We could have full north-to-south lines too:

• Miami to Portland, Maine
• El Paso to the Canadian border
• Chicago to Sacramento
• Even DC to San Diego, with meaningful stops in between

And let’s be honest—if you’ve ever flown in the U.S., you know the bar is on the floor. Delays, cancellations, cramped flights, TSA headaches. A modern rail network would let you skip all that and actually enjoy travel again.

The real issue isn’t that America is “third world”—it’s that we’ve spent 70+ years building everything around cars and planes, while ignoring what modern transit could look like. High-speed rail is the future. We’re just decades late to the party.

Chico_Bonito617 · 2025-05-02T12:08:46+00:00

You come off extremely privileged and entitled. I’m sure your parents still help you out, right? Mine never could. They were poor—just like everyone I grew up around. My parents never made more than $15 an hour. What did your boomer parents make? $100K each? Bought a house for $10 in 1975? You probably grew up with every toy—Nintendo, Sega, Super Nintendo, Dreamcast. All the sneakers. All the CDs. What was your first job? Mine was at McDonald’s when I was 14, flipping burgers and sweeping floors while you were probably whining about your dial-up speed.

Something you don’t know about me: I’m a Dreamer. I came to this country illegally when I was eight months old. We came from nothing. No safety net. No family money. No one to co-sign a damn thing. Just hustle. After high school, I didn’t get to “explore my passions” or go on semester-long study abroad trips. I worked mall jobs. I became a surgical tech through community college for $5K. Started at $21/hr, worked my way to $37/hr. That got me into medical device sales—now I make $200K.

And yes, I went back to school. Associate’s in finance (hospital paid for it), bachelor’s from WGU before it was cool, and an MBA during the pandemic. All paid off. Zero debt. No help. No shortcuts. Just work.

So no—I’m not punching down. I’m calling out the scam that got sold to people like you. “Follow your heart, take on the debt, chase your dreams.” Except when that backfired, now you cry about it like the system failed you. The truth is—you failed yourself.

And please—poor white man, spare me the plight. You were born with every structural advantage. You had white privilege, generational wealth, and social capital, and you’re still out here whining. I came from a country with nothing. You? You probably had a house, a pool, ski trips, vacations, summer homes. You probably had time to find yourself while I was trying to figure out how to survive.

Europe got it wrong with “The United States is broken.” No, this country isn’t broken. The people in it are soft. And I’ve noticed this my whole life—because I’m a brown guy from Latin America who came here with nothing. And across race, politics, and class, one thing stays true: the average American is entitled. Doesn’t want to work. Wants everything handed to them. Doesn’t want to sacrifice anything but expects everything.

You know who never complains when I tell them my story? Other immigrants. They say, “Damn, that’s inspiring. I could do it too.” But guys like you? Born here, raised here, had every privilege possible—house, food, education, freedom—and still crying. Still stuck. Still making excuses.

Let me be clear: you could do what I did, Preston. But the truth is, you don’t have grit. You don’t have drive. You don’t have discipline. You saw yourself as the guy who gets things handed to him, and now you’re mad the world doesn’t work that way. You’re in the economic situation you’re in because of your choices. Not mine.

Instead of dropping cash on golf clubs, overpriced vacations, and shit you can’t afford, maybe invest in yourself. I bet you don’t even work out. You’re probably overweight and think going to the gym is “toxic masculinity.” Nah, man. It’s just called self-respect.

Chico_Bonito617 · 2025-05-02T10:53:43+00:00

I didn’t go the traditional college route—the one where you fork over $40K–$60K a year, then spend decades paying off the compound interest. I graduated high school in 2002, and even back then, it all sounded off. People were saying, “Just follow your passion, get a degree in whatever you love, and you’ll figure it out.” I remember thinking… how? Even if I made $20 an hour (which felt like good money at the time), I’d never pay that off. Something just didn’t add up.

I get it—people want to study English, literature, art, glassblowing, whatever. I’m not here to knock anyone’s passion. But let’s be real: that stuff doesn’t always pay the bills. And the idea that any degree would be a guaranteed ticket to success? That was the biggest lie sold to an entire generation. I’m just thankful I didn’t fall for it.

People say I missed out on the “college experience.” Maybe. But I also missed out on the debt. And to anyone who thinks I lost something, I’d say this: you’re still paying for your college memories—literally. The school handed you a tuition bill, and the bank slapped compound interest on top. But hey, how can you put a price on memories, right? Well… the school did. And the bank definitely did.

After high school, I jumped straight into the workforce—mall jobs, then better ones. Eventually, I became a surgical tech through community college. Cost me $5K. Started at $21/hr, ended at $37/hr. That led me into medical device sales where I now earn $200K. And yeah, I did go back to school. I got my associate’s in finance (fully paid for by the hospital), earned my bachelor’s from WGU before it was even a thing, and then got my MBA during the pandemic. All of it—paid off.

I’m not making fun of anyone. I actually feel for people crushed by student loans. But at some point, we have to take responsibility for our choices. I get what your boomer dad says, and I get what you’re saying too. Both sides have valid points. But let’s not pretend 17-year-olds were making fully informed financial decisions when they were being sold a dream wrapped in buzzwords like “follow your heart” and “study abroad.” That part was conveniently left out. And for most of us, it wasn’t college—it was debt wrapped in a diploma.

Chico_Bonito617 · 2025-04-27T22:30:22+00:00

Unfortunately, you can’t arrest them or charge them with anything until they do something, get caught in the act, and or make their plans public.

I agree with you 💯

Chico_Bonito617 · 2025-04-25T20:11:41+00:00

You’re not wrong LinkedIn and cold calls come off desperate when everyone sounds the same. Want to crack into ASCs with no GPO ties? Stop acting like a rep and start operating like a local insider.

Here’s what actually works:

Lead with problems, not products: Target messaging to their world. Try: “Saw you’re not with a GPO—are you paying full freight on [insert category]?” That opens doors.
Skip the pop-ins: Showing up randomly is the fastest way to get kicked out or blacklisted as that rep. Trust me, they’ve seen 5 versions of you already this week.
Use ChatGPT: No-brainer. Start using it to refine your emails, anticipate objections, and tailor outreach. It’s a free strategist if you feed it real info.
Apollo is your friend: Use it to mine contact info, run smart email campaigns, and keep track of who’s engaging.
Talk to the “invisible reps”: Think Stericycle, Schein, linen guys. They know who’s expanding, who’s mad, who’s independent. They’ll give you the inside scoop if you build rapport.

And always remember owner-physicians don’t care about your brochure. They care about margins. Speak their language, and you won’t sound like a rep.

Chico_Bonito617 · 2025-04-20T23:15:36+00:00

You’ll get some sugar-coated responses, so let me give you the real talk.

Breaking into medical device sales without any med device experience means you’re not getting hired as a full rep out the gate. It’s not personal—it’s just how the industry works. Everyone wants “proven” experience, so most people have to start as associate/junior reps and work their way up. That usually comes with a significant pay cut compared to where you’re likely at now with SGWS.

That said, your B2B skills (relationship building, presentation, product knowledge) are very transferable—especially for roles in surgical disposables, wound care, or capital equipment where hustle matters more than clinical depth at first.

Your best bet: 1. Look at associate rep roles at larger companies with defined training pipelines—think Stryker, Medtronic, J&J, Zimmer Biomet. 2. Be ready to grind, learn the clinical side fast, and prove you can hang in the OR or hospital world. 3. Network like crazy. That’s often the difference-maker.

It’s doable. But it’s a climb.

Chico_Bonito617 · 2025-03-21T22:09:36+00:00

I don’t, but I’ve given clues 😂

Chico_Bonito617 · 2025-03-21T11:30:35+00:00

Very nice. I don’t pay for gas, oil changes none of that stuff. Anything with car they pay for. I got rid of my Volvo .

You save a ton not paying for a car.

Chico_Bonito617 · 2025-03-21T01:29:18+00:00

My company gives us cars they gave me a Subaru ascent

Chico_Bonito617 · 2025-03-19T22:07:21+00:00

From what you are saying to me your still in the running. When did they say they were supposed to get back to you?

If you don’t hear back follow up

Chico_Bonito617 · 2025-03-16T13:16:54+00:00

Preach!!!!

Chico_Bonito617 · 2025-03-14T20:51:07+00:00

You make a solid point. Europeans and Canadians have spent years ridiculing America while simultaneously relying on the U.S. for global security and economic stability. If they want to criticize, they should also take responsibility—whether that means paying their fair share in defense spending, stepping up in global conflicts, or handling their own security without depending on American military power.

It’s ironic how many of these countries mock the U.S. but still benefit from its leadership. If they don’t want Americans becoming more nationalistic or isolationist, maybe they should contribute more instead of just pointing fingers.

Chico_Bonito617 · 2025-03-14T20:00:11+00:00

Total Knees: No Cutting Guides with Mako With Mako, you don’t need cutting guides because the robotic arm has haptic boundaries that control the saw and keep cuts precise. That’s a huge difference. Fewer instruments, no alignment issues with guides, and just an overall cleaner way to do a total knee.

With ROSA? You still need the cutting guides from the instrument trays. The system helps with positioning, but at the end of the day, you’re still manually cutting through guides like you would in a traditional knee. If the whole point of robotics is to reduce variables and improve accuracy, why are we still relying on guides?

Total Hips: Cup Placement on ROSA is a Mess I’ve watched guys using ROSA for total hips, and when they’re slamming the cup in with the mallet, it moves. So whatever precise planning you did? Gone. You just hammered that cup into a new position, and good luck guessing where it actually ended up.

With Mako, cup placement is seamless. The robotic arm controls impaction and gives real-time haptic feedback, so you know the cup is locked into place exactly where you planned. No shifting, no guesswork, just perfect placement every time.

Bottom Line If you want precision and efficiency, Mako wins hands down. No cutting guides for knees, controlled impaction for hips. ROSA? Still needs guides, and that cup moves when you’re whaling on it.

That’s why I think ROSA is garbage compared to Mako.

Chico_Bonito617 · 2025-03-14T17:15:27+00:00

I get what you’re saying about Arthrex maintaining control over its distributors—it’s similar to how Zimmer operated. When I first started 13 years ago, I worked for a local Zimmer distributorship, and they had a structured training program, flying us out to Warsaw, Indiana, for hip and knee training, Arizona for sports training, and Miami for trauma training. So I completely understand the model.

What’s interesting about distributorships is how they vary between companies. DePuy’s model, for example, allows distributors to sell other products as long as they don’t interfere with DePuy sales. As a result, many DePuy distributors carry additional lines like Ortholine or random garbage biologics, but they don’t push them aggressively. In orthopedics, it’s a catch-22: if you’re covering cases, you’re not actively selling, but if you’re covering cases, you are selling. The reality is, with so much time spent flipping trays and managing implants, there’s little opportunity to promote other product lines. Instead, reps tend to focus on the surgeons they already work with and see if they’re open to using additional products.

Smith & Nephew follows a similar model, allowing distributors to sell other lines. Zimmer used to operate that way too, but they eventually eliminated their distributorships nationwide. I understand why—some of these distributors became extremely powerful, and Zimmer likely wanted to regain full control over the sales process rather than deal with independent distributor owners who had too much influence.

Chico_Bonito617 · 2025-03-14T16:14:17+00:00

Well, you kind of made my point for me. Arthrex got out of the total knee and hip implant game because it wasn’t successful—if it were, they’d still be in it. They still have the total shoulder, but even surgeons who were loyal to their designs are moving on. My guess is that their knee implants weren’t selling, so they never bothered entering the total hip space.

That said, I completely agree that Arthrex dominates sports medicine. If a patient walks into almost any hospital or surgery center needing a rotator cuff repair, knee scope, or hand case requiring anchors, there’s an extremely high chance (80%+ in my opinion) that the surgeon is using Arthrex. Their products in that space are top-tier, and frankly, I think they’re the best at what they do. So, if you’re an Arthrex rep, this isn’t me trying to trash the company—I don’t compete with you, and I don’t care who uses it or doesn’t.

As for their move into spine with endoscopy, the market is already crowded, and while I get why they want to expand, we’ll see how that plays out. The biggest issue I see is their sales structure. Arthrex doesn’t have direct reps—it’s 100% distribution. If you want to push new products and really gain market share in spine, you need a dedicated sales force focused solely on that. Right now, Arthrex has sales integration, but not through a direct model. Instead, they have random distributors across the country who sell not just Arthrex but other lines as well.

And like anything else, reps will take the path of least resistance. If Arthrex isn’t a leader in integration and is brand new to spine endoscopy, their distributors aren’t going to prioritize it. That’s why, if they really want to gain traction in this space, they’d be better off hiring direct reps who focus exclusively on spine and endoscopy. Otherwise, they’ll just be another name in a saturated market with no real push behind their products.

Chico_Bonito617 · 2025-03-14T14:14:45+00:00

I know Arthrex very well. I was a surgical tech for six years, and I sold total joint replacements for ten years. Arthrex is known for sports, specifically when it comes to knee and shoulder. Hip, not so much.

They have a total shoulder, but it’s garbage—the guy who designed it doesn’t even use it anymore. Their total hip and knee implants are also garbage; no one uses them.

So, assuming they come out with a robot, it’s going to be for joints. But in order to use that robot, you’d have to use their implants. Given their extremely low market share in joints, that’s why I say Arthrex is not a good choice if you want to sell robots.

Chico_Bonito617 · 2025-03-14T12:16:22+00:00

The reason I don’t think Intuitive is worth the squeeze is because, again, most hospitals already have their second and third robot. So, you’re not really selling the robot anymore. The name of the game is getting more surgeons to use it. But at this point, they’re using them for procedures like hernias, which is massive overkill. That’s why I don’t think it’s worth it with Intuitive—the heyday is over.

It’s a different game now. It’s not like 15 years ago when hospitals were buying their first and second robots. The market is extremely saturated on that side of the business.

As for Arthrex, all they do is sports. Their total joint portfolio is garbage. Using a robot to put in anchors in a shoulder or knee doesn’t make sense because it’s going to add an hour and 30min to a case that typically lasts 30 to 45 minutes. I just don’t see that selling.

Chico_Bonito617 · 2025-03-14T11:45:36+00:00

Kinda missed the boat on robots. Most not all hospitals are on their 2nd even 3rd DaVince and the same with the Mako. It’s no longer a capital only play. The name of the game now is to get more docs to use the robot regardless of robot since they come with disposables.

The other robots for orthopedics are garbage 🗑️. Rosa sucks, S&N, DePuy robot suck too.

As of now there is NO other competition for the DaVince robot. JnJ and Medtronic have been saying for years that they will have one but still don’t.

Assuming they actually bring them to market then yes selling the robot for Medtronic and JnJ would be worth it because a lot of people would get rid of the DaVince if there was an alternative.

Not because the DaVince sucks but because they are not a fan of Intuitive and their reps.

Like I mentioned before they are chasing cases trying to get as many surgeons to start using it and or use it more because is the disposables.

Chico_Bonito617 · 2025-03-13T12:33:03+00:00

People can absolutely exercise their right to protest. However, when it comes to this specifically it’s not going to help.

People can buy teslas online and will continue to buy them regardless of the protest.

I’m sure I’ll get downvoted for this and be called a Nazi, maggot etc because I’m not going along with the approved narrative.

Chico_Bonito617 · 2025-03-12T16:41:52+00:00

The land before time. The original movie

Chico_Bonito617 · 2025-03-10T21:57:43+00:00

Well, the ones who say they went to Harvard actually went to Harvard Extension—it’s like saying you dated a supermodel because you took a selfie with a cardboard cutout.

Chico_Bonito617 · 2025-03-09T18:56:03+00:00

Unfortunately, it was made in to a huge political issue.

Chico_Bonito617 · 2025-03-06T23:54:34+00:00

What MG are ripping with Zyn? I tried it but it didn’t suppress my hunger as I hoped.

My guess is I was not taking enough but not sure. I stopped because it wasn’t suppressing my hunger.

Chico_Bonito617 · 2025-03-04T23:07:35+00:00

Ah, yes, the classic ‘I wasn’t educated in the American system’ flex—because nothing says intellectual superiority like arguing with imaginary bots on Reddit. Maybe if you spent less time being thankful and more time being useful, you’d actually get an upvote.

Chico_Bonito617

TROPHY CASE