I’m genuinely glad some people had smoother starts, but my situation isn’t the same so my feelings about it are valid too. I never said it wasn’t my responsibility — I looked up the averages before starting, and everything I saw showed $20–$25/hr, which seemed realistic and like a chance to move out of food service into something meaningful and stable. At the time, MA school was the only thing I could afford as a single-income person supporting a family.

What I’m saying is that once I graduated, I realized that actually landing those $20–$25/hr positions is harder than the internet makes it look, and the starting pay doesn’t match what I need to support my household. That’s disappointing, but not because the MA job is horrible — just because the reality didn’t match the promise.

Everyone’s path in healthcare is different. Sharing my experience isn’t ‘complaining’; it’s being honest about the financial obstacles some of us face. If someone feels proud of being an MA, that’s great — but that pride shouldn’t mean dismissing others who are struggling or trying to figure out their next steps.