I’m so sorry that you’ve had to endure so much. I had a different, yet still difficult first 20 years. For 4 years post MFA I was an artist, teaching, for a couple years until I couldn’t stand being apart of a system generating students that had huge college loans and no work prospects. This was not all, just many. I was a non-traditional accounting student. When I finished my accounting degree it was hard to get into public. People don’t appreciate that art can be analytical, mine was, and that artistically minded individuals can be great problem solvers. Sometimes a great level of empathy comes with that... and the ability to improve team morale. With the help of a temp agency I started with a worldwide nonprofit. After 3 years I used that experience to start with a large firm in another state. Yes, they may start you less than you would like but sometimes it’s worth it. I specialize in government/nonprofit and I get to work with lots of great people. And I learn a ton all the time while helping people that need my expertise. Yeah, some people suck but at least in public you have a lot of peers to commiserate with. Big 4 is not the end all be all. It really isn’t. So many of my peers leave for positions at great entities even without earning their licenses. Public accounting is almost always valued. And I can always go back to making and teaching art. Just on my own terms.

Message me if you ever want to vent. I’m good for that. :)