Food stamps application a wake-up call for struggling law graduate
Once upon a time, Tristan Taylor Thomas (not his real name) dreamed of becoming a big-shot trial attorney.
But that now seems about as realistic as his childhood dream of athletic glory achieved by making the game-winning play, the law graduate writes in an Above the Law column Tuesday, using a pseudonym.
A steady stream of resumes and cover letters he’s sent to potential employers has brought so little response that he would welcome simply an acknowledgement that his application was received, Thomas writes. Last week, a month or so after he quit a full-time retail job, he and his parents had a sit-down about his contribution to household expenses.
On Friday, he applied for food stamps.
Describing his situation as “a crushing blow to my self-esteem” that has left him humbled and depressed, Thomas says he plans to use his visit to the government office “to fuel my dwindling motivation.”
As a result of this wake-up call, he writes, “I’m now motivated to get myself out of this funk, and help others who find themselves in hard times. I’m not sure what this will ultimately result in, but I have fire in my belly and I’m ready to make a change, somehow.”
