I’m a 20M, and I recently got a job at a tech company working as a technology refurbishment associate. My plan was to break into IT by getting certifications and eventually moving to a better position once I had more experience.
However, due to some unforeseen circumstances, everything changed. My mom suddenly decided to leave town because she believed my dad was cheating on her which he wasn’t. She left him without help at his auto shop and also took a lot of valuable parts with her. Because of this, I was forced to quit my job to help my dad. Now I’m doing assistant work at the shop picking up parts and handling day-to-day tasks.
This has been really hard. I had something I was good at, and I had a clear plan for my year, but now all of that is gone. My dad is understandably depressed, and I feel stuck.
The main issue is that the shop isn’t doing well financially. We’re barely making enough to keep it open and cover basic living expenses. There’s no extra money coming in for either of us. I’m completely broke, with about $1,000 left, which won’t last long, especially in California.
On top of that, my middle brother is starting to pick sides and has said he’ll go live with my mom if it comes to that. He’s currently the only one helping pay for the house we’re in, and the shop alone won’t be enough to support it.
I honestly don’t know what to do. I had a plan and expected some road bumps not a complete crash. It feels like my hands are tied, and I can’t move forward in a career I genuinely care about and see a future in.