"Is that all your Black womanhood is to you? Is your entire body image wrapped up in your caboose? Are you still waiting for ratification of your beauty from the general populace? Has watching all those hours of Bob Beelzebub Johnson’s Black Exploitation Television fried each and every one of your brain cells?"

http://michelleobamawatch.com/foolishness-and-chicanery-alert-saloncom-first-lady-got-back

There's something about this letter that is off: It's this sentence:

"I have a good life -- a job that pays well (still), loving parents, a great boyfriend, money, and time to read, think and travel."

There is a smugness to this. LW: I think you know quite clearly that you pretty much have more than most human beings have that now live or have ever lived.

That sentence is a defense against something you don't have.

That's why your statement comes across as smug. It's just verbiage to hide something that is not in your letter.

You can't possibly be as superficial as your letter suggests. No human being is.

Usually, the advice columnist recommends "professional help," for someone without loving parents, a great job, a great boyfriend, money to travel...

But in your case, I might suggest it, given that you have the $$ and the time...

You're trying to tell us you have "everything" and are financially sound, but your letter suggests you are a pauper in some way.

Try to find out what was missing from your letter to Cary; think about what you didn't tell him.

jaketwice's letter makes so much sense to me. the LW says she feels like a 'loser' because her accomplishments don't match up to those of others. i fear she's a "loser" because she is, as jaketwice says, utterly out of touch with basic human values. whenever i hear about people who aren't attracted to others because of their honesty, integrity, and kindness - but focus on their status?! - i feel like i need to run for my life. these are the people who don't lend a hand when you're drowning, or who step over you on the sidewalk when you've had a heart attack. they don't know what college you've gone to, and thus if you're worthy of saving. a person who is this far out of touch with basic human values is not someone i would feel safe being around.

Wow, LW. I'm not liking what I'm reading. I wouldn't hire you.

Here is the type of young person I like to hire:

Someone with sincerity, enthusiasm, and drive.

What I see in your letter is cynicism, profound irresponsibility (leaving a job without even a phone call to let them know you wouldn't be back?), and a general unattractive attitude.

Employers want two things from young people: someone who both wants to make their lives easier and someone who wants to learn.

I am a writer as well, but I didn't get to the world of writing and editing by sitting around just...writing. I set my sites on the field of writing.

My sense was that writing for people who knew more than I did might be a good place to start. So, I wrote articles for free for a local publication. They provided feedback and a byline. I was suddenly one giant step beyond zero.

I'm not sure the blog idea is what I'd choose. I'd approach some Web sites you like and pitch an essay or a story. Keep pitching til someone wants your article.

I'm not saying the process is simple or easy, but the concept is simple and easy:

Think about what you want to do, and then go do it.

In all likelihood, no one will pay you much to do it, but who cares. You're looking for experience and mentoring.

Do another job to earn a living, and take the volunteer job seriously.

My guess is that you'd have an entry level job within two years in whatever field you wanted to be in.

If you hang onto that unappealing cynical attitude, which displays a kind of I'm-too-hip-and-cool to abide by society's rules (ie, telling your employer you're leaving), you'll never rise beyond the food court.

I've never seen a cynic with sincerity, enthusiasm, and drive.