1. Michelle Chan
Period 4
Conclusion - Detroit
Initially, after hearing that the range of salaries would be from $40,000 to $60,000 – with
even the highest possible being unheard of for anyone living comfortably around Irvine – I was
skeptical. Although I had always understood the value of money and was never completely
oblivious to the true costs of dining and living in the real world, I was simply aware; I did not re-
ally believe in sacrificing quality for extra dimes at the end of the month because I never needed
to do so. The cost of living project allowed me to determine what I value and I was sometimes
forced to settle for standard options if they sufficed as opposed to the luxury upgrades. Then,
imagining that we were living in Detroit, Michigan was another issue. People have been moving
out of Detroit since Industrialization and the housing costs have been increasingly cheaper as
crime rates have also skyrocketed. After buying a cheap house that was previously foreclosed,
knowing that we would have to pay cash upfront and deal with repairs, we had a generous
amount of money left over to spend as we wished. We were able to purchase everything – to the
greatest degree, even – that we wanted, without compromise, and we even had excess money at
the end of the year.
I was assigned a salary of $60,000 and my partner, Christopher Wong, was designated a
salary of $40,000. Since my passion is photography and some professional photographers have
an annual salary averaging $60,000, I wanted to understand how these people make ends meet. I
had always been afraid when deciding on a university and settling on an intended major because
I feared failing after graduating when it came time to find a career. I never even wanted to con-
sider the possibility that I would potentially make under $100,000 in any given year. The project
taught me that as long as I am cautious with my money and prioritize, it is very possible to live
comfortably in those first years upon graduating from college. Also, it does not matter what ca-
reer path I decide to take. As long as I find something that makes me happy, I will be able to use
the skills I have acquired to survive.