My story is about a heated discussion between a professor at Del Mar College and a group of students. The topic was Why do people leave the Coastal Bend after recieving an education? The professor stated that alot of the time it was because there was more money to be made in other places such as Austin, Houston, and Dallas. I have been a full time student at Del Mar for almost three years now trying to obtain an associates degree in Occupational Safety and Health. Throught my three years I have tried numerous times to get a job wether it was part time or full time at places like Bay, H&S, Berry, Zachery. Violia. Considering that I have ten years oilfield expierience operating heavy equipment and driving a 25 ton rig up truck you would think that i would be a good canidate for the job and i do get called but I get the same thing all the time. I am in the interview process and bring up the fact that I am still a full time student but am willing to work anyshift available, and I am told to come back when I get my degree. This has happened more than a handfull of times and is very fustrating. After three years of this I Can see very clearly why people leave Corpus Christi after obtaining there education. My point is that I have the expierience and refrences from past employers to get hired on immediatley but they are unwilling to work with me because I am a student. At that point I realized why no one sticks around. While trying to get an education it shouldnt be difficult to find a decent paying job that could get you by while recieving an education. But that is not the case here in the Coastal Bend as I had mentioned before Ive been trough at least thirty five interviews in the past three years and get pretty much the same responce "come back when you get your degree" and it really isnt fair. That my friends is one of the reasons I will be leaving after obtaining my degree.