Many Penn State students and recent graduates are currently in a dilemma. Perhaps you are environmentally and socially conscious and can't bear to be a part of our oppressive, exploitative system. You're hoping to find a way to earn a living, without having to compromise your values by joining the rat race.

Perhaps you would like to change the world, committed to the belief that if you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem. Unfortunately, you're so overwhelmed by it all, you don't know where to begin, or how to stay alive and healthy in the process.

You may feel your true talents, dreams and desires have been squelched enough already by our "degree mill" education system. You would like to be able to live life to the fullest, letting your talents blossom and your dreams come true. You're repulsed by the thought that you might have to sacrifice your heart to survive.

You're tolerant of other people and other cultures and thrive on diversity; you're inquisitive and like to explore yourself and the world; you're a critical thinker, skeptical, taking nothing for granted; you know everything is connected, and can see the long-term consequences of our actions. In short, you're a free-thinker and a caring human being. You don't want to compromise yourself to "make it" in the world. You're thinking, "Is anything really worth doing? I need some answers!"

We don't have the answers. In fact, we are in the same boat, and we know it is lonely, discouraging and stressful. We have graduated from Penn State during the past three years, filled with idealism and enthusiasm. We've been involved in social and political activism during and since college, and have since worked minimum-wage jobs at which we could at least be true to ourselves. Now, we're each struggling with the task of finding careers. Is it possible to do so, given the aforementioned "money or your life" dilemma? We don't know.

We do know there must be many more people experiencing the same thing, so at least we don't have to go through it alone. With the cooperation of the STS Alternative Library, we are forming an egalitarian support group, through which we can meet regularly to vent our frustrations, offer each other encouragement, share our feelings and ideas and work together to find and get what we want -- "right livelihood." If you are interested in participating, please attend our first meeting at 7 p.m. Friday in 130 Willard. Refreshments will be served. For more information, call 231-4730, ext. FREE, and leave a detailed message.