"Dear Heather and Poolboy,

I really hope you read this on air because I need all the advice I can get. Recently My family and I have been in a bit of financial trouble. My mom's car stopped working and had to be taken to the shop. However, the last couple of years we have been riding the very thin line between being stable and being flat broke, I fear getting our car fixed will take the majority of my mom's money. Luckily she was allowed to work from home while we sort out what to do about her car, so she won't lose her job.

But that leads me into my problem. I want to get a job to help but I have no clue what to do. I'm paralyzed with indecision. For context I just turned 18 in June and graduated high school in May. I have decided not to go to college immediately seeing as how I wouldn't be able to go without acquiring student loan debt and I'm not sure what grants or scholarships (if any) I qualify for. I did ok in school, I maintained a C average, which I feel is pretty good considering the problems that surfaced in my last few years of high school.

To make a long story better fit a therapist short, I need career advice. I know I can't live with my mom for free forever, but I'm absolutely utterly terrified of taking that next step. Terrified to let my family down, terrified to fail, and terrified to succeed if I'm being honest. My mom isn't any help. She keeps saying things like "Once you get a job that money will help us dig our way out of this hole".

We can't really lean on family for help because they all live in another city. It's not a long drive from us to them, but given our circumstances it might as well be another state. I feel so alone, like I have to carry the whole family on my back. I can't do that, I'm just a kid. So if you have any advice please share it, it would greatly help!"

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