Pulling it all together.... health communication style.

All of us may be wondering it but feeling too selfish to say it.  So I'm going to.  How much am I worth after finishing my Master's?  If I added up all of my student loans, books, registrations fees, months of rent, lost wages for hours spent studying and not working, snack food for finals weeks, and bar tabs for the nights after finals weeks, I would be worth A LOT.  I'm talking big bucks.  But from what I hear, this "job" doesn't pay much.  How much?! It's never a direct answer, just "not much."  Tuesday's class got me thinking about my ROI- My return on investment.  The investment that I put into my  undergraduate education was well worth it. But, the undergraduate degree is "so hot" right now, and everyone is doing it.  So how do you set yourself apart? You go BACK to school, and get a Master's. But not just any Master's, one in Public Health. So, you spend 2+ years building your credentials, your education, your real-world knowledge, and explaining to people what 'public health' actually is, then you go out and try to get a job.  You know what you're trying to do... save the world. But why don't employers see that, and pay you accordingly?  Justin Timberlake can charge $500 for front row tickets to his shows, but you, who is actively saving the world and its inhabitants, can only charge $40,000 a year for your services? Something is not right.  And its not just public health, this problem is happening in many fields.  But we do what we do best, and we adjust and adapt... we enjoy our jobs and realize that we are making a difference, even though we may not have Madison Square Garden to cheer us on.