Recently I started working for a non-for-profit arts organization/museum. This is my first "job" after college. After interning for 5 years (high school through college) in various national and international museums, galleries, and other arts related organizations, I came to a bold decision. Yes, I do have a strong love and affection for museums. Yes, I think they are worthwhile and neccessary. Yes, I have a very strong connection and believe in the importance of the arts. However, the compensation has forced me to look elsewhere for future employment. I will stay with my organization until my job is completed; however, I can not afford to let valuable skills not be compensated. I understand that starting salaries are pathetic. But I do not understand that glass ceiling that exists in museums. It is time for a young person such as myself to move on. I don't think any job is as fullfilling as museum work--but I also know that I will never be able to put food on my table and live a decent life and support the arts on the salaries of the museum world. I am 21 years old and I know being a curator has always been my dream--but museums do not support our decisions. My committment in the future will be to serve on acquisition committees, board of trustees and be in the membership program of many of the museums I believe in. Do I think a museum job is worth it? I no longer know the answer. At one point I attempted to reestablish a museum studies program at my former university. Later by my peers I was asked "why?" Why struggle to start a program that may not even help students get jobs. Many students can not afford to intern at museum, galleries and arts organizations without pay. The older generation of museum workers, directors and board members should look at my generation. My generation is saying "NO" we can not afford to work under these conditions. My friends in other fields with little or no internship experience make 3 times my salary right out of college. I would love to stay in museum work, I would love to chase after my dreams but life costs money. Money that museums just don't pay. Will I feel gulity for leaving this field...yes!!! But the fact of the matter remains this industry will continue to lose young, firery, aggressive people such as myself unless they begin to realize we are their future and we deserve respect in terms of compensation. I know many young people that have interned at museums, galleries and such and loved it as much as I have but have looked elsewhere for employment because they've realized that they can do more for a museum working from the outside and giving money that they earn to that institution. Look around your museum and see how many young people are working in your museum. Then check 5 years later and see how many of them are still working for a museum. I will miss this profession...but I can not afford to work in it.