Yesterday, I filed my taxes.
Not a big deal.  I’ve filed my taxes ever since I was 14 and worked pulling corn tassels in Indiana pioneer fields.  For most of those years, I filed myself.  It was actually a time to look forward to because I – always – received some kind of financial kickback.  Extra money, extra fun!   Yeah, right.
—  At the very least a bill or two was paid or mostly paid off.   If anything, I’m responsible like that.

When Jason and I got together, I started making him file our taxes.   There was no way I was going to go with his traditional H&R route… especially since he was working on a financial degree.  I was not going to let him work in finance and not know how to file a single W-2.  That would just be grade-a crazy.

The first year was rough for him.  I remember quite clearly the debate over exemptions.   I was right, of course, but it took a while to convince him.  After that, he was up and running.  There wasn’t any questions and he became good at filling taxes, which really helped me with my multiple W-2s and Everest not taking out taxes one year, thank you very much.   I think I had to cough up over $1000 because of their error.  So, we transcended basic tax returns and went to something more complicated.   He handled it well.  I was proud of him.

This year USF placed him in various free tax filing places.  Jason’s helping the masses with a tricky and often difficult tax prospect.  I know this isn’t what he wanted to do – as he’d rather be interning.  Still, I think (or hope) he enjoys it.  When he doesn’t have his head up his butt, Jason can be very caring and helpful – even if he doesn’t know them.

This year, however, this year Roy is going to be doing my taxes.  The family thought that, since I changed states and have beaucoup medical bills, that it’d be best for mom’s CPA to do the filing.  Since the sister is footing the bill, I really couldn’t say no.  I wanted to try to figure out my taxes for myself, but agreed.  If I did it, I’d probably get myself audited.

Roy seems like a nice guy.  He came off fairly excitable and late to his appointment.  Fifteen minutes late,   Roy apologized for being late due to being the treasure of the Children’s Art Council.  The excuse was easily forgivable.

I asked questions about his education past… it’s allowed as I’m an instructor.  He was more than forthcoming.  In brief, he’d had interned at the place for about six months in 2011, was hired in, and has been happy every since.

This is the bittersweet part…  That is exactly the path Jason has struggled to take for the past three years.  He has tried, failed, tried, failed to gain an internship and gain the golden ticket, just like Roy.

Roy is living proof that the system works.  It worked for him… so why hasn’t it worked for Jason?  Jason, who has a 3.8GPA.   Jason, who is apart of five (or maybe 6, I’ve lost count) honor societies, has received a couple of pity interviews but never an actual offer.

The missing internship that would have allowed us to move on with our life.

Bittersweet…