But when will the music equate to something?

As a musician in my early 20s, I have to start to wonder when the musical aspect of my life will equate to financial gain. For the past two years of my life, I've been living on my own in a small two-bedroom apartment in Searcy, Arkansas. I've found myself over these past two years working 9 to 5 jobs that I find for the most part downright miserable, in order to purchase something that musically I have told myself is "necessary", with the only instant gratification being the unwrapping of a package. Whether that package can be deemed as necessary or not will only be stated by the outcome of my musical career. Will it provide a sound that gets me my first professional gig, or will it simply sit on a shelf only to be admired by myself.

Being a college student in my senior years of study makes me further this thought as to when the dollars that I have put into my musical career will make even cents. A good friend of mine recently graduated with the same bachelor’s degree that I plan on getting in the coming year, and has yet to secure a job. Every interview he has had has led him nowhere. His possible employers state that he "lacks experience", even though he has every certificate possible for a young educator to have, and his musicianship surpasses many graduate-level students. So what is one supposed to do? If I continue the path I'm on and show up to my classes for the following two semesters will I find myself in more debt than I was in today, with no actual way to pay it off? Or do I work a 9 to 5 job with hopes that something I buy or create may catch the eye of someone, and my musical talents may become a true paying career instead of just a passion?

- When will the music equate to something? -