It is definitely much harder to get those entry level type jobs nowadays. I was a restaurant server for years, things started getting slower and slower because of the economy, and I finally quit my job last November to go back to school (I'm 31). It's a great time to go to school, what about continuing your education? Not to badmouth your degree, but an associates degree these days seems to be equivalent to a high school degree a decade ago. It's like you need a bachelors degree to get your foot in the door anywhere. Well, a degree, or tons of experience, but no one will hire you without experience, of course!

I am from San Francisco, but have lived in Portland OR the last couple of years. Unemployment is definitely bad in both CA and OR. There are restaurant jobs here that get 500 resumes for one open, part-time position. It's really crazy. Even I had a hard time finding work two years ago, even with my experience in Napa and San Francisco.

I know you are frustrated, but so are a lot of unemployed people. Competition is FIERCE. My advice to you is to suck up the debt, continue your education, and with more of a degree, you'll have many more opportunities to do interships or some kind of job in the field you want to be in. I'm heavily tattooed and I know what it's like to be prejudiced against because of my appearance. I've also had to wear long sleeved shirts to cover up, and I've worked in places that don't care. I am continuing on in my education in a field that doesn't care about tattoos!