I Struggled to Find a Job After College. To Pay Rent, I Started Doing Something Highly Controversial.
Graduating from college is often seen as a significant milestone, but for many, including myself, it can lead to unexpected challenges. After earning my degree in comparative literature from UC Berkeley, I entered a job market that was bleak and unforgiving. This article recounts my journey into a controversial side hustle that emerged out of necessity.
The Dilemma of a Recent Graduate
As I stepped into the real world, I faced the harsh reality of job hunting. The dream of working in literary magazines or publishing houses quickly faded as I encountered the infamous LinkedIn void—endless spam emails and entry-level job postings that required years of experience. After countless applications and a summer filled with rejection, my only source of income was a substitute teaching job that barely covered my rent.
Finding a Loophole
Desperate for a solution, I turned to freelancing platforms like Upwork. I created a profile, positioning myself as an academic editor and admissions essay advisor, hoping to supplement my income during the college application season. It was then that I stumbled upon a niche that would change my financial situation: “A.I. humanization.”
The Rise of A.I. Humanization
In a world increasingly dominated by artificial intelligence, I found myself in a unique position. While many feared the loss of jobs to A.I., I discovered a way to profit from it. By offering to enhance chatbot-generated personal statements, I could provide a service that many applicants were seeking. However, this role came with ethical dilemmas that weighed heavily on my conscience.
Understanding the Job
The process began with clients who had used A.I. to draft their college application essays. They sought my help to rewrite these essays, making them sound more personal and authentic. The challenge was navigating the strict regulations on academic dishonesty that platforms like Upwork enforce. While I couldn’t explicitly offer ghostwriting services, I could provide revision and feedback, allowing me to work within the system.
The Financial Reality
Despite my initial reservations about the ethical implications of my work, the financial reality was undeniable. At $60 for every 600 words, I quickly realized that this side hustle could cover my rent in just a few days. As the demand grew, I found myself juggling multiple clients, some of whom were middlemen running their own application counseling services overseas.
Success in Numbers
In my first month, I earned about $2,000, a figure that only increased as I gained experience and client history. By the end of the application season, I made nearly $7,000—more than many of my peers who had settled for corporate jobs. The financial success was intoxicating, but it came at a cost.
The Process of A.I. Humanization
The task itself was straightforward: I would rewrite sentences from the A.I.-generated essays until they passed various A.I. detection tools like Originality.ai and GPTZero. The writing style of A.I. was often predictable, characterized by clichés and a lack of genuine personal insight. My job was to transform these robotic drafts into something that felt more human.
Challenges of A.I. Writing
A.I. writing often lacked depth and creativity. Common phrases included structures like “It’s not X; it’s Y,” or “Not X. Not Y. But Z.” These patterns highlighted the limitations of A.I. in conveying authentic human experiences. The essays were filled with generic anecdotes that failed to represent the individual’s true journey.
Ethical Considerations
As I continued this work, I grappled with the ethical implications of my role. Was I contributing to a system that undermined the integrity of the college admissions process? Each essay I rewrote felt like a step further into a morally ambiguous territory. I was aware that I was helping applicants present a façade rather than their true selves.
The Bigger Picture
This situation raises broader questions about the role of A.I. in education and personal expression. While A.I. can assist in generating content, it cannot replicate the unique perspectives and experiences that define individual narratives. The reliance on A.I. for personal statements may lead to a homogenization of voices in the application process.
Conclusion
My journey as an A.I. humanizer has been a complex mix of financial necessity and ethical conflict. While I have found a way to thrive in a challenging job market, I remain acutely aware of the implications of my work. As A.I. continues to evolve, so too must our understanding of its impact on creativity and authenticity in personal expression.
Note: This article reflects the author’s personal experiences and views on the intersection of A.I. and personal expression in the context of college admissions.
