Dear Tom,

As job prospects remain bleak, new and laid-off educators put skills to use in different fieldTwo years after graduating with a bachelor's degree in education, Amanda Davis is thrilled finally to be working full time with children, earning a steady salary and paid time off.

Pickpockets find easy targets in distracted gadget usersWith head held down and eyes focused on the small screen of her cell phone, it took a couple of waves of the hand and a couple of greetings of "hello" before 26-year-old graduate student Amanda Pryor realized she was being approached as she stood in front of Water Tower Place.