i'm in the promotional training for 3rd-years, soon my title will change from "associate" to "associate consultant"

i'm a little down this year because
1) i'm burned out. i'm really really tired
2) i am still stuck on pharma cases. i only stay because it's a better lifestyle and the partners tend to treat me better and i have a good reputation. but what i'd give to do retail or tech work, it's just not this office's strength.
3) our pay raise this year is less than half of what the previous classes got, due to recession. i was kind of hoping it'd be more to pay for my mortgage or allow me to go on all these vacations i wanted to go on prior to bschool.
4) i don't know if i'd get bschool sponsorship.

and #2 - 4 is due to recession. and my fears about the U.S. economy overall stem into long-term anxieties.

HOWEVER, this email from one of our co-workers who went to med school this year helps put it in perspective.

"Do not let the man get you down! Times may be tough, hours may be long, and the money may not be coming in like you expected, but you are now ASSOCIATE CONSULTANTS, and that means something. Sure, you may only have a marginal pay increase coupled with an exponential increase in stress and responsibility, but [our allocations manger] would call this an "opportunity," and I agree. And if I learned anything in my time there, you need to take advantage of these opportunities--they are chances for growth and development. So go out and ping colleagues. Drink the Kool Aid. See things from 30,000 feet. And in time, you will all realize the benefit of your hard work. It may not be in the form of a bonus, respect, or a better lifestyle, but it could be something much greater."

and at least i'm not one of the 10% unemployed