Why did you get into this profession?

Wow. I truly believe I have run the emotional gamut while reading some of the posts in this forum. I feel that perhaps many of the people who post here have lost sight of what they are why they do it. The following may sound quite cliche, but I feel is sums up what Podiatry should be about.
I got into Podiatry because I truly enjoy helping people. I feel it is important not to lose sight of that. I also hope that we all got into this profession soley because of that and not money. Don't get me wrong, I want to earn a good living. I realize we all have large student loans and will ulimately incur more loans of one type or another. However, my goal in life is not a mountain of gold. Nor do I believe that there should be some monetary figure that sets the standard for judging success or failure in Podiatry or any other profession for that matter. I also find it hard to believe that the majority of Podiatrists are struggling to the point of starvation or bankruptcy as many of the posts I have read seem to infer. If someone else can make a decent, honorable living in Podiatry, why can't anyone else? There is more than enough opportunity out there and I don't need to be in practice for "X" years to make such a statement. If there is not enough opportunity where you live, move.
I have been working full or part-time in emergency medicine for the last eight years of my life(including the past four years of Podiatry school)for a local ambulance service. I make a little over nine dollars an hour; with eight years of experience that is it. I could have left for another job, but I chose not to because I enjoy what I do. The same holds true for choosing Podiatry as my profession. Prior to attending Podiatry school, I worked full-time for one year and had a net income of just over 13K and lived fairly comfortably. I can easily complain that CNA's in nursing homes make more than me, but you won't hear me say that. Nor will I complain that MD's or DO's make more than DPM's. Call me naive, but I believe you only get out what you put in. Furthermore, by completing Podiatry school, one should not feel entitled to making the "national average" of 130K or whatever it is. Go out and work your ass off for it! I am sure it can be done!