Entitlement, Career Choices, and Debt (Response)
Prompt
Talk about entitlement. Is it a right, a priviledge, or are you entitled to have your college education paid for by your parents? When it comes to working aroud the house, mowing the lawn, shoveling snow, doing laundry, is this your mother and or father’s job? Have an opinion, write about and respond to this from any point of view you like.
Professor’s post
How many people do what others want them to and are not happy? Is money the only thing that is important when it comes to career choice? What about students who study what their parents want them to and are completely miserable or just not good at it. E.g. being an engineering major when your heart is in business????
Response
Money is obviously not the most important factor in a career decision; however, if you have familial or personal responsibilities (spouse, children, or outstanding debts) then it can easily be the deciding one. Basically, everyone has a baseline cost for maintaining (or obtaining the desired) standard of living in addition to their savings/investments. Anything in excess of this amount is not absolutely necessary and can take a backseat to your passions.
My father doesn’t love nor hate his job. Throughout his life he has owned a variety of small blue-collar companies; in each he has been both the businessman and one of the primary “workers”. He’s a very simple man; work is just what he does to support his family and he’s happy and proud to do it.
In another thread we were discussing the numerous foreigners in the top American colleges and how their work ethic and drive is often greater than that of most Americans. From those with whom I’ve spoken, familial pressure is often a driving force behind this ambition. In this country, our parents “love us no matter what” but in many other locations you must earn their love and respect. This pattern often manifests itself through parents choice of career for the child.
