4 ms·

Quite a lot of condescension here towards people trying to make a better life for themselves. Were you all really that smart at 18?

spc476 10y ago
At 18, senior in high school I knew I wanted to go into film making or cartooning. But I realized (even at 18) that success in either career involved not only talent and skill, but just as much luck as well. I liked computers and understood quite a bit of programming (having grown up during the Golden Age of Home Computers, the 80s) and decided to get a degree in computer science as a fall back. So yeah, some of us were that smart at 18.
- cup 10y ago
  Can you tell us about your family, your parents involvement in your education and tertiary study decisions, rough socioeconomic condition etc. Just curious.
  - spc476 10y ago
    US citizen, grew up in a small town in North Carolina until 10, then moved to South Florida. I lived in a single parent household (with Mom) and the only involvement in my education was making sure I didn't miss the bus. She never even asked about homework (which was good, since I never bothered doing it). For rough socioeconomic condition I would say upper lower class (section 8 housing in North Carolina) to lower middle class (by the time I graduated high school). If I wanted to learn something, I was pretty much on my own. I found school to be largely a waste of time but I had little say in attending elementary, middle and high school. I still felt the same way by the time I was graduating college, but I wasn't quite ready to enter the Real World and college was a good excuse to avoid it. I received a Pell Grant for the first semester of college, but the paper work was insane so I ended up working my way through college. In this, I was fortunate that cheap (as in "too easy to get") student loans had yet to flood the market with money so tuition wasn't insane. That, and I attended a Florida State college as a resident (cheaper than going out of state) and it was only a few miles from home so I saved money there.
NTDF9 10y ago
It's far too much to ask of 18 year olds. Unfortunately, these are the same people who are of voting age. At a systemic level, voters cannot afford to be gullible. Right now, they are! Part of the reason for gullibility at that age is no incentive to work really hard in school and trying to understand how adult life works. Grades instead of ranks, no fear of falling into poverty or survival mode (as would happen in a poorer country) There is no reward for 'think and proceed'. There is reward for 'go with the flow' and that is temporary respite, not having to struggle, having fun etc. At a systemic level, kids have to be encouraged to compete and become better AND demand better from others to be able to succeed. I used to think I'd become a writer and write a book like Harry potter. At age 10, this naivety is cute. At 18, that literally is money (and possibly future life). Schooling really needs a revamp.
- MollyR 10y ago
  That's good point about voting. After the Brexit, I heard a lot of journalists say old people shouldn't vote, but never thought to consider if young people should either.
pinewurst 10y ago
If there's any condescension, it's not towards what they're doing now. A lot of it, I think, is cultural. Growing up poor but with a shot at college, you tend to make choices to not be poor. If you grow up affluent, there's a lot of "follow your dream"/"do what you love" despite the probability of maintaining affluence. So you end up studying musical theatre or Celtic Studies and working as an articulate barista.
magpie12 10y ago
What article are we talking about? Most of the people discussed are trying to remake their lives after making poor career choices (technology is not the only viable career choice). Also the mentioned recursive acronym organization is sexist and recruits sexist individuals.
maverick_iceman 10y ago
The first person profiled in this article is 31.
MollyR 10y ago
I wanted to be an artist. It often kills me I couldn't follow my dreams, but I often looks back and I'm thankful I choose to follow a profession for job security rather then wishful thinking. I think it was a strong side effect of growing up in poor household.

spc476 10y ago

At 18, senior in high school I knew I wanted to go into film making or cartooning. But I realized (even at 18) that success in either career involved not only talent and skill, but just as much luck as well. I liked computers and understood quite a bit of programming (having grown up during the Golden Age of Home Computers, the 80s) and decided to get a degree in computer science as a fall back. So yeah, some of us were that smart at 18.

cup 10y ago
Can you tell us about your family, your parents involvement in your education and tertiary study decisions, rough socioeconomic condition etc. Just curious.
- spc476 10y ago
  US citizen, grew up in a small town in North Carolina until 10, then moved to South Florida. I lived in a single parent household (with Mom) and the only involvement in my education was making sure I didn't miss the bus. She never even asked about homework (which was good, since I never bothered doing it). For rough socioeconomic condition I would say upper lower class (section 8 housing in North Carolina) to lower middle class (by the time I graduated high school). If I wanted to learn something, I was pretty much on my own. I found school to be largely a waste of time but I had little say in attending elementary, middle and high school. I still felt the same way by the time I was graduating college, but I wasn't quite ready to enter the Real World and college was a good excuse to avoid it. I received a Pell Grant for the first semester of college, but the paper work was insane so I ended up working my way through college. In this, I was fortunate that cheap (as in "too easy to get") student loans had yet to flood the market with money so tuition wasn't insane. That, and I attended a Florida State college as a resident (cheaper than going out of state) and it was only a few miles from home so I saved money there.

NTDF9 10y ago

It's far too much to ask of 18 year olds. Unfortunately, these are the same people who are of voting age. At a systemic level, voters cannot afford to be gullible. Right now, they are! Part of the reason for gullibility at that age is no incentive to work really hard in school and trying to understand how adult life works. Grades instead of ranks, no fear of falling into poverty or survival mode (as would happen in a poorer country) There is no reward for 'think and proceed'. There is reward for 'go with the flow' and that is temporary respite, not having to struggle, having fun etc. At a systemic level, kids have to be encouraged to compete and become better AND demand better from others to be able to succeed. I used to think I'd become a writer and write a book like Harry potter. At age 10, this naivety is cute. At 18, that literally is money (and possibly future life). Schooling really needs a revamp.

MollyR 10y ago
That's good point about voting. After the Brexit, I heard a lot of journalists say old people shouldn't vote, but never thought to consider if young people should either.

pinewurst 10y ago

If there's any condescension, it's not towards what they're doing now. A lot of it, I think, is cultural. Growing up poor but with a shot at college, you tend to make choices to not be poor. If you grow up affluent, there's a lot of "follow your dream"/"do what you love" despite the probability of maintaining affluence. So you end up studying musical theatre or Celtic Studies and working as an articulate barista.

magpie12 10y ago

What article are we talking about? Most of the people discussed are trying to remake their lives after making poor career choices (technology is not the only viable career choice). Also the mentioned recursive acronym organization is sexist and recruits sexist individuals.

maverick_iceman 10y ago

The first person profiled in this article is 31.

MollyR 10y ago

I wanted to be an artist. It often kills me I couldn't follow my dreams, but I often looks back and I'm thankful I choose to follow a profession for job security rather then wishful thinking. I think it was a strong side effect of growing up in poor household.