>I know these sentiments are a bit cynical, I just can help but feel sometimes that it's irresponsible to dump the "you can be/do anything!" sentiment on our youth when the reality is nowhere near that for most of them. I understand we need ideals and motivation to make them a reality, but more flowery advice doesn't seem to be the best tactic.
Very much agreed. In fact, I think it's far more reassuring to tell young people that the "take what you can get" world they actually experience is real, and that "we adults" aren't secretly sneering at them for failing to "do great work" or "change the world".
Yeah, I'm starting to realise more and more after fighting my way to the bottom rung of a tech industry where options and upward mobility are slim at the age of 24, that taking what i can get and not 'changing the world' or 'doing great work' is still even better than half my friends who can't even get jobs or are working in a cafe or something.
Very much agreed. In fact, I think it's far more reassuring to tell young people that the "take what you can get" world they actually experience is real, and that "we adults" aren't secretly sneering at them for failing to "do great work" or "change the world".
Most people just make a living, and that's ok.