<p>Someone once said that if you acquire money through hard work, you’ll have every right to love money. If you obtain money dishonorably, either through force or fraud, your money will hold no value to you, and you’ll scream that money is evil. Also, money will pave the way to happiness, but it will not replace you as the driver.</p>
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<p>I can see how many would view this as a poor attitude. But think about it this way. Everyone has some type of passion or hobby. It’s just that mine requires more money than others. Also, as Skyhook said, for some life is a “game”. I think my view is something along those lines.</p>
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<p>Missing here is another factor: spending 12 hours a day doing something you hate to get that money. </p>
<p>Just remember to include that factor.</p>
<p>@sk8r</p>
<p>that kind of talk about not charging to read online stories people have spent time writing is the kind of talk that is making the business of journalism go down the toilet. My Mom’s articles frequently get grafted by news sites that present them free of charge, and now she’s out of work. Corporations like AP are losing money to Internet publications, and can’t afford to hire so many reporters.</p>
<p>why would people pay to read the NYT when they can read a bunch of other articles for free? The NYT is not so superior that it warrants paying to be able to read when there are other options. I’m sure they would like to think they are, but they aren’t.</p>
<p>as far as career and money choices, it’s all personal preference. If you are passionate about what you are doing for your career and that is what you love, then working long hours might not be a big deal. Maybe it results in more money. If you want to be a teacher and have your summers off for time to vacation (though you won’t be able to go to places that are as fancy), that is fine too.</p>
<p>You should not judge how happy people are by how many hours they work. And you should not judge their happiness by how much money they make. Different people prioritize different things. It doesn’t make some people better or worse, it just is.</p>
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<p>Intervenient, you’ve said this before. My hunch is you are desperately trying to rationalize why engineering school is hurting so bad. I’m not negative about engineering at all, it’s a fantastic major! But only if you love engineering. </p>
<p>I was once an over-idealistic ‘liberal arts’ major, I pursued my interests and loved it all along the way. I paid little attention to how much I’d make at the end of it all. Maybe that was too naive. But I ended up with a job I love and earn in the top 5% of income earners and lifetime job security. I know hundreds of similar others. Im’ not trying to boast, I’m trying to give you an alternative way to think about your choices.</p>
<p>No doubt in my mind that $$ relieves a lot of stress and I feel very fortunate to not have to worry about things. I am happy now but I was equally happy as a poor grad student. </p>
<p>Salary might protect you from some bad feelings but it sure doesn’t replace a lot more important things in life, like great relationships, the ability to flourish, having meaning in the work you do, and feeling a sense of achievement.</p>
<p>Starbright,</p>
<p>That one goes in my folder of things to remember to talk about with my kids, or my “‘Bridges of Madison County’, they’ll-find-it-when-I’m-gone folder” of little gems and scenes of pebbly roads in Vermont with the sea just beyond the end of the lane…</p>
<p>Truly a path to remember to walk on.
Thx.</p>
<p>“Salary might protect you from some bad feelings but it sure doesn’t replace a lot more important things in life, like great relationships, the ability to flourish, having meaning in the work you do, and feeling a sense of achievement.”
Salary protects you from almost everything.It shows one is flourishing,it gives meaning to the work one does(how else do you get a high salary?) and it is a proof that one has achieved something.More importantly money leads to great relationships(there are higher divorce rates among the poor than among the rich).</p>
<p>I think many college students tend to take that whole “follow your dreams” mantra too strictly and do not put time into planning for what to do after graduation. I had many friends who had some idealistic notion about where their major would take them, but very few actually looked into the different industries and fields that were actually available to people with their major. Due to their lack of foresight, they graduated with no realistic idea of what to do with their degree and found it very tough to gain employment in a non-retail industry due to already missed their opportunity for internships and co-ops.</p>
<p>I agree with the author in that students need to take a more pragmatic approach to choosing their course of study. For some people it might be which major leads to making the most money or which major leads to their idea of happiness. However, every student should look at reports like those at the Bureau of Labor Statistics to see what’s in demand and what can provide them a comfortable lifestyle.</p>
<p>[Class</a> of 2011 commencement speakers - CBS News Video](<a href=“http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7367690n&tag=mncol%3Blst%3B1]Class”>http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7367690n&tag=mncol%3Blst%3B1)</p>
<p>This is a news video highlighting some key messages given at some by some of the commencement speakers this year. We were so excited that Tony Kushner, who spoke at Muhlenberg College, made the cut! He was great. Even the non-theatre kids enjoyed him!</p>
<p>“Salary protects you from almost everything.It shows one is flourishing…”</p>
<p>Salary being a quantitative measure of how much one’s work, or position, is deemed to be valuable, is in no way related to man knowing his life has value, that he has done work which he values, and that which he has done, matters. ( Money offers no protections against those haunting specters of interpersonal oblivion and insignificance that beleaguer man at his end.)</p>
<p>Salary, or money, offers up options in life, but the idea that “money leads to great relationships” has at is premise the least defensible starting point for an intimate, sustained, nurturing relationship that I believe I’ve ever heard.</p>
<p>Options, not an automatic reason to opt-in to the first big green door you come to.</p>
<p>Agree with Waiting2exhale. Money certainly isn’t a measurement of happiness. I know many a people who are extremely happy and make far less than what I desire. It is what brings happiness. And for some, what brings happiness doesn’t require money.</p>
<p>They say money doesn’t buy happiness. But have you ever seen someone frown on a waverunner?</p>
<p>(Tosh.0.) Sorry. I had to say it.</p>
<p>So villager, Scott Lay and his Enron scam achieved more than Jonas Salk, the inventor of the polio vaccine, and the proof is that Scott Lay made more money?</p>
<p>Who is remembered as a hero and who is remembered as a villain?</p>
<p>Hint: Not the one who made more money.</p>
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<p>Honestly I’d rather be happy and unknown than “court unhappiness” and be admired and read about in a biography. Perhaps some people are willing to sacrifice happiness for fame and admiration, but that seems like a personal choice, and I don’t think it’s Brooks’ place to judge other peoples’ priorities in life. Did anyone else take issue with this paragraph?</p>
<p>I don’t think it’s the “baby-boomer” creed they’re preaching at commencement speeches. It’s the monetary interests of educational institutions. Colleges want you to “dream” and find yourself, if it means switching majors, graduating in five years, or getting another degree, each of which means more money spent on the academic industry. They try to sell the idea that education brings you money and happiness (and the more you go to that “stretch” school you can barely afford, the better!). It’s not so simple.</p>
<p>I admired this article because is focused more on purpose than money. Too often, things are put as a conflict between “follow your dream” and “make money”. Really, neither is a wholly valid solution. Pragmatic means finding something gives you a sense of purpose while providing for your material needs, not making as much money as possible. Once you have enough money that you are no longer worried, additional income does little (if anything) to make you happier.</p>
<p>[What</a> Our Public Means and What We Can Do About It Valerie Francisco](<a href=“http://valeriefrancisco.■■■■■■■■■■■■■/2011/06/06/what-our-public-means-and-what-we-can-do-about-it/]What”>What Our Public Means and What We Can Do About It – VFM)</p>
<p>Link to a commencement address by Michelle Fine, at CUNY Graduate Center. I think this is beautiful.</p>
<p>Starbright- of course, as we are already experiencing, the tenure professor is probably a thing of the past; not something this generation should count on- much like pension plans, gone in the private sector, and under attack and under funded in the public sector. </p>
<p>Let’s be real about the future this generation is facing. Their employment and lifestyle is going to be very different than our generations. As parents we suspect this new reality is not going to be pretty for most. I believe this is what is driving the college frenzy for top schools right now. As parents we are trying to secure our own child’s future by applying the rules of a society that formed our generation, i.e. top education is the ticket to social and economic mobility and stability. Not so anymore. </p>
<p>Just think what it costs a 24 year old to rent, buy health and car insurance, a car, gas, food, utilities, a mobile phone plan, internet, clothes for work, student loans- these are just basics. It is staggering. Graduates know this, so who can blame them for either sticking their head in the sand of “follow your dreams” or conversely, focusing on money as the means to happiness.</p>
<p>I disagree with what this man is saying. Perhaps I didnt get the gist of it too well but to me it sounds like hes saying that pursuing your dreams is a bunch of BS and you should just get married, have kids, and a decent job like everyone else instead of having optimistic ideals that people can obtain their dreams if they work hard enough. This guy sounds like hes just ****in in everyones cereal. I mean, isnt that what life is? Making goals for yourself and accomplishing them? Dreams are already hard enough to obtain we dont need people saying ‘give up it’ll never happen’. I think you should be smart and make a plan B just incase because you cant live life without being realistic. You SHOULD chase your dreams and if it doesnt work out like this guy is saying it wont then at a certain point hopefully you will realize it isnt working and can go in a different direction. The chance of maybe not reaching your goals isnt a reason to not chase them at all. </p>
<p>He just sounds really negative. If you lived your life the way your grandma wants you to and just settle for the ‘normal’ life of getting married and having kids because its safe it will make you even more unhappy in the long run when you wonder what life what have been like if you were strong enough and believe in yourself enough to follow your dreams. Just my opinion. Maybe im missing what this guy is trying to say but it seems like hes pushing conformity because its a safe option.</p>