About the girl who’s suing her college because she can’t get a job…

You’ve likely heard about the girl who’s suing her college because she can’t find a job, right? If not, here’s a link.

Now I don’t really want to comment on the suit itself, ridiculous as it is. I instead want to comment on what has come home to roost – we’ve raised a generation that thinks “trying” and “effort” are to be rewarded the same as accomplishments and excellence. I say bullshit.

Consider this part of the story: “As Thompson sees it, any reasonable employer would pounce on an applicant with her academic credentials, which include a 2.7 grade-point average and a solid attendance record.”

2.7 and solid attendance… That’s “pounce-able” material? Really???

To me, that says “Hey, I showed up most of the time, and I prettymuch did the minimum. I’m totally average.”

Well excuse me lady, but “average” gets you nowhere fast today. Too bad your parents didn’t instill that in you. Instead, they stopped keeping score at your soccer games, and encouraged points for “trying”. I’ve been saying for years that that attitude doesn’t cut it in the real world, and you’re feeling that now. Welcome to life – now get a helmet.

Then, later in the article, this woman says “They favor more toward students that got a 4.0. They help them more out with the job placement“.

Ummm… yea. Why is that a problem? You mean the school shouldn’t promote their best graduates more? I dunno – that seems logical to me. Maybe you should have thought of that while you were doing the bare minimum on your way to that 2.7.

I have zero sympathy here. I work for myself, and I succeed/fail on the strength of my work. There are no points (or dollars) for “trying”, and being “average” will run me out of business pretty fast.

Here’s the sad part – I see a TON more of this in the future.  There are a slew of kids and young adults out there who really can’t do anything. They aren’t exceptional in any way, nor are they encouraged to be. That’s going to be a problem – there was a time in this country when you could be average and make an “ok” middle class living. But those days are done – you either excel, or you will have a “barely above minimum wage” career consisting of answering the phone, doing data entry, or asking if they want that supersized.

In simple terms, there won’t be any room for those who show up and do the minimum. Well wait – there will be room for them – it’s just it’ll always be in their parent’s house.