Moral Relativism

Here I go again, attempting to defend my choice of an educational institution. I come from a staunchly middle class family. I am a first generation American who is helping her parents while they help her get through a really tough time. I have a grandfather who is dying, a sister who has a high risk pregnancy, and a mountain of debt. I work three jobs and live within my means, but somehow cannot always seem to get that credit card down.

I am the 99%.

BUT, I got to a top 10 school. Chances are, I will most likely find a job if I do not get into the PhD program of my choice (mostly because of my sheer determination). Chances are,I may even get into that highly competitive PhD program, maybe eventually getting rid of my debt by living within my means and paying my bills on time.

But now there is this Thursday Times Style article profiled by Gawker and it hurts my feelings. These students, however well meaning they may be, they make my efforts seem trite, pedantic, selfish, and above all, pretentious, They make lit majors sound like bro-like Bankers! How can we be likened in our douchery? How is this even possible? When did reading books become selfish and childish. I get it, they seem like they do not care about anything but their own self importance, and that is ridiculous.

I just have one request:

Don’t shit on me and my school. Don’t shit on my major or my passions. I have aspirations that align with the pretentious editors of this zine, but that does not mean I live in my ivy covered ivory tower of selfishness and douchery.