[turing]

I am not implying that there is a standard for Yalies that doesn't apply to others. I am saying that there is a standard that all of us should aspire to, and that the good fortune that Yalies have been blessed with better positions us to reach it.

When it comes down to it, there is more to assessing a position's value than the income figures on your tax returns. There are the products you produced, the innovations you fostered, the lives you bettered, and the individuals you saved. Not everyone is in a position, socially or financially, to effect such outcomes in their professional lives. Yalies, because of a mix of hard work, luck, and the outstanding generosity of others, are better positioned to make these positive contributions to society than almost anyone in the world. The fact that so many choose such a singularly self-interested path, one whose value is tied solely to the money they earn for themselves, is what upsets me.

[kalid]

Very well put. Jumping into a finance/consulting job for the money and living out your life is the career equivalent of cranking out jingos for commercials or kitsch art reproductions. We're human beings, we're meant to follow our passions. If someone is genuinely interested in optimizing processes or structuring finances, great! But it's a disservice to your soul to jump in for the money alone.

I realize this is a "luxury" mentality (I'm actually the son of immigrants from a poor background so I get this) but life is about more. "I study physics and engineering so my children can study literature and philosophy" is a famous quote along these lines (can't remember). Funny enough, I enjoy math/physics for its own sake. But mindlessly pressuring/inciting people to be doctors/consultants/financial analysts is doing them a disservice in the long run.

And for what it's worth, I think the revenue created by the finance industry far exceeds its value. Saying "the industry must be valuable because it makes money" doesn't sway me. The rubber dog crap industry is probably millions but it's not helping people.