“Good Grades + Good Career = Good Life” & Other Lies
Good Life.
Two words which have kissed the lips of every human being in almost every language.
Good Life.
A concept that has pushed millions of people to leave their country. While Western governments are trying to block immigrants, the main reason why those people leave their homeland in the first place is because of their hope for a Good Life.
Good Life.
A concept that has pushed monarchs and leaders to invade, kill, and conquer other regions since the beginning of time.
Good Life.
What is the definition of a “Good Life”?
A “Good Life” means different things to different people. For some, it could be defined as having all basic human needs met: food, shelter, safety, love, and a sense of belonging.
To others, it could mean experiencing an extravagant life: Wealth, luxury, fame…etc. There must be a reason why reality TV shows that pull back the curtain on the luxurious lifestyle of the 1% are ranking so high in the entertainment industry. “Keeping Up With The Kardashians”, “The Kardashians”, “Dubai Bling”, “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills”, and “I Am Georgina”, to name a few, all have amassed millions of views per season.
An abundant way of life would be the definition of success for many people out there. People do the craziest things for money after all.
However, the common theme between the two lifestyles is having a sense of fulfillment.
Society’s viewpoint
For the mass population, society markets the ability to get a good life through one main particular path:
Get good grades through K-12. Ace your SAT. Get into a good college. Get a job.
Why is this an issue?
Let’s take a look at me:
I am the firstborn in my family. Both of my parents were high-achieving students and first-generation college graduates. They had high expectations for me, and I rose to the challenge by consistently earning excellent grades throughout my education. But that was not all. I was also a dreamer and an ambitious little girl. Ever since I was a child, I aimed to achieve great things in my life. My definition of a “good life” and sense of success revolved around financial freedom. My parents and teachers told me that studying hard and being the best would get me there.
I was also a big fan of cartoons, especially Barbie and Disney princesses. Did they have the biggest influence on me? I couldn’t say for sure. I saw them living in castles, wielding wands, or having fairy godmothers granting their wishes. When I understood that magic wasn’t real, I realized that the closest thing to a magic wand in real life was money. I didn’t strive for the best grades just for the sake of it; I aimed high because I wanted more than a middle-class life.
As a teenager, movies like “21”, “Limitless”, and “The Wolf of Wall Street” fueled my dreams of a prosperous lifestyle. These films inspired me to excel academically, driven by the desire to achieve more and be the best. When I graduated from college with honors and an engineering degree, I felt like I finally had the magic wand in my hands. I thought, “Finally! All my dreams are about to come true!”.
However, life slapped me with a reality check: I found myself in the rat race. That’s when I realized it was all a lie!
The infinite loop
A new level unlocks: The infinite loop.
“An infinite loop — sometimes called an endless loop — is a piece of code that lacks a functional exit so that it repeats indefinitely.” (Lutkevich, 2023).
Just like in programming, this applies to real life:
Input (~22 years of your life):
- Study and get a decent GPA.
- Go to college and get your bachelor’s degree.
- Top hundreds of other applicants and get a job.
Output *Generalized*:
- Wake up every day, commute to work (~30mins+)
- Perform daily work tasks [most likely for a company that does not belong to you or care about you]. (~ 8 hours)*
- Commute back home. (~30 mins +)
- Enjoy personal time (Go to the gym, cook, hang out with your friends, upskill yourself…etc.) (~4 hours)
- Tuck yourself into bed (preferably at a decent hour). (~1 hour)
- Sleep (~8hours)
- Repeat.
*The ultimate goal of every company is to maximize shareholder wealth. Businesses cannot run on good intentions.
The question is: Is this what you want? Is this how YOU define a good life?
Fulfillment
We tend to forget that time is a valuable resource. Every second wasted you can never get back.
Sit down with yourself, and dive deep into what could potentially fulfill YOU...
There is no shame if the above-mentioned routine is how you see yourself spending the rest of your life. Millions of people out there are content with what they have and do not want nor care about ambition, wealth, or climbing the corporate ladder. It’s important to remember that THAT IS OKAY! Contentment and simplicity are elegant.
The problem pops up when you are not fulfilled.
Maybe you are already two decades into your career, and you have finally realized that the course you’ve taken is not the best for you. Maybe you are a young professional and you have already realized that the corporate 9–5 is not for you. YOU ARE NOT STUCK!
Explore other routes like academia or entrepreneurship. The possibilities are endless as long as you are not dead. It’s not over until it is over.
Take a look at Colonel Sanders, the founder of KFC. He founded the company in 1952, at 62 years old! Before that, he worked several jobs which had absolutely nothing to do with the fast food industry.
Lack of fulfillment could push people towards the edge, and in severe cases, it could lead to permanently damaging consequences on someone’s physical and/or mental health. You’re not doomed to a life of unhappiness, stress, and depression. Your mindset, attitude, habits, and choices are what determine the next few years of your life.
Ask yourself:
- Are you happy waking up every morning and investing 8 hours doing your job?
2. Do you feel fulfilled in the environment that you are in?
3. If you were not compensated for the job that you are doing, would you still want to be committed to what you are currently doing?
4. Could you pinpoint how and why you got yourself here in the first place?
5. Is there any other infinite loop you would rather be stuck in, with its ups and downs?
These are not the questions you want to ask yourself after a few decades. A regular self-check every year will help you self-correct before you’re far too deep into years of unhappiness.
Choose your loop, choose your pain.
You could get the highest-paying job, and still be constantly anxious and stressed because of the nature of the industry that you are in. Your manager could be toxic, your job could be redundant and boring. Be self-aware. It’s very easy to settle down and get stuck in an infinite loop of unhappiness.
Having a career is not the only way to success and fulfillment. There are tons of other things you could do to thrive. Even if it does not prevent you from experiencing downs, at least you will feel satisfied and wouldn’t want to have it any other way. What society tells us is not necessarily true. Living an unorthodox life is also an option. It does not matter if you are 20 years old or 60 years old. It is never too late to start.
Nobody is coming to save you. Life is not going to miraculously change if you do not take the first step.
So, let me ask you: Are you fulfilled being in the loop that you are currently stuck in?
