Why ‘Just Get a Summer Job’ Is the Worst Advice for Privileged 18-Year-Olds
Most people tell high school graduates to get a summer job to ‘build character.’ But for those who don’t need the money, that advice is a trap. Working a low-end job trains your brain to accept mediocrity, lowering your standards for life just when they should be highest. The real investment is in yourself — skills, confidence, and experiences that compound. If you must work, frame it as a deliberate experiment, not a necessity.