Yesterday, I got into a verbal altercation at Starbucks.
An older man, talking very loudly, said something along the lines of “My son is golden because he has a degree from Stanford University.”
This comment really infuriated me because this type of outdated thinking—that a college degree from an elite, pricey university means you’re set for life—must die immediately. It falsely signals to employers that you’re better than the average Jane just because you have a piece of paper. In reality, all it really signals is your family’s socioeconomic status.
So I interjected and said, “Let me guess… You paid for your son’s education.”
“I did,” he said. “My son’s grandfather was Herbert Hoover, and my son’s degree is like gold.”