Do you think it's right for a high school teacher to give their students this advice:?

Question

"Nobody gets to do what they love in life, so choose something you can tolerate."

Why do you come to this conclusion?

Sorry, I'm not sure if I made myself clear. This is "career advice"

Answer 1

I don't think it's right, but it would be hard to say it's wrong, either.

There is a grain of truth in it.. a bit of wisdom, but it isn't said in the right way or at the right time.

He/she should say, "most of us don't get to do what we love in life (for a living), and, if you try your hardest for a few years and it doesn't happen (you aren't able to do what you'd love to do for a living), THEN and ONLY then, should you resign yourself to "doing something you can tolerate."

Actually, even that is a bad thing to say, because, invariably, even if you don't get to do what you love, there is something else out there that you might love just as much, so why settle for what you can tolerate?

Does that make sense?

The teacher can save some people time who maybe want to be the next movie star or the next president (without paying their dues, and putting in the many years of hard thankless work it takes to get there), but it isn't true that you can't do what you love.

For most people, you COULD do what you love if you put your mind to it.

The teacher also is showing some cynicism in essentially believing that most of those who COULD do what they love never WILL do it, cause they are too lazy to put in the many years of hard work it will take to get to where they are doing what they love for a living for the rest of their life.

Make sense?

Answer 2

It is sensible, if a bit boring and depressing. The truth is "Almost nobody gets to do what they love in life, so choose something you can tolerate, if you care about being comfortable, stable, or even successful."
So many kids in America go around thinking they can be pop stars, sports stars, etc. Without a back-up plan, the vast majority of them will be disappointed, frustrated, and have difficulty achieving the comfortable, stable, and economical successful life that will become more important to them as they get older and realize that things like owning a home and taking care of a family are what they really want.

Answer 3

I think that advice is crazy. I found a job that I LOVED. Looked forward to going to work every night. I was a cab driver in New Orleans. I considered myself an ambassador to the city. I drove around all night, listening to my favorite music, experiencing New Orleans through the eyes of tourists from all over the planet. It was different everyday. I never knew what was waiting around the corner. I made good money and had the time of my life. I also started riding the same people over and over and developed friendships that will last a lifetime. It was remarkable. I had to relocate after Hurricane Katrina destroyed my home but I am creating a job for myself, since I couldn't really find one that I was too crazy about.

Answer 4

I think that he was telling you to, basically, be PRACTICAL.

If I'd been in his shoes, I would have told the students that it's VERY RARE to get what you really want in life, so always have "contingency plans"--that is, to figure out what sorts of things are "tolerable," career-wise, and find out more about those fields and what sorts of things one needs to study to have a good career.

The only difference between the teacher's advice and mine is that I would have worded it differently. The "nobody" statement is extreme, in that it implies that there are "never" any exceptions to the general rule, and that simply is not true. SOME people DO get to live out their dreams.

Another thing to consider is that ones dreams tend to change as one goes along in life. It is possible to have many different careers. So, in that sense, you just might get to live out your dreams. But maybe they won't be the exact same dreams that you had as a youth.

Answer 5

I think all teachers should say something to that effect to their students. Students leave school disillusioned and upset that they are not making six figures, with a corner office and bossing people around all day. Why sugarcoat the truth? I think it will make people rethink how much emphasis they put on "glamor" jobs and focus on the reality of the workplace. In fact, I think much of the office politics and angst in the workplace is because people are not happy with their jobs. They could possibly be if they knew what to expect before getting there.

Answer 6

You should tell your students to go for what they love in life. Don't let your views get in the way of what their potential could be. You could be holding someone back from something great. DOn't settle for anything less than the best.

Answer 7

This is probably not the best advice, but maybe the teacher is unsatisfied with their career choices, so I would instruct the child to do strive to do what they love and work hard at it and they will succeed.

Answer 8

It's honest and it's helpful.

However, it's not always true. The teacher should have asserted that.

Putting children on a false set of hopefulness is cruel. It's like being told you could never get cancer, and then you get it an die.

Answer 9

This is wrong. Teachers are supposed to inspire students and make them follow their dreams, not limit them on what they can do and give them limitations. It's never too late to do what you wanted. All dreams can come true on what you want to be in life.

Answer 10

no i think that will crush a kids dreams and hopes
i mean maybe the teacher didnt get to do something they love but that doesnt mean no one will
i also think that you shouldnt teach unless you love teaching i think you need to have a heart for the kids
someone who hates teaching dont make a very good teacher