Interesting read. His thoughts would probably be very much different if he was at his local junior college, with students there for lesser reasons.
The author said, "Every single day I went to work with much better humans than myself. I was brought to a higher level of existence because the standards were high and one needed to earn their slot, their membership in the unit. This wasn’t a one-time deal. Every time you showed up for work, you needed to prove your worth."
If someone takes a general math class because it would be easier (and might get a better grade) then algebra or trig, they violate his need to be brought to a higher level of existence. Those, I'm guessing, are at the local JC.
"The other students looked like children to me. Hell, they are children, but when they speak, and some of them speak English as their second language, they sound like very well-spoken adults." These folks are not your every day, born in America kids on easy street. These youngsters were brought up learning, not playing computer games, dating, drinking....etc.
I have a friend from Mozambique. He grew up in an atmosphere of learning. He came to America and began with a double master's deg. He's now a physician's asst., buys truckloads of hospital supplies being sold for .10 on the dollar, and is setting up a hospital in his home country.
There is a BIG difference in how a youngster starts, what their goals are and what's expected of them by the people around them that determines where they end up.
What the "snowflake" is, is encouraged by out education system (no losers, every one gets a trophy) and hand outs by the government. They learn they don't have to do much to get by, and that becomes normal.
