I think Melissa's point is a very reasonable counter to my post discussing being uneasy about working for a firm. To say that prosperity and comfort are morally reprehensible would be a difficult, and for me, hypocritical, statement to make. I also recognize that you can use the resources that career provides to attempt to make change. It does, however, seem difficult to reconcile a need to address injustices with a lifestyle which devotes 90% of waking hours to making money.

The nature-nurture distinction that Anja brings up is also, I believe, very relevant. Its worth noting that there is something of a correlation between the life experiences and the career goals of students here. Individuals who grew up in a certain environment want to replicate that level of prosperity for themselves. A natural tendency, and something that I can recognize in my own thought processes, but is it something we should resist or accept?

-- WalkerNewell - 07 Feb 2009