Growing up, I was always aware of the inequality of the world.
I had friends who were from affluent backgrounds and friends who were from average households. It didn’t take me long to realize that those with more resources had much better access to opportunities than those who had less.
I was never envious of the wealth, but rather of the opportunities that came with it.
I always felt like I was at a disadvantage, especially when it came to getting a job. I didn’t have any special skills or qualifications, and I wasn’t particularly good at anything either.
My family wasn’t well-off, and my mother had to work two jobs to make ends meet. In school, I was an average student at best and I wasn’t sure what my future held.
As I looked at my best friend, I couldn’t believe how lucky he was. His mother had just managed to get him a job at a renowned local bank, despite the fact that he could barely spell basic English. I knew that there were many more qualified candidates who were just as qualified and had a better command of the language than him, but who were overlooked because of their lack of connections.
The world is not fair.
I had known my friend since we were in poly, and I’d seen firsthand how hard he worked for his grades but always ended with nothing but disappointment.
In every group friends there is always a dumb one.
Meanwhile, my friend’s mother was able to pull some strings and get him the job he wanted, despite his limited English skills. While I was happy for him, I couldn’t help but feel a little envious and resentful.
It seemed unfair that someone with an impressive CV and a great academic record was overlooked in favour of someone who couldn’t even spell basic English. But what made it worse was the fact that the person who was chosen was someone who was connected to the right people.
It made me realize how unfair the world can be. It doesn’t matter how hard you work or how qualified you are if you don’t have the “right” connections.
I couldn’t help but think about how many other people were in a similar situation. How many people with impressive resumes and great qualifications were overlooked in favour of those with the right connections? How many people lost out on the chance to pursue their dreams because of their lack of connections?
It made me sad to think about, but it also made me angry. It made me angry that the world is so unfair. It made me angry that the ones who succeed are often the ones with the right connections, not the ones who are most qualified.
It’s easy to get discouraged when you see something like this happening. It can make you feel like you’re not good enough and that no matter how hard you work, you’ll never make it.
But I want to encourage everyone out there to keep going, because eventually, hard work and dedication will pay off.