No Shortcuts Here

Last night, the Florida Gaters won the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship. Okay, I did not see the game, but I will pretend I know about it for the purposes of this blog. Florida's team was essentially the same team as last year. Somebody Noah is the tall guy, and he would have been offered wheelbarrows full of money for entering the NBA last year. Three other guys, all tall as well, would have been offered wheelbarrows or buckets full of money for entering the draft last year. Well, they must have gotten together, discussed the pros and cons of it all, and since the cafeteria food rocks, they decided to stay at Florida.

You see, they delayed gratification¹. They decided to work together for another college championship, to delay their dreams of playing in the NBA for something else. You know, this was a sacrifice for something that they achieved this year, something I think they will always treasure.

The four talented college players did not take the shortcut.

Okay, most of us don't play college b-ball for a 1-A school, or are that tall, or can even dribble a ball without "walking." I never understood while they called it "walking" because you are walking or running while dribbling normally. Again, it is basketball, so it does not have to make sense. But sometimes we take shortcuts.

I mean, we borrow money to go to school. Remember "It's a Wonderful Life"? George saves money to go to college and then plans to go – but he sends his brother. He delays gratification. I did not borrow money to go to school – I worked my ass off while going to school, and when I was finished, not only did I have a degree, but I also had no huge bill to pay for school. And I had a better appreciation for the sacrifice I made.

If you would have given me a choice, I would have much rather been one of those Daddy's Girls – sorority type whose outfits cost as much as a semester hour or two. I would have signed up for that, and I don't think there is anything wrong with it, but if your circumstances don't find you taking wads of cash from Daddy, paying your way through college seems like the way to go.

Each year, thousands of college students don't take the student loan shortcut.

I am watching, at work, an interview process. I am not doing the interviewing, but I do see the resumes and experience. Several of the applicants don't have the experience necessary. As I listen to others discuss the candidates, they bemoan an attitude of entitlement. That a degree alone entitles an applicant to a mid-level management job. Forget learning from previous jobs. Forget climbing the corporate ladder, slobbering kisses on bosses' tuchies.

Each year, thousands upon thousands of graduates expect mid-level jobs with entry level skills, education and experience.
Sometimes we need to delay gratification so that we can achieve, earn or learn so that when we do advance, we do so because of our actions, choices and . . . .

Screw it. I am going to buy a lottery ticket. Can't wait until the drawing Wednesday night!

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¹By writing that they delayed gratification, I am not saying they were celibate the whole time they were at Florida. I am talking about not "cashing in" on their athletic ability. If they needed to remain celibate, I am thinking they would be NBA stars, driving Hummers, getting hummers. A little joke that detracts from the intent of this blog.