Anonymous wrote:There is a mythical belief that work ethics can only be learned by paid odd jobs.

It's a deeply grained part of the American mythological, where people lift themselves up by their bootstraps, self-made, did it on their own. I don't the statistics bear that out in the least.

Anonymous wrote:We paid for college, but our kids also worked during summers and sometimes during school to earn their own spending money and in one case, sorority dues.

I think these jobs are important - they teach good work skills and the importance of showing up on time. I had a 24 year old employee once who didn't understand why she couldn't just show up for work at noon - this was for an office job with 8:30-5 hours.

That's a common sense issue.

We paid for college, but our kids also worked during summers and sometimes during school to earn their own spending money and in one case, sorority dues.

I think these jobs are important - they teach good work skills and the importance of showing up on time. I had a 24 year old employee once who didn't understand why she couldn't just show up for work at noon - this was for an office job with 8:30-5 hours.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have five adults who are successful, and I stressed hard work and independence and I do not pay for college.

Do you have the means to pay for college? If you are wealthy and aren't paying for college, I'd consider that pretty selfish.

Of course PP doesn’t. Not without leveraging the house anyway. Pure cope.

How do you know? There are some wealthy people on this site who think kids should pay for college because it teaches them a lesson, or whatever. Which isn't fair for kids from families who can easily afford it, because they don't qualify for financial aid so can only go for merit aid which clearly limits their options.

Anonymous wrote:I think people overvalue making kids having jobs and supporting themselves and paying for college. Most successful people i see are ones who were supported by families and who had no loans and no menial jobs but internships, research projects, sports and volunteer work.

Yes, because that makes raising kids easier - "18 and you are out" "when I went to college" "if I did it, you can too". All kinds of BS excuse to cut them loose.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have five adults who are successful, and I stressed hard work and independence and I do not pay for college.

Do you have the means to pay for college? If you are wealthy and aren't paying for college, I'd consider that pretty selfish.

Of course PP doesn’t. Not without leveraging the house anyway. Pure cope.

Anonymous wrote:I have five adults who are successful, and I stressed hard work and independence and I do not pay for college.

Do you have the means to pay for college? If you are wealthy and aren't paying for college, I'd consider that pretty selfish.

100% agree. People who try to synthesize coming from modest means aren’t doing their kids a single favor.

Anonymous wrote:There is a mythical belief that work ethics can only be learned by paid odd jobs.

I don't think that's the case but there is a difference between expecting work in the summers of college, and kids who travel/lounge around. It makes a difference when it comes time to get a job after college - you need to have something on your resume that shows you have some ambition and/or experience. For one of my DCs, having a (paid) internship was an asset but so was a customer service oriented job at a high end place, because DC is now in a client service business (consulting).

I have five adults who are successful, and I stressed hard work and independence and I do not pay for college.

Anonymous wrote:I think parents should pay for college if they can, but not have their kid lay around or socialize all summer. Part time college jobs and summer jobs are really important -- they teach you how the real world actually works. Service jobs are the best -- everyone should consider having a service job as part of their education.

Do you want to be scooping ice cream after your get your degree? Before is preferable IMO. Also you meet a lot of people that way. It's not all bad.

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You could be scooping ice cream before and after, it doesn't guarantee a great outcome. Most drop outs are scooping twice as much.

Hard work is hard work, no matter its highly paid, underpaid or unpaid.

Not saying its bad, just saying unpaid productive work is as valuable but much undervalued.

I think parents should pay for college if they can, but not have their kid lay around or socialize all summer. Part time college jobs and summer jobs are really important -- they teach you how the real world actually works. Service jobs are the best -- everyone should consider having a service job as part of their education.

Do you want to be scooping ice cream after your get your degree? Before is preferable IMO. Also you meet a lot of people that way. It's not all bad.

Unpaid volunteer work and internships aren't considered "real work".