Why are you gatekeeping hard work? My mother raised my brother and me by herself, working extra long hours just to make ends meet. Bending over backwards to still make it to our wrestling meets and make sure she spent enough time with us. She’s not a hard worker to you, however, because she works in an office instead being a day laborer?? Gtfoh

Where does it end? I’m sure a hospital custodian job looks pretty cushy to the migrant landscaper toiling under the sun all day long while being paid less than minimum wage under the table.

I’m in my 30s, I’ve worked a full time job since my junior year of high school, which significantly delayed my finishing college and entering medical school. I’m in my 4th year now, paying over $60k/year in tuition for the privilege of working almost 72hrs a week in the hospital. I’ll be in my mid-30s by the time I finish Med school, and I’ll have $300,000+ of student loan debt with compounding interest. Then I’ll have another 4 years of residency where I’ll get paid $55,000/year to work 80-100hrs/week on top of finding time to do research and volunteer. By the time I start making “doctor money” I’ll be almost 40 and in $400k of debt, still working over 40hrs/week.

It takes a lot more than just “studying hard” to make it this far. Now, I’m certainly not a “bootstrapper.” I’m under no illusion that just anyone could make it to where I’m at now, but you should dispel the notion that doctors and other professionals aren’t hard working.

I’ll remind you that taking your argument taken to its logical conclusion, unless you’re in a Chinese sweatshop making $2/day or in an African mineral mine, you’re likely not a hard worker either.