2026-08-20
For context: A former professor of mine whom I see as a sort of mentor was asking me about my summer. I told him about some of the observations I made while moving, namely the fact that many of my coworkers were college educated and quite bright. He then proposed two worlds. One where all labor is completed voluntarily, that is workers do the jobs that they desire and that is the only criteria for job selection. The other is a world where college is designed not to create human capital but to create educated free thinkers.
Dear Dr Renfro,
I was not just a mover this summer. I also worked as a remote IT technician intern for a mid-sized rental property management software company -- super exciting stuff. There is some valuable perspective to be gained here, though. Let's compare the two.
Compensation I was paid the same amount at both jobs. $20 an hour. Actually, I made significantly more as a mover because 30-40% of my income was from tips.
Impact I felt that I was making a larger, or at least more readily apparent, impact on the world as a mover. The things I did were tangible. I could see the furniture in its place. I felt the weight of the boxes that otherwise could not have been moved. I heard the gestures of appreciation from customers.
You’re still helping people in IT, of course. And that felt good too. But the intended outcome of my help was to get people back to work so that they could provide value to the company. That’s it.
Enjoyment If you recall our last conversation, I am the sort of person who welcomes adversity. I find that this is somewhat of an unorthodox mindset. I don't find that many of my peers share it.
This allowed me to glean more from being a mover than most. I enjoyed getting up early, the sun beating down on me, the weight of the furniture. It was that "primal challenge" that I was seeking.
Working in IT is boring. Most of your time is spent waiting. Nothing that I did was particularly challenge, and the things that did prove troublesome I was able to automate with technology.
Thoughts I made more money, had more fun, and felt that I was "doing more good" as a mover, but when people from school ask me what I did this summer, I'm going to mention my time as an IT technician before anything else.
Why?
I think it's a status thing, or perhaps even more accurately, it's a matter of exclusivity.
I had to work hard for that internship. I had to do well academically. I had to carry myself in the manner of someone who is desirable and worthy of being hired. I had to have knowledge that other people didn't. It was something that I deserved. I'm special.
This theme presents itself in one of our other questions being "Why so people display wealth obscenely?” Because it’s something that other people can’t do.
This is a concept that I’ve thought a lot about this summer, this “status,” specifically in how it relates to purpose. That is, is the goal for some people to stack as many of these exclusivities as they can until they die? Is that a fulfilling life?
When it comes to our two worlds, I have an easier time accepting the first. It is not the lack of desire to move that disheartens me, it is the way that they are looked upon by the rest of society.