Jaks you talk about kids not choosing jobs but choosing to deal in drugs, you obviously do not remember or possibly wasn't around in the 60's.
I used to be paid a penny for every "pill" I found of my brothers stash, I well remember smuggling stuff in his borstal.
Northern soul nights drugs were every where, I lost my first mate to an OD at 14, saw plenty more in hospital and youth offending schemes, that was their choice I chose to do other things so did many of the kids on the estate I was dragged up on. I saw plenty of kids end up with decent jobs and I also saw mates (3) arrested for murder and also lost a mate who was murdered.
What made the difference choice some of us chose to do something about the shite we were in, some chose to pick up social and mocked the rest of us who were struggling with no food on the table the day before pay day.
In my family we knew when our mom had pawned my days best suit usually on a Wednesday because we had food that day (thumbs) that suit had to be back by sunday when dad went to church :whistle:
I am well aware that some will never be able to be drag themselves out of the shit pile and they are the ones that need help, but I am a firm believer that you have to take responsibility for your own journey.
I would love to meet the teacher who wrote on my records that "I was the child most likely never to succeed at anything" perhaps that reflected more on his teaching than my abilities or what Maslon and the teaching at the time were doing to prepare us for the world.
I remember at junior school the school board man turning up at my house, he was talking to my parents when I walked in from "work" to be fair to him he had the decency to explain to me that my parents were about to be prosecuted for my none attendance at school, I told my parents not to worry as I would pay the fine, he asked how I was going to do that I replied "work" He asked me if I had ever been in trouble with the police I said no as that would stop me earning, at which point he got up left the house never to return and my parents were never prosecuted.
The guy who is putting my bike back together is dyslexic he is 61 and was always thrown to the back of the class because he was thick and as he said "put a tool in my hands and I'll fix anything" his work is stunning
It's not always about being hungry which sometimes can be a catalyst for far greater things. Sometimes it's just about being sheer bloody minded and refusing to take no for an answer and making a decision to get off your arse. of course the odd mentor along the way can make a lot of difference so can a bad teacher in both a good and bad way.
Just had a trip to Moroc and saw plenty of people with very little yet they managed to be polite outward looking, honest and friendly and I never heard anyone say the world owed them a living
Cheers Spud
Life... it's not a dress rehearsal
You don't waste time... you waste yourself