Thank You Tang Dynasty

I met this janitor whose mother was also a janitor / housekeeper. I was appalled by the lack of ambition demonstrated by this guy and his mother. Unsurprisingly, this guy didn't last long as he was fired a short time later. This isn't a diatribe against low skilled entry level positions as my mother was a janitor for many years. The difference is that if my career only amounted to being a janitor, my mother would have treated me like a slinky (aka thrown down a flight of stairs). 

To a lesser extent, this lack of ambition also applies to jobs where the only serious requirement is a high school diploma. When the minimum standard is so low, a high school diploma ceases to be a notable accomplishment. For example, a foreigner taking a Communications 12 course is understandable, but a supposedly native English speaker taking the same class is kind of sad. One doesn't have to pursue a liberal arts degree as it is not suited for everyone, but at least complete an apprenticeship or a program at a vocational school.