Success

Our society's highest value is effort. Work hard, as hard as you can; set a goal, do everything to achieve it, because if you don't you are lazy. Nothing is worse than not wanting to shine.
Okay, I get it. Of course you should work up to your potential. You are who you are for a reason and if you are capable of being a big-shot lawyer or a multimillionaire something, there is no excuse not to. Too bad, though, that while climbing up the ladder of success you usually have to step on many people's hands. You can only reach the top if they're pushed down; the ladder ends somewhere and the space on the highest step is limited. So, while people (who really know it) argue that you are nothing if you achieve nothing, I would beg to differ by quoting a main inspiration of my life, Albus Dumbledore: "It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities."
I want: an internationally accepted degree, to speak 27 languages, to live on 3 countries at the same time, a ridiculously well-paid job, and a pretty prince to marry.
Really? But what for?
My Bachelor of Arts in German and English will equip me with the same skills as 200 other students, and that's only in my city, in my university, in my semester. I will most probably end up at a job at some newspaper, being artistically restricted to adjust my writings to match the average IQ and attention span of the reader.
My Latin, English, French, Italian, Chinese, Spanish and Portuguese will give me great insight into cultures unknown and general understanding and wisdom blah, blah, blah. But what if it doesn't? Am I a less valuable human being?
Granted, I love living in foreign countries, which also promotes the language skills, but if I feel at home somewhere why should I leave just so I can write in my CV that I have not only lived in Australia, Canada, and Brazil but also in Sweden and South Africa.
The well-paid job I take, but I hope I have made clear that all the money in the world can't buy you happiness (and you think: blah, blah, blah). That will be acomplished by my last point. (Remember, the prince?)
I don't want to get carried away but I have noticed that we put so much pressure on ourselves to become the people that others want us to be. And the worst about it is that it usually happens at the cost of others. It's almost as if there isn't enough success out there to supply all of us.
Instead of putting each other down, instead of thinking that others want to take something away from me, I think we should start to love each other. I am positively sick of other people not giving a sh... about who I am. I want to see you and I want to be seen by you. I don't want any of your riches. I just want to love you so you can be successful and actually feel happy about it.