Why Rich Kids Lack the Virtues of the Poor

Recently, I had a conversation with a colleague of mine. Upon conversation, the topic of our future arose. We pondered extensively on what we wanted to improve in ourselves. I wasn’t surprised by his quick response. He exclaimed that all he wanted was luxury (clothes, networking, mansions). Now, my colleague has always been a man of envy. Since we met, he has been throwing tantrums about all the sports cars and luxury brands he adores. On certain occasions, he would compare his clothes to mine. Whether it was for validation or a deep stem of insecurity is unknown. But, his overall persona is the pinnacle of consumerist ideology.

He continuously rambled on about the privileges that rich kids possess. While others gained more from doing nothing, he was forced to work tireless hours. This statement made me freeze for a few seconds. After careful examination, an idea came to mind. I briefly replied to his initial comment, telling him how earning your position is much more fulfilling. Hesitantly, my opinion was received positively. With the discussion ending, we quickly parted ways for the day.

It’s probable that he smirked and walked along his day. While I walked back home, I couldn’t resist, but to slow down and carefully composed my argument.

1. Purpose

Knowing that there’s purpose through your actions defines beauty in life. Whether that purpose is shown through buying a dream house or simply showing up to work. Our reason to be here on earth allows us to keep our sanity. Without reason, what’s the point in trying? The imagination is beyond the finite when we start from nothing. Envisioning beyond ourselves transcends into the most significant attributes of humanity: discipline & motivation.

As a former immigrant, the strive has always existed. Moving to the United States at the age of five was a challenging task. Both mother and I were forced to situate in the worst conditions imaginable, from rats crawling into our apartment to mold forming against the white walls. To this day, the smell haunts my dreams. Besides my hazardous household, it took effort to avoid all the work my mother put in. Most of the time, she would spend her days and nights working. When she could return, exhaustion prevailed. Yet, she continued returning, standing for her child’s future.

What she saw was a vision. A world where she can relax while happily spending time with her son. Thankfully, after a dozen years, it all paid off. Even so, she still works tirelessly but is much more comfortable than previously. She is now privileged enough to spend time with my sister and me. We have grown so much throughout the years that strangers would position us in the middle class. Our success would only have amounted to purpose. Without purpose, there would be no point in living.

Thanks to her bravery, I now have the opportunity to succeed in her vision. This allows me to go beyond the status quo to a future where I can bring change to my family, and society as a whole. Knowing I have countless possibilities in this life, only drives me to improve.

The majority of rich kids can’t relate to this inherent strive. With their whole life filled with comfort, it’s impossible to truly embody our agony. By comfort, I’m not speaking of the king-sized bed they sleep on. I’m implying the ease of obtaining everything they’ve dreamed of. If they want a purse, they got it. A car? Easy deposit. Whatever is imagined can easily be put into reality. Besides themselves, there’s not much to contribute to the people around them. Their parents don’t expect their children to build an empire they’ve built. The truth is that the friends within their circle will have equal or superior wealth.

Undoubtedly, their psyche will face dire consequences. They’ll be utterly aware that working won’t significantly change their lives. This idea will lead them to try to find some form of meaning. Unfortunately, their meaning will only suffice in rebellion. This form of insurgence will manifest in hedonistic traits. The catalyst that principally affects rich kids is substance abuse. Other consequences would range within the seven deadly sins. Pride, Lust, and Sloth are the leading manufacturers. In most cases, this destruction is the only tangible way to find meaning in the already-established American dream.

This generalization of rich kids applies to most, but not all. A portion of the population becomes the exception, especially when their parents are noticed through the mainstream media. A specific example is the lives of politicians. Others would consist of CEOs or musical artists. Their parents will realize that they’re the successors, which results in an influx of time investment. This alternative still has potential risks, such as trying to outdo their parents’ reputation. Nevertheless, It’s the best option when compared to the alternative.

2. Humility vs Pride

Like any other person, entering the mall can instill fear and pleasure, whether exploring the food aisle or looking for a new pair of blankets. Upon entering any of the shops, we visualize two ideas in mind. Our first idea is to list all the items we wish to purchase. Secondly, it is realizing its impact on our bank accounts. Accepting our limitations brings sadness, but it proposes more than you might think.

What we accept is the things we can’t get. The rich kids accept all they can get. This difference is precisely what sets us apart. Instead of only seeing an items price, we know the value it holds. Meanwhile, the rich kids only consider the cost and decide based on its sum.

Noticing small handbags that are worth thousands humbles us. Not because we wish to acquire these egregious purses but because they are out of our hands. We realize that individuals worldwide who have likely purchased this expensive item without considering the total price. It puts us in our place. A smack of anger might fill our brain, yet it’s filled with humbleness. Some things are out of our control, and that’s the beauty of starting out poor.

Even if someone becomes wealthy, they will still hold the feelings of humble beginnings. They’ll be aware of all they’ve amassed. Bringing an internal gratefulness for the ability to buy the things that were once far into the clouds. Humility in this form can’t be expressed through their children. When purchasing something, they’ll think of nothing but its price. All that will be imagined is the next item they must acquire. This leads to a prideful sense of superiority in knowing they can easily access items that do not apply to the rest of society. This is why being cautious of the price will be much more fulfilling than the people who see nothing more than an expensive handbag. We won’t rule the mall; we’ll earn it.

The second part of prideful behavior is snobbery. A lot of rich kids act as if they’re the most intelligent beings on earth. In particular discussions, they’ll automatically seen higher even if they’re wrong. This results from crowds falling into the superficial ruling, causing the majority to attach themselves to the opinions of the rich impulsively. It’s inevitably a primal trap that conditions us to place value on money, not intellect. It’s why we’ve put so much value on former President Trump. He was never known for his ideologies in politics. What brought his rise into government was solely his already established wealth & fame. I’m not attacking his views on specific issues, but we must acknowledge where we place our values.

The third component of pride within wealthy children is leadership. It’s visible that most modern politicians come from established family dynamics. This allows for successors to be guaranteed a position of power. Inequality is shown through no other than the famous general Napoleon Bonaparte. Born on the island of Corsica, his parents found it much more beneficial for him to immigrate to France. So, he did precisely that at the mere age of nine. Upon arriving, he automatically brought with him a significant disadvantage. While being poor was a portion of his bad luck, it’s clear that his accent was much more bleak. It’s rumored that a young Napoleon would fight back due to being repetitively ridiculed. Luckily, as he grew, so did his French. Yet, he still carried his family’s poor background with him. Why would anyone listen if his family were nobody’s? This travesty traveled through his adult years.

Napoleon, working hard throughout the years, finally had an opportunity for a promotion. He has built himself up through battles (not nearly impressive compared to future coalitions). The only problem was another man who wanted the same position. His opponent, Alexandre, was known only for his family’s wealth. His reputation was also weak, and he couldn’t compare himself to the young Napoleon. In the end, Alexandre became victorious and obtained the promotion, not due to skill but solely to his family’s background. I’m sure he felt a sense of pride that day, even if it was never deserved. The irony comes with Napoleon’s growth. Not only did he achieve the highest rank as emperor in France, but he stole Alexandres’ wife after his death in the reign of terror.

What’s clear is how easy it is to rise with established power. Don’t get me wrong, I’m aware rich kids will still get rejected from time to time. But if they were put into a statistic with the rest of the population, they wouldn’t compare. Having the ability to be placed on top of a pedestal will bring waves of pride, resulting in nothing more than a superiority complex. While the person who subconsciously is aware that they’ve come from nothing will not allow pride to creep up slowly. Only dignity and humbleness will shine.

3. Conclusion

I’m not encouraging people to go through my exact journey. No one should ever experience living in an inadequate household. I am implying that not everything should be given to the mouths of others. We humans only grow our virtues through suffering. Whether that be through physical fitness or starting a career, It’s pain will inevitably be experienced, and that’s the beauty of being human. Unfortunately, rich kids fall victim to pleasure due to the lack of awareness. Not all of them are bad, but let’s face it: the majority are.