Initially,
however, these pardons were controversial because they were sold by the church
as guaranteed salvation; a notion which in part contributed to criticisms by
the likes of those such as Martin Luther, Thomas Cajetan and others. Funny enough, analogous practices have emerged
again in the 21st century; except now they’ve taken a more academic
form. What I’m referring to is STEM
degrees, particularly those focused on technology.
From industry leaders to politicians, the
push for students to study computer science and engineering can be felt
nationwide. Yet, my observations lead me
to believe that the tech sector may not be as ripe with opportunity as the
media would imply. Further, I’m starting
to worry if the same nepotism, cronyism and over-saturation that plagues other
fields is just as prevalent in tech. I’m
beginning to wonder if it’s been…oversold.
Granted,
claiming that technology degrees are as unethical as the indulgences of the
reformation era may be a tad dramatic.
This assertion is not without merit, however. After unsuccessfully applying to over thirty
companies, some of which for different roles, it’s a reasonable inference. Hell, even my own university didn’t reply to
an application I submitted for an assistant role within their media/creation
lab. Further, as referenced in part I, I
have been lucky enough to be offered a couple of Summer internships. Though, after the series of closed doors I
experienced this past year, I began to realize that those internships were
flukes: mere extensions of charity to satisfy some diversity initiative, given
that I’m black; I also was a freight associate at the company beforehand so, of
course, it was the chance for them to promote the “climb the ladder”
propaganda.
Of
course, one could argue that maybe the reason I’ve been so unsuccessful is
simply because I’m not qualified for the roles, and that’s certainly a
possibility. However, context leads me
to believe otherwise. Before the
quarantine began, I had the opportunity to attend a “speed networking” event at
my school. I was primarily there for the
free food (my main reason for attending most events) but I, coincidentally, got a chance to compare my potential to that of other students. Basically, we were assigned to groups that
swapped tables in timed intervals, during which we were able to speak with
various recruiters. We were essentially
interviewed as a group, with each of us taking turns to speak; this is where I
inferred that I may not be as weak a candidate as I’d started to believe.
For example, one rep was
adamant about asking if anyone had anything “public”, referring to submissions
to GitHub. Most in my group didn’t and I
assume it was about the same for other groups; given that I could overhear him
advising them to get on that. I also
don’t remember hearing about past internships among my group members. Though, my adhd was kicking in so I may have
missed it. All I can say is, fluke or
not, I’ve completed two internships at a Fortune 500 company. Also, with the help of a YouTube tutorial, I completed
a simple project in the months after that.
Yet, nothing good came of that event…except the free food, which really wasn’t
“free.” (cough, cough…activity fees)
Of course, I could be jumping
to conclusions: panicking about the lack of success I’ve had with applications
the past year and, subsequently, assuming the worst. However, there are other red flags that have
caused concern. For example, my software
engineering professor, who also had a non-academic tech job, shared a YouTube
video with us. In it, he interviewed a
co-worker of his, lets call him Bob, and asked him a few questions about how he
got his start. While, I can appreciate
an instructor taking a more hands-on approach to their students’ job situation,
there was a discouraging part of the discussion: when Bob mentioned how he
landed his first role by reaching out to a friend who already worked at a
company Bob was interested in. My
professor chimed in, advising us how hard work is good and all, but that we
should “surround ourselves with the right people.” Although this wasn’t the
first time I’d heard this sentiment, it was rather sobering to hear it echoed
by a pedagogue. I mean, if after jumping
through all the hurdles and taking on all the loan debt, my success is still going
to depend on how popular I am, then I’m going to be royally pissed. I
mean really, this is a career we’re talking about here, not homecoming king.
Additionally, the horror
stories I’d heard about others’ struggles to land employment after obtaining a
tech degree didn’t help to boost my optimism either. A guy I’d interned with who was a math major
from FIU claimed he’d put in over a hundred applications before getting a
respectable position: if such a shitty success rate is indicative of an
“in-demand” profession then I’d hate to see the stagnant sectors. Similarly, a friend who’d majored in
IT has had an alarmingly grim employment journey, even after
interning at the same company I did Summer 2018. Granted, he graduated from a for-profit
institution but it’s still surprising that one could have such a hard time with
a tech bachelor’s from anywhere.
Tech, along with other STEM
degrees and certifications, are being sold to the disenfranchised masses as a
gateway to a better life. This sentiment mirrors the Catholic church’s practice
of selling indulgences during the 16th and 17th centuries as
a means of securing one’s spot in heaven; opposition to which indirectly
influenced the enlightenment. However,
I do believe technology, with its open-source and rather democratic
nature, can lead humanity into a Utopian era. Though, we should make sure the professions
remain accessible to all, and are not capitalized on by institutions, for-profit
bootcamps, or fall prey to any to other capitalistic sinkholes. Admittedly, this issue may intersect with a
bigger one: the illusion of “upward mobility.” So, I’ll stop here and leave
that dissection for another rant. For
now, thanks for reading and of course: stay pissed.
References
Tingle, E.
(2014). Indulgences in the Catholic Reformation. Reformation & Renaissance
Review: Journal of the Society for Reformation Studies, 16(2), 181–204.
https://doi-org.proxy.kennesaw.edu/10.1179/1462245914Z.00000000056
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