White Privilege

[Danoff]

As for the topic itself, I tend to avoid it because as a white man, anything I say about white privilege usually gets met with, "your white privilege allows you to say that!"

This is part of what I was mentioning earlier, negativity directed toward one group because they are perceived to have something another group does not. This is how one group can try to label every single person in the other group to be part of the problem. If you cast white people as being oblivious to the problem because it is thought to be impossible to see, you get to label every single one of them as contributory, and blame them all, racistly.

It is, fundamentally racist to even make the claim "white privilege". Even when white people do it. What it means, is that you know something about the person's background, perspective, life experiences, and worldview based on the color of their skin. And that is racist.

You've touched on one of the main ways that this kind of mentality toward the class that is perceived to be favored gets used... to silence them. What someone means (no matter the color of their skin) when they say "your white privilege allows you to say that" is, "I will not consider your opinion on this topic because of the color of your skin". It it is a way to disregard someone's thoughts because of the color of their skin.

 

[PeterJB]

The whole white privilege thing can basically be summarised as people who aren't slaves telling people who don't own slaves what they can and can't say and do because of slavery.

 

[TenEightyOne]

The whole white privilege thing can basically be summarised as people who aren't slaves telling people who don't own slaves what they can and can't say and do because of slavery.

What makes you think it's about slavery? That makes no sense... and surely the majority of slaves today (in the UK at least) are white european?

 

[Corsa]

The whole white privilege thing can basically be summarised as people who aren't slaves telling people who don't own slaves what they can and can't say and do because of slavery.

We are all slaves to some entity.
Corporations, government, etc.

To the OP, a well worded fantastic post. You would make a great salesman but I'm not buying.

I think the privilege conversation is a distraction to the larger issues that have consumed man for millenia.

Resources.

Too many people, not enough resources. Food, water, oil, flashy things that make us fight, feel jealous, cause war.
In these eyes it'll always be an argument of raw materials that causes feelings of injustice, prejudice, privileged or owed.

I feel that white people have ruined America for far too long, and that it's time for change. Of course, it's wrong to blame an entire race. But regardless, change needs to happen.

White people have ruined nothing.

The invention of money, cash my friend destroyed the world. (Which someone will point out whites invented money)
Life must of been more simple when I could just trade you my fish for your corn.

I wonder if people 10,000 years ago felt raw material anger, I mean privelege?

 

[Joey D]

I don't really think white privilege is really a thing. To me, it's a narrative that is used to push forward a racial divide and to be used as an excuse when things get tough.

It's almost always advantageous to be one thing vs. another thing with pretty much any activity. It's not a privilege, it's just how things are and just might mean someone might need to work harder to achieve something than someone else.

Is it easier for me to achieve somethings because of my race? Sure. Is it also harder? Sure.

I feel that white people have ruined America for far too long, and that it's time for change. Of course, it's wrong to blame an entire race. But regardless, change needs to happen.

Have you ever lived in the US, or are you basing that opinion on Canadian media?

White people haven't ruined anything, no race has. Certain people ruined things, but they're of all different races and cultures. Looking at more recent examples, Obama isn't white and did his fair share to screw the country up. Trump is orange and he's just continued breaking things.

 

[TenEightyOne]

In these eyes it'll always be an argument of raw materials that causes feelings of injustice, prejudice, privileged or owed.

Not a sole cause, but agreed, The word I think you're looking for is "wealth".

The invention of money, cash my friend destroyed the world. (Which someone will point out whites invented money)

Money doesn't exist except as a concept that describes wealth. Your banknote has no intrinsic value but in fact represents an IOU against someone's store of wealth.

Which someone will point out whites invented money

No someone is the answer to that. In terms of cash it seems they didn't, in terms of trading wealth it also seems they didn't.

Life must of been more simple when I could just trade you my fish for your corn.

Depends if the Gods are bringing fish into my river in the first place. Maybe they're not but the fish are still in yours. And the wind flattened my corn while your valley was untouched. A will to survive leads to a human desire to socialise (literally) in order to create optimum conditions for our own survival and reproduction. Any inability to do so causes powerful feelings that we interpret as anger and resentment, particularly against the factors that cause that inability. Seeing one man feasting on fish while we and our progeny starve is just such an example. Carpe diem - seize his fish.

We are all slaves to some entity.

Ultimately ourselves.

 

[PeterJB]

What makes you think it's about slavery? That makes no sense... and surely the majority of slaves today (in the UK at least) are white european?

Because the idea of white privilege originated in America and is subscribed to largely either by African-Americans who are disgruntled at the fact that their ancestors were once owned by white Americans and think that any perceived injustices they experience today are because of that and that any success white Americans have now is because of that too, and by white Americans who have been told to feel guilty over stuff they haven't done and cannot change.

 

[TenEightyOne]

Because the idea of white privilege originated in America and is subscribed to largely either by African-Americans who are disgruntled at the fact that their ancestors were once owned by white Americans and think that any perceived injustices they experience today are because of that and that any success white Americans have now is because of that too, and by white Americans who have been told to feel guilty over stuff they haven't done and cannot change.

Those causes are not addressed as changeable, the effects are addressed as changeable and, in fact, are changeable.

 

[PeterJB]

Those causes are not addressed as changeable, the effects are addressed as changeable and, in fact, are changeable.

That depends if the effects are as prevalent as they're made out to be.

 

[TenEightyOne]

That depends if the effects are as prevalent as they're made out to be.

What do you understand the effects to be? I'll admit that I haven't read McIntosh's work or any of the academic papers that followed from her or others, I'm hoping to get a copy from the library on Tuesday.

 

[PeterJB]

What do you understand the effects to be? I'll admit that I haven't read McIntosh's work or any of the academic papers that followed from her or others, I'm hoping to get a copy from the library on Tuesday.

I suppose the effects in this case are claims of systemic racism against blacks and other minorities.

 

[Danoff]

Too many people, not enough resources. Food, water, oil, flashy things that make us fight, feel jealous, cause war.
In these eyes it'll always be an argument of raw materials that causes feelings of injustice, prejudice, privileged or owed.

Another appeal to the notion that there is a fixed pie, and one person's slice comes at the cost of another. This is wrong - especially with wealth. Wealth is created, and wealth is destroyed. There is no conservation of wealth law.

 

[stonesfan129]

What disturbs me the most is the amount, or percentage, of people who feel this does not exist at all.

When searching white privilege on youtube it seems many of the videos are about white privilege not existing, or there is videos of white people mocking the idea. Videos supporting the idea of white privilege are heavily downvoted.

So you're against people expressing their opinion? Interesting.

This is very distressing to me.

I'll try to explain my feelings on the topic this way:

There are many types of privileges, being white (in certain areas) is one of them. This does not make people who are white evil or racist. It does not mean all white people receive 4 ounces of solid gold through the mail monthly. It does not mean white people do not have to work hard for anything, or get away with everything. It does not mean social or economic success is guaranteed to white people. Let me explain by giving examples of other types of privilege.

Being born a man gives you the privilege of pursuing a career like mechanic or engineer without people doubting your ability. Being born a man gives you the privilege of playing games online without being sexually harassed.

Because, traditionally, men have held those occupations. It doesn't mean that one's ability is doubted if they are not male. As for online harassment, it has happened to me before and I'm a white male. People act that way online because there are no consequences.

Being born a woman gives you the privilege of pursing a career like secretary or hair dresser without people doubting your sexual orientation. Being born a woman gives you the privilege of being more likely to win a child custody battle.

Because again, traditionally, women have held those positions. I've known men that are good stylists. What are you basing this all on that one will be doubted if they are male and a stylist or secretary? Being female doesn't give you a privilege in a custody battle. It's that state laws are written to favor women. If you get a good enough lawyer, you can win anything.

I think once people start to understand that white privilege is not the only type of privilege that exists, that can help them lower their guard when talking about it.

Being born white in a country that is predominantly white affords you white privilege. To deny that is to deny reality. To deny white privilege is to deny that any privilege exists at all. To deny white privilege is to say that humans treat and view each and every person equally, and nothing could be further from the truth. Its common behavior for people to favor their 'own', people who look like them, people from the same country, people with the same religion or political party. This is reality.

Right, that is why we have affirmative action and racial quotas in jobs and schools. People who are not qualified are given jobs or educations/scholarships they don't deserve as long as they are a certain race and not white.

To white people who who still think white privilege does not exist, imagine this scenario: You are taken to a city in the middle of Africa and told to live there for 10 years. You are the only white person in the entire city. Do you honestly, sincerely believe you will be treated as an equal to the other black people there? That the majority black community will treat you completely fairly and equal while never favoring their own over you? When looking for a job, and its between you and 9 other black people, can you say with 100% certainty the black supervisor is going to see you as an equal and the color of your skin will not affect his decision? How will you feel when you go to the store to get a book for your child and they are all filled with images of black children? Maybe you are single. At work you see a nice looking black woman, you seem to mesh well, but she seems hesitant to be seen around you in front of her black family and friends. This is the land of black privilege, and you do not have it. Sucks doesnt it? To not really know just how much your being screwed over just because of the color of your skin.

To be fair, black people in Africa do not even treat other black Africans equally.

I have plenty of personal experiences. I'll start with an example of me being racist to a black man I had met recently. We spoke for a few minutes and he was articulate, so I complemented him on it. I only just realized, some months later, that if he were a white man I would have never complemented him for being well spoken, and I feel gutted. That is just a small example of white privilege. People are not amazed when you do well for yourself when you are white. You are never spoken of as a 'credit for your race'.

Being amazed when minorities do well for themselves makes one a racist?

I look Middle Eastern more then anything, due to my father being a mixture of races and my mother being Greek. When I go into clothing stores its not uncommon for me to get followed, or shadowed, despite the fact I am usually well groomed and well dressed. Everytime Im not chosen after an interview I cant help but wonder if the way I look had anything to do with the decision. A local temp agency was busted recently for writing B for black and M for Mexican next to the names of applicants. White privilege in full force.

It's probably because those people fit the profile of people who typically steal from the place. It's like when people complain when police patrol black neighborhoods even though that's where the majority of the crime is taking place. As for writing B for black and M for Mexican, this is discrimination, not white privilege. White people are not the only ones who have ever discriminated in hiring.

I was just at the fair recently only to notice the owners of one shop do nothing but glare at me while I looked through the items, only to eagerly rush and assist 2 white customers who came long after me. I've gone into a 'country western wear' store only to be completely ignored by the over one dozen store employees while watching in fear as the security guard put his hand on his gun as I walked by. If I was white, I would not suffer that horror and feeling of being seen as sub-human.

That sounds suspiciously made up.

When I want to find a date, 90%+ of the girls do not look like me. If I were white, 90%+ of the girls would look like me, and likely be more attracted to me. These are true stories. If I were white, people wouldnt assume I supported Barrack Obama. If I were white, people wouldnt compliment me on how well I speak English. If I were white, I wouldnt be asked to play the role of the slave in 6th grade History. If I were white, I wouldnt be given the undesirable job at the end of the assembly line where the majority of colored employees worked. If I were white, I wouldnt learn little to nothing about my ancestors in school. If I were white, I wouldnt be asked if I liked the only other colored girl in class. If I were white, I wouldnt be considered a foreigner or african-american or native-american or latino, but an American.

It makes sense. The majority of people in the United States are white, hence why they don't look like you. As for not being attracted to you, has nothing to do with race. It has everything to do with facial aesthetics, what your upper body looks like, what you're wearing, what your profile says. You could look like Ryan Reynolds but if you don't look interesting, nothing is going to help.

White privilege cant be 'fixed' in all its forms, just as someone being born into wealth cant 'fix' themselves. But what the wealthy person should do is first and foremost is acknowledge his privilege. Playing dumb and claiming being born into wealth affords you no advantages or special treatment is being uncouth in the highest order. The next step is to vet yourself. Are you treating all races equally? Do you understand and sympathize with those who dot have white privilege? Do you stand up to and call out those who abuse white privilege?

Abusing white privilege has become neo-racism. Its underground, it isnt blatant, its indirect, it leaves no physical trace or trail, leaving many to question its existence.

I bet that if you stopped being a crybaby, actually worked to make something out of yourself and became wealthy and/or successful, you wouldn't be here complaining about white privilege.

White privilege - the dignity to suffer life's universal woes without whining, rioting, looting or blaming others.

 

[TenEightyOne]

White privilege - the dignity to suffer life's universal woes without whining, rioting, looting or blaming others.

Wow.

 

[Imari]

To be fair, black people in Africa do not even treat other black Africans equally.

To be fair, white people in America do not even treat other white Americans equally.

Being amazed when minorities do well for themselves makes one a racist?

Being able to speak articulately does not count as "doing well for oneself". If the bar for you to be amazed at a minority is that low, you are indeed racist.

White privilege - the dignity to suffer life's universal woes without whining, rioting, looting or blaming others.

Right. Does it include anything about not being an :censored:hole in there, or is that optional?

 

[stonesfan129]

I'll say it again.

White privilege - the dignity to suffer life's universal woes without whining, rioting, looting or blaming others.

 

[huskeR32]

I'll say it again.

Were you under the impression that we missed it the first time?

 

[stonesfan129]

Were you under the impression that we missed it the first time?

If people do not want to hear opposing opinions, then why ever start up a ******** thread like this?

 

[huskeR32]

If people do not want to hear opposing opinions, then why ever start up a ******** thread like this?

Who said anything about not wanting to hear opposing opinions? I asked why you felt the need to post that racist nonsense a second time.

 

[stonesfan129]

Who said anything about not wanting to hear opposing opinions? I asked why you felt the need to post that racist nonsense a second time.

The entire idea of "white privilege" is racism.

 

[huskeR32]

The entire idea of "white privilege" is racism.

Okay.

Still waiting for your answer as to who does not want to hear your opposing opinions.

 

[Joey D]

I'll say it again.

White privilege - the dignity to suffer life's universal woes without whining, rioting, looting or blaming others.

You do realize that people of all races do those things, including white people, right? You also realize those things aren't solely something blacks do when they "suffer life's universal woes", right?

 

[stonesfan129]

You do realize that people of all races do those things, including white people, right? You also realize those things aren't solely something blacks do when they "suffer life's universal woes", right?

Right, because I turn on the news and I see white people or Asian people whining, rioting, looting or blaming white people for their problems.

 

[Joey D]

Right, because I turn on the news and I see white people or Asian people whining, rioting, looting or blaming white people for their problems.

Well since you see it, I'm a little surprised by your statement regarding white privilege then.

 

[Danoff]

Right, because I turn on the news and I see white people or Asian people whining, rioting, looting or blaming white people for their problems.

Challenge accepted.

Whining:

Rioting:

Looting (this is more the Ayn Randian sense of looting):

And blaming others:

 

[huskeR32]

Right, because I turn on the news and I see white people or Asian people whining, rioting, looting or blaming white people for their problems.

Christalmighty, you went and doubled down on this appalling train of thought?

Which side, pray tell, do Latinos or Arabs fall in this dichotomy of yours? Proud and dignified sufferers? Or lazy and whiny criminals? How dark is too dark? I'm sure the Asians are touched to learn they're on the right side of that line.

While we're at it, how should we feel about sub-Saharan Africans? Do they get considered separately? Or do they get roped in with those damnable blacks in America by virtue of sharing a skin color with them?

 

[Earth]

I also agree with this, somewhat. I think each indiviual can have their own kind of privilege when it comes to certain scenarios, it isn't just exclusive to a group of people because they are the majority.

Prime example is Asians.

While there are remarks that they have been discriminated against, studies have shown that not only are Asians more likely to succeed academically. They also earn more money than any other race in America: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-07-01/asian-men-win-the-hourly-earnings-race-in-america

I keep seeing Asian Americans brought up as an example of proof white privilege doesnt exist, or that it is surmountable because they make more money then whites.

For starters, Asians are a relatively small minority in the US compared to blacks and latinos.

94m - Black & Latino
16m - Asian

Blacks and latinos make on average half as much money as whites, and have over 15 times less material possessions in terms of value then whites.
Many asians, like East Indians, came to the US already educated or wealthy. East Indians make more money in the US then anybody, they average a 6 figure salary. Is this because they overcame white privilege and racism in the US, or, like many asians, came to the country already highly educated, essentially starting at the top, while passing down their wealth and work ethic to their children, like many whites have done for generations?

It should also be noted that Asians and East Indians do not carry nowhere near as many negative stereotypes as blacks or latinos. This is likely due to them being a smaller portion of the population and not being seen as much of a threat as the larger minority groups.

A quick personal story about myself. I recently went back to school to become a pharmacy technician. I finished the top of my class. I got certified. Despite this, I could not find employment. Most of the white students in my class were already employed as pharmacy techs even before the class finished and before certification.

I went to interview after interview and got continuously rejected. The breaking point was when I was interviewed by yet another hostile white male Pharmacist. At the end of the interview he refused to shake my hand and simply turned his chair around and went back to work on his computer. No good bye, no thank you for coming in, he just turned his back to me. Words cannot describe how humiliating that felt. I did nothing wrong, yet I was treated as subhuman. After that I gave up on becoming a pharmacy technician and started looking for minimum wage work again.

So yeah, when people say blacks, mexicans or whoever should 'try harder' and stop complaining they have no idea about the psychological challenge they have to face. The stereotype is that asian kids are expected to excel and succeed, and black and mexican kids are expected to fail. That weighs heavily on people.

It's not that it doesn't exist, it's that it only exists in certain circumstances. In others, as you say, it's a hindrance. In some situations it's far better to be white than black. In others it's far worse to be white than black.

And it has a better term that already exists and only needs a single word: Racism.

The same applies to "male privilege". Sometimes it's better to be male, sometimes it's worse. That'll be sexism then.


The issue isn't whether such things exist or don't, but whether it's a reasonable justification for something happening or just an excuse.

White privilege is born out of indirect racism. But lets say white privilege is just a different term for racism If thats the case, then why do so many deny it, or even mock it? Wouldnt that be the same as denying or mocking racism?

The term 'white privilege' is used to call attention to indirect racism and disadvantages that many people of color still have to fight in contemporary America and elsewhere. Direct racism has been heavily reduced or kept in secret, but indirect racism still exists and is very prevalent.

It also seems you are insinuating that since all races and sexes have in some way or another a degree of privilege, then that the playing field is somewhat level because advantages of privilege will even themselves out with the disadvantages. I strongly believe this not to be true. As a man, I know in general I have significantly more advantages going for me then women. This does not make me a self hating man, feminist, apologist, or whatever. Im just seeing things the way they are instead of trying to idealize them.

I'm not saying that this can't happen, but I've never seen it.

...

...but given that I don't see this kind of thing at all it makes me wonder if it's limited to your immediate surroundings.

One of the greatest perks of white privilege is never seeing or noticing racist acts - because it almost never happens to you.

Believe me I get lulled into a 'sleep' from time to time thinking others in the US see me as just another person, only to have what I call an 'awakening'. Thats what I call moments where I realize just how much I stand out, usually in a negative way, because Im not white. Whether its being followed in a store despite wearing designer tailored clothes, or having someone compliment you for speaking english well.

When my brother was dating a white girl, her father asked him what race he was. After my brother told him, what was the father's response? "Oh, OK. As long as your not black."

Look, you can't get angry at people because they won't go out with you, even if it's for inherited traits like skin colour. They're allowed to choose to go out with people that they find attractive, for whatever reason. I think Indian chicks are hot. Big whoop, wanna fight about it?

You just sound mad that you can't get a date to me.

Im not angry at all or calling out people for preferring to like those with a certain skin color or whatever. Im simply saying some facets of white privilege are benign, and having the majority of the population look like you is one of them. It would be nice if 90% of the people around me looked like me. Would this help me get a date much easier? Im sure of it. Sour grapes? Sure, I'll admit to that. But it is a disadvantage for me.

We have no idea just now deep white privilege goes. Theres benign perks like having all the major super heroes look like you, to sinister perks like having your resume preferred over another because your name sounds white and the other sounds ethnic.

 

[Exorcet]

One of the greatest perks of white privilege is never seeing or noticing racist acts - because it almost never happens to you.

That shouldn't make racism invisible. You could still see how people interact with other people, and if you yourself aren't racist it could draw comments and surprise from people who don't expect you to be unbiased. You would also be able to see how things work "in the club", like if people act differently when only one skin color demographic is present vs not. I was not just referring to people interacting with me, but nearly all interactions that I see. The representation of different groups that I've seen has changed from place to place, but I've yet to see a particular race or sex shunned. It certainly does happen on occasion, but based on what I've seen I'd have a really hard time accepting it as a given in a country like the US as a whole. It could be down to my luck of avoiding all the bad areas, which would skew my point of view, but even in that case racism wouldn't be universal. I'm not going to tell people that their negative experiences aren't real because I'm not in a position to know, but racism can't automatically be present between different groups of people when I see the vast majority of everyone around me getting along fine.

Believe me I get lulled into a 'sleep' from time to time thinking others in the US see me as just another person, only to have what I call an 'awakening'. Thats what I call moments where I realize just how much I stand out, usually in a negative way, because Im not white. Whether its being followed in a store despite wearing designer tailored clothes, or having someone compliment you for speaking english well.

If you can go about your business without issue, then you must not be standing out all the time, or are these cases exceptionally rare?

When my brother was dating a white girl, her father asked him what race he was. After my brother told him, what was the father's response? "Oh, OK. As long as your not black."

As terrible as this is, it doesn't really speak to some kind of universal dislike for blacks or privilege for whites. Your brother was dealing with a racist. If this father had said something like that to people I know, he would not have been well received. This also isn't exclusively a race issue. I grew up in a religious environment and while no one cared about race many cared a lot about sexual orientation. I'm not sure if anyone would have said "Oh, OK. As long as your straight." out loud, but I'm certain it would have been in some people's heads if the question was ever raised. This was a local thing though. As soon as I went to college I was surrounded by much more accepting people.

 

[Joey D]

A quick personal story about myself. I recently went back to school to become a pharmacy technician. I finished the top of my class. I got certified. Despite this, I could not find employment. Most of the white students in my class were already employed as pharmacy techs even before the class finished and before certification.

I went to interview after interview and got continuously rejected. The breaking point was when I was interviewed by yet another hostile white male Pharmacist. At the end of the interview he refused to shake my hand and simply turned his chair around and went back to work on his computer. No good bye, no thank you for coming in, he just turned his back to me. Words cannot describe how humiliating that felt. I did nothing wrong, yet I was treated as subhuman. After that I gave up on becoming a pharmacy technician and started looking for minimum wage work again.

I work in healthcare and I'm not so sure the color of your skin had anything to do with that. Every hospital I've ever worked at struggles to get pharmacy techs and there's almost always a large handful of job openings. This is mainly due to so many people leaving to go work in retail pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens. I'm not sure if the pay is better or the hours are better or what.

Pharm techs are also monumentally cheaper than actual pharmacists to employ, which is why there's often a greater demand for them. I think the average salary is right around $40k for a tech whereas a pharmacist can make double that or more.

Also being at the top of your class means nothing in most interviews. I graduated at the top of my class with a degree in archaeology, now I work on EMR's. It's mostly about how you interview and maybe something you said to put off the interviewer. I don't know. Judging how many hospitals I've been too and clinics I've worked out of though, I can't imagine skin color is preventing you from getting a Pharm Tech just anywhere. Sure there is always going to be some position that the interviewer puts in personal bias, but for the most part, they just want someone who's a good worker and will do their job well.

One of the greatest perks of white privilege is never seeing or noticing racist acts - because it almost never happens to you.

Just because I was born white doesn't mean I'm oblivious to racism. I might have a perspective that's outside of that culture though and something that you see as racism I might not.

 

[Earth]

@Exorcet
Im sure where I live exasperates the situation, which is why I'd like to move to southern california where I can blend in better. Do you live on the coasts? Middle America is different. People have the pretense of being friendly, but some tend to harbor deep-seated racial bias.

For example, my sister relayed to me the experience of watching a white woman and a black man be something of friends in the office. But this same woman, after finishing a phone call with someone bent over to my sister and said: "Can you believe that? This woman on the phone is married to a black man." So yeah, theres people who can put up the pretense of being fair and open minded to those of different colors, only to surprise you when the heat is turned up.

Yes 'awakening' moments can appear to be rare, but its also likely for every situation that Im fully aware of, theres many more that Im not aware of and overlooked.

As for 'universal' privilege, of course not everyone is bias or thinks in a corrosive manner. It is my feeling though that if you think theres no big issue then you've decided not to be an asset, and quite possibly even a detractor. It might be easy for you to dismiss my concerns because it doesnt affect you. But everytime I go out the door I have to be aware of the color of my skin and how I should adjust my actions to compensate for it accordingly, and that can take a toll on you.

@Joey D
I've had a pharmacist begin an interview with me by asking "Where are your parents from?". Talk about casting a shadow over the whole process while making me question the validity of it all. I brought up my performance in class because there was some people who did poorly, actually they did very bad, yet were still able to find a job before the class even ended.

Yes, I could have continued to interview and job hunt for the position and likely have found one eventually, but I had my will to do so broken, as I found myself feeling unworthy of what is essentially an unremarkable job, despite my performance in class showing otherwise.