I would tell the student that only the examined life is really worth
living.  It is much more viable to strive towards social mobility while
understanding that personal troubles are often rooted in public issues.
Realizing that structural barriers and vested interests may stand in
your way and learning how to overcome them through social action is
much better than struggling and failing and then blaming yourself, your
genes, or a wrathful god! I teach my first year students that sociology
is the equivalent of "Defense Against the Dark Arts" from the Harry
Potter books. Forewarned is forearmed.

Erin Steuter
Mount Allison University


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