Now, these complex concepts and business fundamentals are expected knowledge of college students pursuing a bachelor’s degree in any business major. However, for Yvrose to have a firm understanding of these ideas with her level of education, not to mention the fact that she lives in the poorest country in the Western hemisphere, is incredible. Surely, if Yvrose were to have been born a few hundred miles to the north, she would most likely be an outstanding performer with a college degree and might be herself, in a position as an economic adviser to our President!

Having given Yvrose the full credit and recognition that is entitled to her, I would also like to defend the ability of outstanding achievers, here in the US. First, it is important to note to Dr. Richards that, in this modern day and age, it is extremely competitive to land a job in which there are prospects for rapid professional advancement and all of its benefits, including compensation. Investment banking, strategy consulting, management consulting, securities trading positions are examples of these types of roles. The top-tier employers in the financial services industry such as Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan Chase, and Morgan Stanley to name a few, don’t even consider many Penn State students who hold a cumulative GPA less than 3.8. For some of these positions, the minimum GPA requirement is even higher.

Furthermore, if you look at most of the successful CEOs, excluding Ford Motor Company where the CEO position has been handed down in the family from generation to generation, they have all worked extremely hard and have had to be exceptionally talented to be where they are today. The same applies to people in government positions that serve to advise the White House on economic issues or guide the economy and markets of the U.S. Some of these figures include Hank Paulson and Ben Bernanke, the latter of which came from a middle-class family and worked hard his whole life. Indeed, when Bernanke received an acceptance call from Harvard, he thought that his friends were prank calling him. This is just one example of people not feeling entitled to anything, and working hard to make their way in this world.

Lastly, I would like to use myself as an example. Although both my parents hold college degrees, I in no way shape or form, feel entitled to a “six figure job with complimentary gold cards and regular frequent flier upgrades.” My academic success and professional experience have stemmed as a result of my hard-work and ability to apply my talents to my courses and beyond. Thus, I cannot justify the statement that, in this increasingly competitive and cut-throat environment, those without much ability are able to thrive in business. Based on my observations and understandings, you not only have to be talented but very diligent and persistent in order to be a successful leader in business.

Everyone does it, don't get me wrong. You do it. I do it. That's how the world works. We like to believe that we live in a way that promotes the general welfare—a way that helps others, that makes the world a better place for all of us—but when push comes to shove, if you and I both want the same doodad, I'm gonna fight you for it. And if I've got a gun, while you've got only your fists, I'm going to win. In the end, that's how the world is divided, into the haves and the have-nots. If I have a leg-up over you on the socioeconomic ladder, then when push comes to shove, I'm likely to end up on a higher rung, regardless of individual merit.

Perhaps I've become cynical since I started looking more closely at the world, but I've come to accept things for what they are. I don't agree that it's "right", per se, but I agree that it is what it is. I believe that the best place to start is to see the world with absolute clarity, so I try to avoid letting my views be obstructed by emotional baggage. And when push comes to shove, as I've noted in posts in the past, there's not much to do about it except to be informed and to work within your limited sphere of influence. Talk to your friends. Talk to your family. Share with them the failures of the world, so that they can share in turn.

On a related but separate note, I must comment on the reporter for the NPR report. While he was talking about how Yvrose was deeply in debt to her bank, in an amount on the order of a hundred U.S. dollars, all I could think was "Why don't you write her a check." "Come on, write her a check." "Okay, don't write her a check—I'LL write her a check." It reminded me of the stereotypical reporter, offering live coverage of a brutal car accident, passively reporting as more and more cars pile up. I hope that the follow-up offers some resolution to this looming question.

But then there is a flip side to this story. If Yvrose were born in America, would she be just as unmotivated as the next person? That is not to say that every student at Penn State is unmotivated, because if they were then they probably would not be here. But I feel as though most of Yvrose’s determination is because she has a need to survive. She is working as hard as she is because she needs to feed herself and her children. If she were born in America into a wealthier family who is maybe in the middle class and had a comfortable living, would those creative juices be put to work? Or would they sit there idley like so many other people in this country?

Think about it. It is the wolf that makes the deer sprint; the deer does not run when it sees no danger around. And, on that same token, it is fear that gives men wings. The wolf in Yvrose’s case would be hunger, death, and the wellbeing of her children. She makes due with her microbusiness because she has to. If she doesn’t, her children won’t go to school, they won’t have food to eat, they’ll starve, and they’ll die. It’s hard to say that many Americans have that kind of drive that would push us to the limits like that. Most of us (not all) are well off and aren’t in the danger of starving to death. If Yvonne was in America and was well off, do you really think that she would have something pushing her to be her best? Maybe; but we’ll never know.

People aren’t just the innate talents that lie within them. They are also the circumstances in which they are raised up. A war orphan in a developing country that’s in the state of civil war will fight and struggle much harder for a better life than a kid that was raised with a silver spoon in his mouth. Sam, you asked what do you think will happen if you were born in Yvrose’s shoes and if she was born in yours. I’ll tell you that the question wouldn’t be applicable. You wouldn’t be the same person. Yvrose wouldn’t be the same person either.

Another thing that you need to remember is this: Life is not fair. Some of us are dealt really bad hands at life (Poker term… or general card-playing metaphor) but we all make due with what we have. But you can’t expect by wishing that Yvrose was on a level playing field, the field will suddenly level itself. It’s impractical and it doesn’t work like that. Remember about the kings of the mountain; they don’t want to give up their top spot. I wouldn’t either.

The best thing that Yvrose can do now is to climb as high as she can up that ladder of financial security and secure a better life for her children. Then, maybe, in the next generation, Haiti won’t be as underprivileged as you see it today. Everyone can only do their best.

I agree with other commenters that feel that she’s figured out and learned all she has partly through necessity. Her (pre earthquake) situation required her to think and work creatively, and it just so happened that she figured out complicated economic strategies on her own through hard work. Though I only know as much about her as the post includes, I’m awed by her, I really am. I have so much respect for people who work hard to try to make something of themselves, and those who have so much intelligence as Yvrose seems to have.

After listening to the npr clip, I looked up the follow up to her story. She hasn’t been able to work out a deal with her bank as of yet, but she has set up an account with a micro-credit financial institution that doles out small loans in developing countries with generally low interest rates – people can even lend directly to her through the institution. It’s at http://www.fonkoze.org/ , if anyone is interested in learning more.

mqp5040: You said “Yeah, some people got where they were because they worked hard and had no one helping them out. They busted their butt and made it. But does that still mean they deserve to be there when so many others do the same and won’t even get a chance to compete in the same ballpark?” I’ll have to disagree with your rhetorical question there, or rather, say “yes, they do deserve to be there.” I feel that if someone busts their butt to make it somewhere, they deserve to be where they are. Yeah, they may have been implicitly given opportunities through sheer chance of birth into a good family/prosperous country/etc., but the person still worked hard to get where they are and deserve everything they get. The population of the world and the global economy are just too vast to give equal opportunity to everyone, regardless of how hard they work. Like you said, it’s just how the world works – not everyone, most people in fact, aren’t given the best opportunities or even the opportunities they deserve, and must either live with it or work hard to change it. Even if they do work hard to change it, though, they might not be able to. People make do and work hard with the cards that they’re given and hope for the best.