Education & Career

Why do older people encourage me to start working later and don't understand that young people struggle too?

I'm 24 and I'm doing an internship while doing a masters and everyone there tells me that their job sucks and that I should start working later and have more fun being a student. I'm doing pretty good work, but they praise me for easy tasks and it's kinda condescending, although it's nice that they encourage me. At the moment, I can't find more than internships because most jobs require at least a year of real work experience, and the only job openings I can find are at shady firms.

I live in Central Europe and I'm not from an extremely rich family, but my parents are doing really well financially and they are going to buy me an apartment soon. I don't really need money at the moment, so they keep telling me I should study more and have more fun while I can because working sucks. I know it does and of course I would like to keep studying forever because I'm the best student in my class. But I need a challenge and I really need to get over this more than a child, but less than a fully-grown adult phase. I want to have a real contribution in the workplace. And I need to face the overachiever in school, underachiever at work phase as soon as possible.

It's a nice phase in my life, I really enjoy it and it's good I can learn at work without having much responsibility, but sometimes I'm wondering what if God forbid something happens and my parents can't provide for me anymore. I know I can get some Starbucks and McDonald's jobs, but I think it would be better to get into work I've been preparing for.

I know university is a very nice time in our lives and I enjoy it, but it's a struggle to know that you are useless in the "real world", and you're somewhat naive, and despite being good at tasks, you don't understand office politics and "coded" chit chat between work colleagues.

My biggest fear is being the successful guy in school who didn't make it in "real life".

Why do older people encourage me to start working later and don't understand that young people struggle too?
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