I want my money back

Maybe it's just me, but I feel like society has been lying to me my whole life. Weren't we told that we could be whatever we wanted to be when we grew up? Weren't we told that if we worked hard and put our minds to it, we could accomplish anything? I can remember being optimistic and having dreams. But somewhere along the way, those dreams got crushed and my optimism has turned to jaded cynicism. I should have nevered dreamed in the first place. As it turns out, I have very little control over what I get to do with my life. I didn't choose my career - I don't even have a career. I took the best job that was available, and I've been stuck there ever since. I busted my butt in my MA program, hoping to go on to do PhD work and perhaps get a nice tenure track professorship, but as it turns out raw talent, hard work, and good grades don't amount for much in the academic world. Perhaps it's just me, but too many people of my generation seem to be feeling the same way. We worked hard and played by the rules. And what did it get us? We live in constant fear of losing jobs that we don't even really like. Why did I dump all that time, energy, and money into my degree if it doesn't mean squat, even to the people who gave me the degree? I wish educations came with a money back guarantee.