#career-choice

#career-choice

Freshers' week, Oxford University, early October. A time for the heart to hammer with excitement, when horizons are broadened inexorably. For minimal sleep and maximum fun. And for one or two tall stories, a bit of personal reinvention, perhaps. Take one new law student at Brasenose College, because he can certainly spin a few yarns. About the time, for example, he was coached by Yaya Toure at the Tottenham academy.

This spring, my dreams came true: I was accepted to a tech-focused master's program at New York University for Fall 2025. After breaking into the tech industry, I thought this would be the next right step. I had been hopeful about receiving financial aid or scholarships, but none came through. I initially tried to convince myself that the $80,000 tuition was somehow manageable.

Back in 2018 I found myself in an interesting spot. I had decided to leave academia and education to pursue something new in my working life. Despite the downsides, it's easy to feel morally comfortable with being a teacher, but many other jobs can give pause. The timing and my background placed me in a near perfect position to think about how ethics factors into choosing a career. So on what criteria does one base the moral legitimacy of a job? I realized that: