Viewed together, they paint a disturbing portrait of an educational system that increasingly rewards appearance over achievement while producing graduates who possess credentials without corresponding competence. The first suggests their own skills, educational choices, or understanding of economic reality require reconsideration. If an educational system has repeatedly assured someone that they are exceptional, disappointing outcomes require explanation. The easier explanation is not that the educational system oversold their preparation. It preaches that unmet expectations do not result from poor incentives, distorted educational priorities, or insufficiently valuable skills, but from an unjust economic system.