The Game of Life

Did you ever play the game of Life as a child? My brother and I did quite often and as many times as we played, I usually always made the same choices. 

The first one, college versus career, I always choose college which was a "choice" drilled into me since early childhood at school. 

"Go to college if you want to have a good career," they'd say to us every year. My earliest memory of this mantra is from third grade and I don't even think I truly knew what college was, let alone that I'd have to pay for it. Pay for school, how weird?! I used to think to myself, "Why wouldn't you go to college, it's the only way to make money as a grown up?" This brainwashing from a young age is detrimental to kids in so many ways- what about the trade careers and other unglamorous professions? What about electricians, plumbers, factory workers, farmers, and all the other careers that form the backbone of society? Kids need to be taught that these are also good options because not every child, young adult, or adult is a student. Sure, everyone can learn but the tedium of college gets to even the best students and they shouldn't be told that this is the only option to success in life. 

Along the twists and turns of the game you come to obstacles like "tree falls on house, pay $15,000 if not insured." I'd say 9/10 times I didn't have insurance because my childish brain always thought, "Why would I pay for something that could happen but might not happen? I want to keep my money!"

This memory came back to me today when I had to file a claim for a new windshield for our car that was damaged on our cross country trip. A rock had been thrown into it causing an immediate crack that has since grown. I just thought it was humorous how simple childhood thoughts evolved as you grow older. I would never consider insurance a luxury, more of a necessary evil for things that "could happen but might not happen." It's funny to think that I thought as a child that adult Ashley would fly by the seat of her pants, hoarding money and hoping nothing happened to her car or house. 

Now that I'm thinking of it, I'd like to make some revisions to the game:

1.) Student loan debt, pay $100 every payday. 

2.) Win lottery! Should not exist on the board, at all. 

3.) Car payments, pay $300 every two paydays. 

4.) Call Comcast, lose a LIFE tile.

5.) Make an insurance claim, lose a LIFE tile.

6.) Lose your job, choose a new career card after spending a turn or two on the couch depressed- lose a LIFE tile.

The end of the game when you reach the golden years of your life there were two choices, Millionaire Estates and Countryside Acres. Both of which sound lovely but where was the fork in the road that went towards your kid's house called, "Mooch Off Your Children?" That sounds cheaper. 

Oh yes, children. The air is filled with money your entire lifetime!