Last semester, one of my classes was a small upper level class mostly filled seniors. In the first few minutes of class, I would often grill them about their job prospects or offer interviewing tips. One kid, a smart, but slackery type, was unsure about his future after school. At first he thought he would be a cop; later, he switched to a lobbyist. One day he came into class with a big smile on his face. He had found his calling.

At the campus job fair, he was hired to inspect houses for towns doing tax reappraisals. He’s going to make $58,000 per year to count bathrooms and porches. Which is a whole lot more than I’ll make this year.

According to today’s Times, my slackery friend could have made even more as a cop on Long Island. In Suffolk County, the starting salary is $57,811 and rises up to $97,737 after five years. And all the donuts you can eat.

What have I done with my life?