> When I had learned that, my first instinct was to be happy for him, proud, impressed, etc (genuinely). My second was to want the same for myself. Badly.

> [...] Think back (addressing you, the reader, now) to the time when you were happiest in your career or academic life. Was it when some sinecurist asshole in a gown handed you your diploma?

Uh, what? This is what this person wanted. Now after the fact they’re an anti-credentialist rebel.

Well, thinking of people who make a lot of money and then insist that money doesn’t matter. It makes sense.

> Going forward, the only person I need to impress is myself.

Thinking of the few things that I take quiet pride in because I only want to impress myself... I keep myself in check by not talking about it. lol.