A TikTok video of a young American woman crying about her first real job and her long commute, with the caption “qotd” — question of the day — “in a 9-5 how do u have time for ur life”, has gone viral on X (formerly Twitter) in recent days. “I don’t have time to do anything,” the woman says disconsolately to her phone’s camera, after explaining that she has to get a 7.30 train to work every morning and doesn’t get back until 6.15pm at the earliest. “I want to shower, eat my dinner and go to sleep. I don’t have time or energy to cook my dinner?.?.?.?I don’t have energy to work out?.?.?.?I’m so upset, like oh my God.”

It would be easy to scoff. And many did. “Recent college grad has breakdown over working a job. We’re doomed,” posted “Libs of TikTok”, a notorious rightwing account, on X. “Oh princess?.?.?.?I’m sorry you had to commute and work and have a job and everything — it’s like so extra!” posted investor-cum-podcaster and Elon Musk pal Jason Calacanis. 

But this “Gen Z girl” has a valid point, and those who have been dunking on her are (perhaps deliberately) missing it. Why shouldn’t she be upset that this is what notching up tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of debt securing a college degree gets you? Why shouldn’t she take her happiness and quality of life seriously? Why do we need to keep glorifying the daily grind as if it were an inherently worthy or virtuous way to live?