Work straight out of Highschool, forced to work minimum wage jobs.
Go to college, strapped with $100,000 to $500,000+ of debt to hopefully get a job that pays $50,000 that doesn't need the degree.
Become a tradesman, work really hard, and probably damage your body in less than 5 years.
Join the military, and die in some random no name desert skirmish that'll be forgotten about in 2 years.
The modern person just can't get ahead these days.