A story in The New York Times today puts into focus an interesting divide in the world of ambitious, young, would-be professionals. Jennifer 8. Lee writes about the growing divide between young people who can afford to take unpaid internships and those who can not.

As anyone who has actually applied for an internship can tell you, the ability to take an unpaid internship not only means there are a greater number of options but also that the options are more selective, prestigious ones. This is a story that should not be forgotten. As internships grow in importance for young people starting their careers, the impact of this internship disparity could be to make even wider any class divisions already created through elementary, secondary, and higher education.

Those of us rooting for meritocracy as an ideal can only hope that the persistence and endurance of the young, ambitious, and financially challenged can prevail over the exhaustion of long work weeks and the stress of making ends meet.

Vinnee Tong