I had a realization the other day that I’m probably never going to be able to afford college, never going to escape poverty, never going to be able to buy a house, never going to be able to afford to start—nor financially support—my own family, and never going to be able to retire.

Not because I’m too dumb or too lazy or anything like that. I have great scores and a great work ethic when given the opportunity. Just bad luck. The wrong family. The wrong parents. The wrong income bracket. Etc. Yes, miracles can happen. But society is designed to keep you in the economic bracket where you started, or worse. I’m trying to come to terms with this and what it means. Why are our futures and circumstances determined so much by a birth lottery? How do we maximize happiness in such an unfair society?