To sell yourself well

Sell yourself, market yourself well

Is what our children we tell

From the time they are young, for college applications

Their achievements are embellished, given significant inflation

The volunteer hours or internships spent making coffee

Are repackaged to portray teamwork exemplary

Each project they participate in is projected to be

Groundbreaking, or with impact extraordinary

Every award at school is hyped up to give the impression

Of an outstanding student who deserves recognition

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Selling yourself continues to be standard advice

Through college and workplace, it is no surprise

That more effort is spent on looking good

Instead of high-quality work, which ideally should

Be the focus of one’s efforts, because they’ve been told

That their prospects depend on the story they have sold

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I think this performative approach to excellence can be

Harmful to students and in general, the society

Real work and sincere effort are capable of shining on their own

The emphasis on selling oneself is overblown