Nepotism, where family and friends are favored for employment and a variety of other opportunities, always brings criticism for its inequality. However, nepotism is present in every single person’s life. It brings benefits of various sizes to people so that anyone can be one. Everyone who knows someone who benefits from nepotism can be just as affected as them, and vice versa. Some people may have less money or opportunities, but no one is without connections.
Within Quartz Hill alone, students have plenty of opportunities by having family members on staff and even just being friends with people who benefit from it. There has been a variety of accounts of people being able to sporadically change their classes or make sure they’re with their friends despite ever showing any genuine talent or merit that enables them to be in a class of their choice. Nepotism serves everyone, but it’s only apparent with those in power and their family or subordinates.
Although bringing in close friends and family is efficient, it is not as trustworthy to rely on questionably responsible people just because they are someone’s child or best friend. However, this also provides economic benefits by cutting training costs and turnover from occupations. However, again, it only proves that connections that people have will always be superior to talent. Someone’s job of choice may be lost to another person who benefits, but they’ll always have one or two connections that allow them to get a job easily anyway.
Nepotism is a terrifying reminder that everyone can get anywhere as long as it’s in their circle. As long as families stay at the top of corporations and other systems, someone is always bound to benefit, whether or not they’re in the family. Everyone is genuinely a “no baby,” as some people call it; even if they don’t have blood ties to powerful families or ideal connections, it’s impossible not to know someone in this day and age.
Nepotism naturally perpetuates itself in the world due to its apparent benefits for the privileged, but it serves as a carrot on a stick for those less fortunate as well. No one is safe from losing to nepotism, but everyone also has a chance at winning from it. Despite its inherent and obvious flaws, it pushes people who still need to be better to prove themselves, and it continues traditions and spreads local knowledge. This is the reality, but it needs to be accepted by the world rather than someone who needs to be destroyed. Everyone can find a way to thrive under this corrupt system, and everyone already has.