--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It was a rite of passage each year at…" description: "\"“It was a rite of passage each year at Manhattan Life Insurance Company. The golden doors would open every summer to a new crop of bright-eyed college ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/598/phil-wohl-16515_college-student_it-was-a-rite-of-passage-each-year-at-ma_323816.jpg" --- # It was a rite of passage each year at Manhattan Life… ![“It was a rite of passage each year at Manhattan Life Insurance Company. The golden doors would open every summer to a new crop of bright-eyed college students, all of which were over-qualified for a job that required little more than a high school-equivalent GED and a fully loaded MetroCard.” quote by Phil Wohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/598/phil-wohl-16515_college-student_it-was-a-rite-of-passage-each-year-at-ma_323816.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/598/phil-wohl-16515_college-student_it-was-a-rite-of-passage-each-year-at-ma_323816.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/598/phil-wohl-16515_college-student_it-was-a-rite-of-passage-each-year-at-ma_323816.jpg) > ““It was a rite of passage each year at Manhattan Life Insurance Company. The golden doors would open every summer to a new crop of bright-eyed college students, all of which were over-qualified for a job that required little more than a high school-equivalent GED and a fully loaded MetroCard.”” [Phil Wohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-wohl/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The passage describes a summer internship program that offers a glamorous entry point for over‑qualified graduates, highlighting a mismatch between expectations and the low‑skill nature of the job. **In simple terms:** A flashy summer program hires over‑qualified students for a low‑skill job. Key Takeaway Consider the true value of such internships. Themes career internship expectations skill mismatch corporate culture Mood cynical reflective Type informative critical When to use this quote - college career fairs - resume building - networking events Key Concepts human resources labor market social dynamics Questions to Reflect On - What skills do you actually gain from this internship? - Is the prestige worth the work? A Different Perspective The experience may not provide meaningful skill development. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [College student](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college-student/) [College students](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college-students/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Rite of passage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rite-of-passage/) [Sex](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sex/) [Working together](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/working-together/) ## Related quotes > [Cinema was my rite of passage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-singleton/cinema-was-my-rite-of-passage/) [John Singleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-singleton/) > [My rite of passage into my brave new world, life on the road.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-loggins/my-rite-of-passage-into-my-brave-new-world-life-on-the-road/) [Kenny Loggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-loggins/) > [Few of us go through life without taking part in some kind of rite of passage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-nuwer/few-of-us-go-through-life-without-taking-part-in-some-kind-of-rite-of/) Hank Nuwer > [Sometimes I feel that 'Footloose' is the rite of passage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-brewer/sometimes-i-feel-that-footloose-is-the-rite-of-passage/) [Craig Brewer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-brewer/) > [When I was growing up, a Saturday job was a rite of passage, every kid had one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-kemp/when-i-was-growing-up-a-saturday-job-was-a-rite-of-passage-every-kid/) [Martin Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-kemp/) > [It's a rite of passage for all women to make sure the next generation is in a better place than you. I will play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-bronze/it-s-a-rite-of-passage-for-all-women-to-make-sure-the-next-generation/) [Lucy Bronze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-bronze/) > [“If you read Rite of Passage and enjoy yourself, I couldn't be more pleased. I hope it gets you of. On the other hand,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexei-panshin/if-you-read-rite-of-passage-and-enjoy-yourself-i-couldn-t-be-more/) [Alexei Panshin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexei-panshin/) > [Every new generation seems to have to go through its Doors rite of passage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-densmore/every-new-generation-seems-to-have-to-go-through-its-doors-rite-of/) [John Densmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-densmore/) > [Changing my name has been like a formal rite of passage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anohni/changing-my-name-has-been-like-a-formal-rite-of-passage/) [Anohni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anohni/) > [I think it's a rite of passage that the minute you land in Japan, you have to go to a karaoke bar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bishop-briggs/i-think-it-s-a-rite-of-passage-that-the-minute-you-land-in-japan-you/) [Bishop Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bishop-briggs/) > [Death is the least civilized rite of passage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-erdrich/death-is-the-least-civilized-rite-of-passage/) [Louise Erdrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-erdrich/) > [Daddys in a better place entering golden doors. With ivory all white pillars and marble floors. Brand new physical frame with no flaws, On…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malice-clipse/daddys-in-a-better-place-entering-golden-doors-with-ivory-all-white/) [Malice (Clipse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malice-clipse/) > [“If the insurance company failed to pay up—which seemed increasingly likely in light of the strategy that insurance companies had adopted in recent years,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/if-the-insurance-company-failed-to-pay-up-which-seemed-increasingly/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [I have fantasies of burning down an insurance company just so THEY have to make a claim.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alonzo-bodden/i-have-fantasies-of-burning-down-an-insurance-company-just-so-they/) [Alonzo Bodden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alonzo-bodden/) > [“Insurance is about spreading the risk - because you have no clue who will run into problems. If you are running a good insurance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tapan-singhel/insurance-is-about-spreading-the-risk-because-you-have-no-clue-who/) [Tapan Singhel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tapan-singhel/) ## More by Phil Wohl > [“This is the first year for me as a teacher and, by the looks of this class, I’m hoping it won’t be my last.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-wohl/this-is-the-first-year-for-me-as-a-teacher-and-by-the-looks-of-this/) [Phil Wohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-wohl/) > [“Don’t do it,” the voice calmly said from the other side of the door. “I have a way that you will be able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-wohl/don-t-do-it-the-voice-calmly-said-from-the-other-side-of-the-door-i/) [Phil Wohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-wohl/) > [“Gil sat baking in the sun for at least 45 minutes before one of the tour guides noticed him looking listless and leaning to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-wohl/gil-sat-baking-in-the-sun-for-at-least-45-minutes-before-one-of-the/) [Phil Wohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-wohl/) > [“I don't remember much about being born but I hear it's quite a traumatic experience.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-wohl/i-don-t-remember-much-about-being-born-but-i-hear-it-s-quite-a/) [Phil Wohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-wohl/) > [“Swish,” the net sounded like the blast of a cannon, signaling the game was tied at 64. Dave then saw the second shot in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-wohl/swish-the-net-sounded-like-the-blast-of-a-cannon-signaling-the-game/) [Phil Wohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-wohl/) > [“Daniel exposed his machete-like fangs much to the delight of Hartwell, who was gasping for air like a fish out of water. He furiously…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-wohl/daniel-exposed-his-machete-like-fangs-much-to-the-delight-of-hartwell/) [Phil Wohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-wohl/) > [“Then she turned, punched me in the arm, and ran in her bunk.” I said with a straight face.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-wohl/then-she-turned-punched-me-in-the-arm-and-ran-in-her-bunk-i-said-with/) [Phil Wohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-wohl/) > [“Gary’s immediate thought was that either this woman wasn’t planning on wearing much in the way of clothing for the duration of her stay,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-wohl/gary-s-immediate-thought-was-that-either-this-woman-wasn-t-planning/) [Phil Wohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-wohl/) > [“There is a reason why I am a writer... sometimes it is the only way you can get people to listen to you!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-wohl/there-is-a-reason-why-i-am-a-writer-sometimes-it-is-the-only-way-you/) [Phil Wohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-wohl/) > [“After over a century of one of the deepest blood feuds in the history of inhuman warfare, peace had finally descended on the sleepy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-wohl/after-over-a-century-of-one-of-the-deepest-blood-feuds-in-the-history/) [Phil Wohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-wohl/) > [“Abraham Ellison dipped his sword in the pool and the red from the blood floated ominously across the water’s surface. He had been waiting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-wohl/abraham-ellison-dipped-his-sword-in-the-pool-and-the-red-from-the/) [Phil Wohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-wohl/) > [“Bruce looked at David and David asked, “Is that Harold?” He was wearing the same Meadow Brook Basketball jacket and had only a few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-wohl/bruce-looked-at-david-and-david-asked-is-that-harold-he-was-wearing/) [Phil Wohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-wohl/) > [“Real hard work and satisfaction will bring a detachment from time and worries. Do what you love and life will flow downstream.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-wohl/real-hard-work-and-satisfaction-will-bring-a-detachment-from-time-and/) [Phil Wohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-wohl/) > [“With every plus there must be a minus; with every tear there must be a smile; and for every skunk there must be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-wohl/with-every-plus-there-must-be-a-minus-with-every-tear-there-must-be-a/) [Phil Wohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-wohl/) > [“Create to be internally satisfied, not externally praised.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-wohl/create-to-be-internally-satisfied-not-externally-praised/) [Phil Wohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-wohl/) [Explore all 39 Phil Wohl quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-wohl/) ## More College student quotes > [I've always been a late bloomer in some ways, and extremely precocious in other ways. When I was twenty I was living in New…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meghan-daum/i-ve-always-been-a-late-bloomer-in-some-ways-and-extremely-precocious/) [Meghan Daum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meghan-daum/) > [I been partyn alot.. Oh freakin well! Im single and a college student so Im living my life!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-been-partyn-alot-oh-freakin-well-im-single-and-a-college-student-so/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Only one-third of college students from the bottom quarter of households graduate, while two-thirds of students from the top quarter do. Both ability and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-temin/only-one-third-of-college-students-from-the-bottom-quarter-of/) Peter Temin > [“In a laboratory study, a researcher from Virginia Commonwealth University observed college students during a three-hour study session using video cameras and eye trackers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-gazzaley/in-a-laboratory-study-a-researcher-from-virginia-commonwealth/) [Adam Gazzaley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-gazzaley/) > [“What advice would you give to a smart, driven college student about to enter the “real world”? What advice should they ignore? Nobody really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-ferriss/what-advice-would-you-give-to-a-smart-driven-college-student-about-to/) [Timothy Ferriss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-ferriss/) > [I was pretty poor for a long time. Not \*poor\* poor. But college student poor. I lived for most of my adult life living…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/i-was-pretty-poor-for-a-long-time-not-poor-poor-but-college-student/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [There's definitely a world view among college students that appreciates the need to act in the international community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanne-shaheen/there-s-definitely-a-world-view-among-college-students-that/) [Jeanne Shaheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanne-shaheen/) > [“Novelist Sinclair Lewis was supposed to deliver an hour-long lecture to a group of college students who planned to be writers. Lewis opened his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-prichard/novelist-sinclair-lewis-was-supposed-to-deliver-an-hour-long-lecture/) Peter Prichard > [Usually I avoided college students, whom I considered brutal, wrapped up in themselves, particularly in their youth, in which they found material for drama…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/usually-i-avoided-college-students-whom-i-considered-brutal-wrapped/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The other component was to build cadres through political education. Republicans sought out wealthy donors to set up foundations and think tanks as safe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-lilla/the-other-component-was-to-build-cadres-through-political-education/) [Mark Lilla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-lilla/) > [Americans in particular are myopic. They're not traveling as much. When you were a college student, the next thing you would do on graduation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-taymor/americans-in-particular-are-myopic-they-re-not-traveling-as-much-when/) [Julie Taymor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-taymor/) > [“What advice would you give to a smart, driven college student about to enter the “real world”? Most of the game is about persistence.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-ferriss/what-advice-would-you-give-to-a-smart-driven-college-student-about-to-2/) [Timothy Ferriss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-ferriss/) > [“average college student has the same standard of living as he does. Same food. No important difference in clothes, cars, TVs.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-pecaut/average-college-student-has-the-same-standard-of-living-as-he-does/) [Daniel Pecaut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-pecaut/) > [“Walking to class, Cath couldn't shake the feeling that she was pretending to be a college student in a coming-of-age movie. 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