Final answer:
David Myers conveys that the increasing trend of students attending college to earn higher incomes demonstrates a cultural focus on using money as a path to happiness. He, along with others like Ambrose Bierce, suggests that the value of money lies in its ability to be exchanged for essential goods and enriching experiences, rather than mere accumulation. The message is to appreciate money for the opportunities it provides, not to prioritize it as an end goal.
Step-by-step explanation:
Psychologist David Myers highlights a trend where students prioritize attending college to pursue higher incomes, which reflects a broader societal emphasis on money as a means to attain happiness. Myers' message underscores how money and the pursuit of it has become integral in people's lives, often as a symbol of success and a path to happiness.
This sentiment is echoed in popular culture and everyday practices, where money is seen as a necessary means for acquiring goods, services, and experiences. Yet, the underlying message from Myers and others like Ambrose Bierce suggests that money, without the enjoyment of its benefits through spending on meaningful experiences or necessities, is hollow.
It is important to remember that money's utility is not in its accumulation but in the potential it holds for creating enjoyable and fulfilling experiences. This perspective challenges the idea that wealth equates to happiness and instead promotes a healthier relationship with money, emphasizing its role as a tool that, when used wisely, can contribute to a more satisfying life.