Do I really like what I like?

When I finished work, I walked past a bakery that had been featured numerous times on social media. Though I had never sampled its signature pastries, I was familiar with the story of how the cream would flow out when sliced and which angles yielded the most striking photographs. I considered entering the queue, but I questioned whether my desire was for the pastry itself or for the chance to be someone who had tasted it.

A first salary does more than provide immediate financial benefits; it empowers young workers to make choices about their attire, their destinations, and the kind of life they wish to construct. However, this newfound freedom arrives at a time when many individuals are questioning what it truly means to live as an employed adult.

The pursuit of guidance often begins innocently, with concerns about office attire, suitable bags, savings strategies, and post-work routines. Gradually, the quest for answers transforms into a template for one's identity. Sociologist Erving Goffman once likened everyday interactions to a performance, where people actively manage their public personas.

Social media has not invented this concept; instead, it has expanded the arena, expanded the audience, and turned self-presentation into a lifelong endeavor. A Korean folktale provides an unsettling parallel. A rat once consumed a discarded fingernail and toenail from a human being.