But I sometimes talk with my friends about whether it has been worth it — we made so much effort in college and now I earn less than some of my classmates who did not advance past middle school.

我们在大学很努力，现在挣得却没有一些没上完中学的同学多。

youdao

But we have and we are and so much effort has been made that things aren't about to change in that regard.

但是我们已经而且正在努力，我们已经付出如此多的努力，事情在这方面不会改变。

youdao

Imagine how much better we would be at burying the hatchet if we made a conscious effort to address the situation constructively rather than ignoring the elephant in the room.

FORBES: Get Face to Face to Get Over It