The idea that a child enters earthly existence with specific gifts intended to be used to accomplish specific purposes, contrasts with modern notions that a child is a blank to be educated and programmed at will by parents, educators, and psychologists. Although a few generations ago, "callings" to particular paths in life were not unusual, the prevailing notion today is that we simply choose our careers according to the financial payoff. Each person bears a uniqueness that asks to be lived and that is already present before it can be lived.