in an interview with Bust agazine, Patti Smith was asked:
    How aware, do you think, are young people of the real obstacles there are to tacklewhen they get into the world and try to "make it"?
 P.S. "Sometimes we thinkthere is more trouble than ever, but we live in a world that is more open to the possibilities than I have ever seen.  People say, " I can't make itbecause I'm a girl, or gay, or black"-- if you focus on doing good work, YOU WILL GET FOUND.  However, you have to work hard. If someone wants to be an artist and communicate, they have to know right away that being a true artist by design is a marginal thing, and its going to be a struggle.  In the end, part of the joy of being successful is that you rose from a struggle.
   I'm 60 years old: my struggles were in 1967. I slept in subways, i slept in graveyards, i worked crappy jobs, i did everything i could until i had a steady job so i could pay my rent and live in the chelsea hotel or in the east village. When i started, you could struggle happily as a whole community of people.  I can understand why now young people might feel more isolated, because how can they struggle in a communal way? its getting more and more difficult.