My parents separated at an early age, so I saw both sides of the rich and the poor. My mother is a paralegal with two Bachelor's Degrees, while my dad dropped out of high school at 15 to pursue a career as a rock and roll musician. Once the 80's hair bands started to decay and they started a family, he quit his legendary band and he, unfortuantely, did not have a fall back plan. When my parents split, My brother and I spent the weekdays with my mother at her large abode in Scottsdale. On the weekends, we stayed with our dad, who was squating in our grandma's garage in south Phoenix. My brother and I received a first-hand experience of the difference between the rich and the poor. My mother always told before school, "Be good and get good grades so you don't end up like your father". Not the nicest thing to tell your 7 and 5 year old children. My dad said basically the same thing except more inspiring. He told me after every report card I gave him, "I know you can be the best; you can be the first Roberts to graduate college". I was pumped for a while, then the teenage angst started to stir up inside. I felt unimportant and useless as another 14 year old girl starting high school, preparing to start the rest of her life. My whole family on my dad's side either did not graduate or dropped out of high school, so how was I going to be any different?
Jim Wallis said, "I realized that for most Americans who are white and middle class, it isn't a whole generation of 'us' that is being lost. Rather, it is 'them'. And we tell them what we think of them in clear messages every day: they aren't important, they don't count, they don't exist". If I graduated college, I would be just like every other white middle class person with a degree. I am pushing those thoughts aside and striving to be better than just barely passing. Trying to be important, making my life count, and let people know I exist. I no longer think that there is no point on trying to change, I refuse to settle with society's standards.
Taylor, this is so inspiring! You definately have the drive and personality to succeed in WHATEVER you choose to do, whether it is college or community service. You have the ability to take your personal experiences and wisdom to truly make a difference in the lives around you, and thats an awesome opportunity. :)
ReplyDeleteTaylor,
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this with us. I think by seeing both sides of the spectrum (the wealthy and the poor) you do understand what you are capable of. You WILL be the first in your family to graduate college and change your community while doing it! Keep on pushing through those thoughts because you can do anything when you set your sights on those future goals, and I can see that you have many outstanding goals!