POST 1: Poverty on College Students

They say that education is the key to escape poverty, yet we are sitting with an education system that perpetuates inequality. To grow up in poverty can make a long lasting impact on children. Imagine low income background students taking on several jobs, battling hunger, or walks to school just to save money to pay their school expenses… All children deserves a right to equal education and the right to academically succeed, no matter the color of their skin or the income their family makes. If rich kids get education with little expectation of individual impact to society, poor kids deserve that same opportunity.

When Did My Interest Began?

During my freshman year in college, I felt fortunate and grateful when I found out that I am receiving a financial aid support system to help me have the chance to further my education. The aid allowed me to become a full time student: helping me pay for my tuition, books, transportation, phone bills and other fees. I’m glad that I didn’t have to worry about my parents working extra hours, helping me out to pay for my education. However, not everyone in the world gets that same opportunity.

One of the reasons I became interested in this topic is because one of my college friends do not receive financial aid or grants. He is skipping meals to save up, and supporting himself while trying to earn money and paying student loans while going to school full-time. This caught my interest because I find it unfair how some students get free money due to financial aid, while others do not. Many low income college students are forced to grow up quicker than their peers; has to work jobs to pay off their student loans just to be able to go to college. Therefore, in this assignment, I would like to address issues on poverty and inequality college students face: considering what their lives are like, and the obstacles they face. I want to bring awareness, support and possibly help make a generational impact in people’s lives.

Why Is It Important?

ARTICLE #1

According to Sarah Goldrick- Rab, a researcher who studies how college students lives, in It’s Hard to Study if You’re Hungry, a group of college students at two historically black colleges, Spelman and Morehouse Colleges, recently participated on a hunger strike to stop food insecurity and make changes to help students who did not have access to food. About half of all students were starving, had side jobs and ate Ramen noodles. Goldrick reports that, “food insecurity is strongly linked to lower graduation rates.” Meaning, going to school hungry can have such an impact on students academic progress, affecting their ability to learn, achieve and socialize in class. This is important because nowadays, I feel that students often prioritize food last due to the fact that they can’t afford to pay a meal plan.

However, there are solutions for helping disadvantaged students, such as providing meal plans and building a support system to guide them to their success in the future. For example, both colleges, Spelman and Morehouse agreed to distribute 14,000 free meals each year for students in need. I believe that providing these free meals makes a huge difference, allowing students in need to save up and pay for other expenses. Moreover, making nutrition a priority will help the low income students succeed in school and impact eating habits into adulthood.

ARTICLE #2

In the NYT article, The U.S. Can No Longer Hide From Its Deep Poverty Problem, the author Angus Deaton points out the reality of extreme poverty in America, and estimates that around 5.3 million cannot afford basic needs. Deaton states,“There are millions of Americans whose suffering, through material poverty and poor health… For this group life expectancy is falling; mortality rates from drugs, alcohol and suicide are rising; and the long historical decline in mortality from heart disease has come to a halt.” In other words, poverty affects people’s health. This is relevant because living in poverty forces people to live in an unhealthy environment: with no adequate shelter, safe water and nutrition, and lack of access to health services.

Why This Topic Deserves Further Exploration?

We should care about this issue because the gap between the rich and the poor students continues to grow and and is a controversial issue in our country that has deeply impacted millions of people’s lives. From the articles above, the experiences of a long term poverty has some devastating effects on poor families. Not everyone gets an equal chance to succeed, and get the same opportunity. I believe that everyone deserves to get the same opportunity and respect no matter their economic status. Additionally, the consequences of living in poverty is more severe than anyone realizes and needs to be given more attention. I want to spread awareness of poverty among the children and uplift the young people from disadvantaged backgrounds in a positive manner. We need to recognize that there is inequality to address the barriers that different groups have and ensure equal opportunities for all.

Works Cited

Deaton, Angus. “The U.S. Can No Longer Hide From Its Deep Poverty Problem.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 24 Jan 2018, www.nytimes.com/2018/01/24/opinion/poverty-united-states.html

Goldrick-Rab, Sara, “It’s Hard to Study if You’re Hungry.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 14 Jan 2018, www.nytimes.com/2018/01/14/opinion/hunger-college-food-insecurity.html