A Story of Two Worlds

I’m on the path to live a successful life. She’s on the path to live in poverty. How did we get here?

Wealth inequality in Mexico City.

I’m born to loving parents in the suburbs of Tucson.
She’s born to a loving mother in inner-city Baltimore.

….

My mom stays home with my brother and I, there to help us with homework and take us to music lessons.
She watches her brother as her mom is working her third job. She’s only a few years older than him, but they can’t afford a babysitter.

…

We decide to move because we want to be closer to family. My parents make the move over summer, so my school isn’t interrupted.
They are forced to move because the landlord hiked the rent. They have a month’s notice, so she switches schools in the middle of the year.

Students at Sunrise elementary school, the sister elementary school to my own.

Our district school is only ranked third in the area, so my parents drive me to the top ranked elementary school 30 minutes away.

Her elementary school is closed half the year due to lack of proper facilities; it’s too cold during winter. The only other school is miles away. It’s no better.