The stressor that I focused on this week for this assignment is the issue of Poverty. Poverty affects more people than it should. Poverty relates to individuals or families that lack their own possessions and money. My best friend has had to be on her own since she was 14 years old. She was raised by her mother and she had never met her father until a few years ago. I have been best friends with her since kindergarten, and I have always helped her in any way that I could. She comes from a family with two other siblings, an older brother and an older sister. Her mother raised the three kids, helping them with all she had. Once my best friends mother was left after the birth of my best friend, it was a very hard time for her family. My best friends mother did not have a job and had very little money. She had to support three small children in a trailer park and with the little money that she had. My best friend's mother would do little side jobs whenever she could to make at least a little bit of money for the family. Throughout school, my best friends mother did not have a car. So from elementary school up to 5th grade, all three kids had to walk to school. The school that they went to was the same school that I attended. Each of the schools were over a mile from their house, which made for a long walk to get to school in the morning and after school got over. My parents would go pick up and take my best friend and her siblings to school a few days a week, every week, for 5 years. When my best friend turned 14 years old, she got her first job and had to move out of the house. Her mother could not afford to pay for everything when my best friend was 14. Ever since my best friend turned 14, she has supported herself. This means that she has lived on her own since 14, bought her own car, and worked to support herself. She now has two kids, graduated from college, and works two jobs. She has become very successful now working two jobs and supporting her family. Ever since elementary school, I have always done anything that I can to help her and her family. To this day, I do not know what I would do without her. She is one of the strongest friends and women that I know. There was not much that my best friend could do when she was young to help her cope with this situation. My best friends mother now has a car, but still no job. My best friend tries to support and give her mother money when she can afford too. It is a very eye opening experience to see someone that I am this close to go through something as serious as being considered in poverty.
Poverty is a very interesting topic, but also a very disappointing topic for many families around the world. I chose to focus on poverty in Spain. "The poverty risk rate of people under 18 in homes were nobody works is 62%; in those homes with 1 person working is 29% and in those with 2 people working is 16%." Hearing this number is very eye-opening. These numbers have increased in Spain from 2008 to where they are currently at in 2010. This allows the children in Spain to become at a lower chance to go to school or be effective in school. Not only does it effect children on the academic level, it also effects them on the emotional level. "Many times they witness fights and see the consumption of alcohol and other drugs increase among their parents." To reduce the number of families in poverty in Spain, families need to be extra cautious about the way they act at home. This will have a direct impact of the kids when they are at school and at home.
http://www.catalannewsagency.com/news/society-science/child-poverty-catalonia-increased-185-238-between-2008-2010
Many times they witness fights and see the consumption of alcohol and other drugs increase among their parents.
Chelsea, I really don't like the subject on poverty but however the story of your friend sounds like it has a great ending. I do not know how her life is right now but she sounds like a great strong woman. I mean I don't think that I would have that strength that you have described. As for Spain, i have not been there yet but my uncle was telling me that the amount of teens in the streets is absolutely absurd. They are yound homeless kids selling anything they can make in the streets. It really is a sad sight but it has become a norm for that country.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing a story so personal. Your friend sounds very strong, I am surprised at how she was able support herself at such a young age. Poverty is such a horrble situation for way to many people in the United States. It is sad to think about the number of children who go to school hungry because they don't have any food in the house. The city that I use to live in had a program in which people donated money or food items and they were used to fill backpacks full of food to be sent home with needy children so that they and their families have food through the weekend.
ReplyDeleteChelsea,
ReplyDeletePoverty poses many so many challenges to families and young children. One consequence I see at the school where I work is that often, poverty seems to flow in a perpetual cycle. For many of my students living in poverty, their mothers grew up in poverty, and their mother's mother grew up in poverty and so on, much like what you found occurs in Spain. I'm pleased to hear that your friend was able to graduate from college and find work, despite having to support herself from such a young age. She must be incredibly strong-willed and determined to find success!
Chelsea,
ReplyDeleteIt's sad to say how bad poverty is around our country and how worse it is for children and families in other countries. I can only imagine how hard it is to raise three children, and when she has to do it alone it has to be ten times harder. I give her a lot of credit. It's good to hear that she is successful now. Do you believe she learned from her childhood and this is why she is so successful and hardworking? You seem like you have contributed very much by just being there for her as a friend. She is lucky to have you.
Chelsea, that was the sweetest thing you could do for her and that was still be her friend. I would like to say thank you personally because I was in the same situation and I didn lose alot of my childhood friends because of those cirumstances. It as a child it was hard to adapt. But my mother did her very best and because of that I am appreciative.
ReplyDelete