Childhood poverty is a terrible circumstance that happens all around the world, even in the United States. Although I wasn’t as bad off as some children were, I still had my moments. I was lucky enough to have a father that tried to work everything out for me so that I didn’t feel the effects that some kids may have experienced every day.
I do remember a lot, though. My dad was the only one working in the house for the most of my childhood. My mom would get a seasonal job every once in awhile, but for the most part never had one from the time I was born until this very day. My dad worked long hours as a waiter when I was young. Sometimes I wouldn't get to see him all day/or very limited. He would go to work as I got off the bus and not be back until 12 AM or later some nights.
When my dad got fired from his job for unfair reasons on his 50th birthday it was awful. They fought him with unemployment benefits for a while, but he ended up winning. We got food stamps as he struggled to find a job that paid decently and would provide him with a life where he could actually spend time with me. At first, when he did find that job, he was forced into hours that didn’t work for what he wanted.
He would work from 2 PM to 10 PM and we wouldn’t see each other until I was almost asleep. My dad was tired of that. He made a change. He was able to get himself transferred to another department. It worked out for us and he was able to work “normal hours” for once in his life. 8 AM to 4 PM.
Through that process, my dad was still able to be there for me. He went to every basketball game I ever had. He would make sure food was given to me no matter what he had do to get it. He made sure I was happy.
What he couldn’t provide, I was lucky enough to get from my school. I would get free/reduced lunch all throughout my elementary and high school days. I would get free books whenever there was a book fair. They helped me with a scholarship so that I could go on a DC Trip like all the other 8th graders. I even was gifted the opportunity to have the school give me Christmas gifts one year.
Again, I was one of the lucky one. Not everyone has a parent that has enough energy after working to run to every basketball game or to even be able to hang out with their child. It is an unfair world that we live in that kids still live in poverty all across the United States.
This week I was able to attend a conference about Childhood Poverty and how to help stop this issue in the United States. It was called Propel. I really hope that someday I will be able to help kids just like me get a better life for themselves and end Childhood Poverty through my work as a lawyer or politician. Until then, we as students must volunteer and help out with the issue as much as we possible can. We must lend a helping hand.
