Poverty inherently has a negative connotation in today’s society. Although poverty will never be considered fully positive in any form, the people associated with it are often seen as second-rate to those living in the middle and upper class. It is often said that “poverty breeds poverty,” however that is not always the case. What about the people who break away from the toils of being poor? The people who escape from the inevitable cycle? Those are the people who experienced poverty as children or at times in their lives and found the will and tenacity to not be just another statistic.

Often times there are stories of people who experienced unimaginable hardships in their lifetime and somehow were able to make a “rags to riches” story out of it. This is frequently the case with pro athletes who lived in the ghettos of a city but eventually discovered a haven on the field or court which allowed them to make a career out of it. This distinctive lifestyle relates to that of my father growing up with four other family members living in a two-bedroom apartment near Pioneer Square in Seattle. He would recount the restless nights spent on the floor unable to sleep with the sound of his dad one room over killing rodents that passed through the apartment. With his outstanding athletic ability he was able to attend college on a sports scholarship and later open his own business supplying aircraft parts to companies such as Boeing and Airbus. Even with his meager upbringing, my dad was able to overcome the burdens of poverty through perseverance and bravery and excel in a field in which few minorities were able to do so.

A definitive example of courage stemming from poverty can also be found in people that belong to “The Greatest Generation.” This generation, raised in the midst of the Depression, overcame the greatest financial crisis in history and later went on to fight and work for the war cause during World War II. These people were brought up in extreme poverty both in their home and around the nation and yet were able to persevere through the hard times to pave the way for promising times ahead. Through their partnership and persistence, they were able to work together during times when America needed it the most, both during the Depression and World War II.

I am truly fortunate to have been brought up in the manner that I have. Being raised by parents who both escaped the cycle of poverty has taught me lessons no lecture or textbook ever could. What it means to be successful. What hard work really is. Nothing in life is free. Dreams only come true if you work for them. Be humble. Remember where you came from. But most importantly, being raised by successful parents that came from nothing has given me the tools necessary to make a successful life for myself; and for that I am truly grateful.

It may be true that poverty breeds poverty; however, some good can come out of living in destitution. The people found in this classification often dream about escaping the bondage of poverty and moving on to better days; but the ones who seek that dream give a beacon of hope to those around them and embody the idea that poverty breeds courage.