America Through a Looking Glass

Poverty in America has been prevalent throughout history and restricts individuals from being able to explore different areas of education and having access to resources which could drastically help them in their futures. Students living in poverty typically attend underfunded schools and are less likely to graduate high school. This is often due to a lack of resources and support. People who attend top rated public schools or private schools are often given educational aid through family members that have at least finished high school. 

People who are born into poverty often struggle because of lack of education, when education is the solution to ending financial struggle. There are often outside factors which do not guarantee education as the solution, but that is the first step to a brighter future. Poverty is more prevalent in immigrant families, while various immigrating families move to America in search of a safer and more stable life, financially as well as socially. Being an immigrant causes challenges seeking and maintaining high quality education, and it is hard to aspire to do something amazing and bright with your future, when more often than not, their families have very different goals and aspirations. According to the New York Times, “Children of immigrants, the fastest-growing group of American youths, have poverty rates more than twice those of other children. That is partly because their families earn less than native workers, but also because they face more barriers to government support.” Immigrant children have no control over their country of residence,and they cannot do much to change their circumstances while young. The government as well as individuals in our society continuously overlook the struggles immigrants and their families go through on a daily basis.

Poverty awareness is essential for an understanding society. Poverty in a lot of situations is not an easy cycle to break out of,and we should do our best to aid those in their effort to guarantee a bright future for themselves and their families. We have to remember how much poverty can impact families’ and communities' access to education and we should do whatever we can to support those in need. Education is a valuable resource that not everyone has. Immigrant children have less opportunities to access education and to aspire to do bright things with their future. Since they have no control over which family they are born into or their opportunities, we should do whatever it takes to support our community to make the world a better and more educated place.