I don’t mind saying it….. I come from what I consider to be a very wealthy family. I’ve had countless opportunities that others couldn’t dream of. My parents are generous individuals who paid for me my entire extended college career. They give me substantial amounts of money on an annual basis (at holidays) and have helped pay for large item purchases such as home(s) and weddings etc.
Even with all that support, at one point in my life, I made a conscious decision to live in virtual poverty. I’ve worked at minimum wage jobs, I was homeless for extended periods of time, I’ve used services found at homeless shelters, and I’ve gotten help from community clinics for health care related issues.
Nonetheless, my social status in relation to my upbringing puts me in the upper middle class. I have many friends who are doctors, lawyers, professors, etc. You name the white-collar job, and I have good friends and family who work in the field.
Even with all that support, at one point in my life, I made a conscious decision to live in virtual poverty. I’ve worked at minimum wage jobs, I was homeless for extended periods of time, I’ve used services found at homeless shelters, and I’ve gotten help from community clinics for health care related issues.
Nonetheless, my social status in relation to my upbringing puts me in the upper middle class. I have many friends who are doctors, lawyers, professors, etc. You name the white-collar job, and I have good friends and family who work in the field.
At gatherings, I have always been the lowest wage earner. The one thing that has always fascinated me, considering my point of view, is how wealthy people generally don’t intermingle with lower class citizens. I never met a doctor who is married to a gas station attendant or a lawyer who is married to a waiter. Because of this, the so called “upper 1%” will always remain together and impoverished Americans will remain in their segregated enclaves as is suggested by the outline below.