The Conclusions of a Working Class "Taker"

[LWolf]

19. The working poor are my people.

I was the first person from either side of my family to ever attend college from my working poor roots. I worked 2 jobs and raised my kids while I did so, taking 15 years to finish a teaching license. Which technically makes me part of the middle class, but not really. I work very long hours that don't get paid, have to find side jobs to make ends meet, and my family paid a high price for all of those years burning the candle at both ends.

Now I teach the working poor, the generational poor, the students who come from generational illiteracy. I think of it as paying it forward. I'd sure as hell appreciate it, though, if this country valued the lives of people enough to guarantee a living wage and health care free at point of service, paid for by taxes, and other facets of a TRUE safety net and program to make poverty extinct.

Thank you for speaking up for us.