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Life Amidst Poverty
I have lived in poverty both as a child and as an adult, and I can say with full confidence that it is a life-crushing force. I hated it. "Poverty" is also one of the most misunderstood labels that gets slapped onto individuals without their approval--cast upon them simultaneously by both unseen and more visible forces of society.
Poverty is a word loaded with preconceived notions, common misperceptions, and seemingly innocuous assumptions. What the word does not do is delve below its surface meaning, into the reality of poverty--a world that no one wants to live in.
May 11, 2015
I have lived in poverty both as a child and as an adult, and I can say with full confidence that it is a life-crushing force. I hated it. "Poverty" is also one of the most misunderstood labels that gets slapped onto individuals without their approval--cast upon them simultaneously by both unseen and more visible forces of society.
Poverty is a word loaded with preconceived notions, common misperceptions, and seemingly innocuous assumptions. What the word does not do is delve below its surface meaning, into the reality of poverty--a world that no one wants to live in.
Poverty is exhausting. Poverty is despair and desperation-inducing. Poverty is soul, dream and hope crushing. Poverty is like being enclosed in a prison cell with no doors or windows. It feels claustrophobic, as if there is no way out. Only the most resilient do not give up. Still, there is no guarantee that life will get better--and those in poverty know this all too well. They either become hardened or submit to fate. You don't live life, you don't thrive--you survive. You wonder if you are predestined, like a caste in another country, to live out a life destitute of fulfillment--whether financial, professional or just having a better life.
These are the very thoughts that consumed me in times of poverty. And yet, I never stopped believing that there must be a way out. The "how" and the "why" of my situation--resounding questions that were never sated--eventually fell by the wayside as I pushed towards hope. The very thing that brought despair and darkness motivated me to dig out of that prison, to fight with everything within me, to find that light that must exist outside of the walls.
In America, there is this prevalent belief that if someone just pulls herself up by her bootstraps, she can succeed. And yet, as I have learned, it is entirely possible to work your ass off and still struggle. Whether I had boots or not, whether I was barefoot, in heels, what I really learned is that resources and access to them--a network of support, and awareness of available choices--are the most influential factors in the "making it or breaking it" of life in the US. So much of this became clear to me only later--when I had the opportunity to see outside of the tiny, claustrophobic room that I had been in for years.
Living in poverty need not be a death sentence. I decided when I was 5 years old that I wanted to secure a bachelor's degree before I was married (which I did). Throughout my childhood, I had a voracious appetite for knowledge: I was constantly hungry to learn more. In high school, I decided that upon graduation I would leave the state and my family to start a new life for myself, even though it was extremely hard and I worked three jobs at one point. In college, I knew that I wanted to live and work overseas, to expand my perspective and learn more about the world. And when life challenges blindsided me as an adult (now with two degrees under my belt), I continued to learn what my options were, what resources were available to me, and to fight hard to provide the best opportunities that I can for my own children, so that they may never see themselves as "living in poverty" or not having a shot at a better life.
Enduring poverty is not the end of hope or life. The key things needed to break down the walls that imprison those within poverty are: outside influences, support networks such as friends or family, awareness of other opportunities, and access to resources.
With this combination, a new life is possible.
An Urgent Message From Our Co-Founder
Dear Common Dreams reader, It’s been nearly 30 years since I co-founded Common Dreams with my late wife, Lina Newhouser. We had the radical notion that journalism should serve the public good, not corporate profits. It was clear to us from the outset what it would take to build such a project. No paid advertisements. No corporate sponsors. No millionaire publisher telling us what to think or do. Many people said we wouldn't last a year, but we proved those doubters wrong. Together with a tremendous team of journalists and dedicated staff, we built an independent media outlet free from the constraints of profits and corporate control. Our mission has always been simple: To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. Building Common Dreams was not easy. Our survival was never guaranteed. When you take on the most powerful forces—Wall Street greed, fossil fuel industry destruction, Big Tech lobbyists, and uber-rich oligarchs who have spent billions upon billions rigging the economy and democracy in their favor—the only bulwark you have is supporters who believe in your work. But here’s the urgent message from me today. It's never been this bad out there. And it's never been this hard to keep us going. At the very moment Common Dreams is most needed, the threats we face are intensifying. We need your support now more than ever. We don't accept corporate advertising and never will. We don't have a paywall because we don't think people should be blocked from critical news based on their ability to pay. Everything we do is funded by the donations of readers like you. When everyone does the little they can afford, we are strong. But if that support retreats or dries up, so do we. Will you donate now to make sure Common Dreams not only survives but thrives? —Craig Brown, Co-founder |
© 2023 TalkPoverty.org
Andrea Fuller
Andrea Fuller is a mom to two children, a business owner, an advocate for empowering women, and a self-defense and fitness instructor. Andrea has been a member of the Hunger Through My Lens project in Denver, Colorado since 2013.
I have lived in poverty both as a child and as an adult, and I can say with full confidence that it is a life-crushing force. I hated it. "Poverty" is also one of the most misunderstood labels that gets slapped onto individuals without their approval--cast upon them simultaneously by both unseen and more visible forces of society.
Poverty is a word loaded with preconceived notions, common misperceptions, and seemingly innocuous assumptions. What the word does not do is delve below its surface meaning, into the reality of poverty--a world that no one wants to live in.
Poverty is exhausting. Poverty is despair and desperation-inducing. Poverty is soul, dream and hope crushing. Poverty is like being enclosed in a prison cell with no doors or windows. It feels claustrophobic, as if there is no way out. Only the most resilient do not give up. Still, there is no guarantee that life will get better--and those in poverty know this all too well. They either become hardened or submit to fate. You don't live life, you don't thrive--you survive. You wonder if you are predestined, like a caste in another country, to live out a life destitute of fulfillment--whether financial, professional or just having a better life.
These are the very thoughts that consumed me in times of poverty. And yet, I never stopped believing that there must be a way out. The "how" and the "why" of my situation--resounding questions that were never sated--eventually fell by the wayside as I pushed towards hope. The very thing that brought despair and darkness motivated me to dig out of that prison, to fight with everything within me, to find that light that must exist outside of the walls.
In America, there is this prevalent belief that if someone just pulls herself up by her bootstraps, she can succeed. And yet, as I have learned, it is entirely possible to work your ass off and still struggle. Whether I had boots or not, whether I was barefoot, in heels, what I really learned is that resources and access to them--a network of support, and awareness of available choices--are the most influential factors in the "making it or breaking it" of life in the US. So much of this became clear to me only later--when I had the opportunity to see outside of the tiny, claustrophobic room that I had been in for years.
Living in poverty need not be a death sentence. I decided when I was 5 years old that I wanted to secure a bachelor's degree before I was married (which I did). Throughout my childhood, I had a voracious appetite for knowledge: I was constantly hungry to learn more. In high school, I decided that upon graduation I would leave the state and my family to start a new life for myself, even though it was extremely hard and I worked three jobs at one point. In college, I knew that I wanted to live and work overseas, to expand my perspective and learn more about the world. And when life challenges blindsided me as an adult (now with two degrees under my belt), I continued to learn what my options were, what resources were available to me, and to fight hard to provide the best opportunities that I can for my own children, so that they may never see themselves as "living in poverty" or not having a shot at a better life.
Enduring poverty is not the end of hope or life. The key things needed to break down the walls that imprison those within poverty are: outside influences, support networks such as friends or family, awareness of other opportunities, and access to resources.
With this combination, a new life is possible.
Andrea Fuller
Andrea Fuller is a mom to two children, a business owner, an advocate for empowering women, and a self-defense and fitness instructor. Andrea has been a member of the Hunger Through My Lens project in Denver, Colorado since 2013.
I have lived in poverty both as a child and as an adult, and I can say with full confidence that it is a life-crushing force. I hated it. "Poverty" is also one of the most misunderstood labels that gets slapped onto individuals without their approval--cast upon them simultaneously by both unseen and more visible forces of society.
Poverty is a word loaded with preconceived notions, common misperceptions, and seemingly innocuous assumptions. What the word does not do is delve below its surface meaning, into the reality of poverty--a world that no one wants to live in.
Poverty is exhausting. Poverty is despair and desperation-inducing. Poverty is soul, dream and hope crushing. Poverty is like being enclosed in a prison cell with no doors or windows. It feels claustrophobic, as if there is no way out. Only the most resilient do not give up. Still, there is no guarantee that life will get better--and those in poverty know this all too well. They either become hardened or submit to fate. You don't live life, you don't thrive--you survive. You wonder if you are predestined, like a caste in another country, to live out a life destitute of fulfillment--whether financial, professional or just having a better life.
These are the very thoughts that consumed me in times of poverty. And yet, I never stopped believing that there must be a way out. The "how" and the "why" of my situation--resounding questions that were never sated--eventually fell by the wayside as I pushed towards hope. The very thing that brought despair and darkness motivated me to dig out of that prison, to fight with everything within me, to find that light that must exist outside of the walls.
In America, there is this prevalent belief that if someone just pulls herself up by her bootstraps, she can succeed. And yet, as I have learned, it is entirely possible to work your ass off and still struggle. Whether I had boots or not, whether I was barefoot, in heels, what I really learned is that resources and access to them--a network of support, and awareness of available choices--are the most influential factors in the "making it or breaking it" of life in the US. So much of this became clear to me only later--when I had the opportunity to see outside of the tiny, claustrophobic room that I had been in for years.
Living in poverty need not be a death sentence. I decided when I was 5 years old that I wanted to secure a bachelor's degree before I was married (which I did). Throughout my childhood, I had a voracious appetite for knowledge: I was constantly hungry to learn more. In high school, I decided that upon graduation I would leave the state and my family to start a new life for myself, even though it was extremely hard and I worked three jobs at one point. In college, I knew that I wanted to live and work overseas, to expand my perspective and learn more about the world. And when life challenges blindsided me as an adult (now with two degrees under my belt), I continued to learn what my options were, what resources were available to me, and to fight hard to provide the best opportunities that I can for my own children, so that they may never see themselves as "living in poverty" or not having a shot at a better life.
Enduring poverty is not the end of hope or life. The key things needed to break down the walls that imprison those within poverty are: outside influences, support networks such as friends or family, awareness of other opportunities, and access to resources.
With this combination, a new life is possible.
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