There will be no change in the future, without action in the present. With January being Poverty Awareness Month, it’s a good time to talk and think about the poverty that surrounds us, and the factors which drive the cycle.
Education is an important factor driving social and economic mobility; it is also one of the main reasons why poverty has been perpetuated for so many generations. Due to financial restraints, it becomes difficult for lower-income families to provide their children with a quality education. Oftentimes, if families are able to send their children to school, the schools in underprivileged communities lack resources and qualified teachers, therefore hindering the children’s learning. Consequently, the cycle of poverty continues because these children are less likely to gain the skills they need to break the cycle and
escape poverty. Being students in a school like Andover we are in a unique position to use our resources to educate people and advocate for change. Right now, we must help break the cycle of poverty and though it might be a small step, being cognizant of the power in our words is a very crucial beginning.
Imagine this scenario: a single mother has kids who are just old enough to start going to school. There is no school which is close enough to their house that is affordable and safe. She is forced to send her kids to the nearest possible public school, which does not give them enough foundation to do well in later years. How does she make enough money to be able to pay for a quality school, without having to pay for transportation, but also enough to make ends meet? Answer: she doesn’t.
Andover specifically does a good job at combating the lack of access to education by taking steps toward granting education with the need blind admission system, enforced only 16 years ago. This system ensures that an applicant’s ability to pay for their education will not be a factor in whether they are accepted, waitlisted, or denied. If Andover, a school as old as many colleges, only brought this change less than two decades ago, there’s no telling how long this system will take to be enforced to other highschools and colleges. Throughout the United States of America, around one hundred colleges out of the thousands across the states are need blind, which is not nearly enough.
If opportunities are given to people who need it, the damaging cycle can be broken. As an already privileged community at Andover, we can do our best to fight for change in opportunities for others. Many people say that Andover is a school full of “future leaders,” but why not start being a leader now? We can start by realizing that education is not a prerogative, but a right which should be accessible by all. From there, it’s on us to use our privilege to spread the word. Andover has ample opportunities to start clubs, schedule events, and more — all of which could support the cause and educate those around us.
We have platforms such as The Phillipian, and other literary ways to spread our voice, which is what I am doing and urge others to start with. Simply writing an article to advocate for a change can reach so many people, which kickstarts conversations about uncomfortable topics such as these.
As we enter the new year, make a resolution to think more carefully about what you say and do. Putting an end to this never ending cycle can start with helpful words and support, and advocating for change.
