Poor is not a four-letter word…

I recently attended a luncheon where we were addressed by a speaker who is quite well known in their field. The address began by giving us some informational background on how this speaker had overcome some economic hardships and had been guided by their mother’s sage advice. The speaker was able to go to college and as a result, became a success. They then shared one piece of advice in which they thought was key to this success. Apparently, this speaker’s mother had advised that if they didn’t want to grow up poor, they should spend some time living among the poor and observing them. Then, they should go out into the world and NOT do what those poor people did.

I was appalled…

In this day and age of equality and calls for acceptance among the diverse, there is still that prejudice against those that are poor. How is it that we still assume the poor are ignorant, lazy and worthless? How is it that in this day and age, we still equate being poor with unhappiness? Do we really believe that everyone aspires to wealth and worldly possessions and if you don’t obtain them, you are a failure? Why is it that we still think money buys happiness? And finally, why is it that we assume a college degree guarantees success?

Having grown up both “poor” and having obtained a college degree, I can honestly state that neither of these things guaranteed me anything. My parents were high-schooled educated working class people. My mother was a secretary and my father was a janitor. And yes, back then he was called a janitor. I went to college on a full financial aid package. Having lived among the poor and observing them, the only thing I did differently was go to college. I did not, however, forget to work hard, try my best, be honest, treat people with respect, and conduct myself with the utmost integrity. For you see, those were the things I learned from living amongst the poor.

Our world has been shaped by leaders that were educated and those that were uneducated. We’ve had leaders who rose from poverty and those who were born with silver spoons. We’ve seen great leaders who live among the rich and those who live among the poor. What I can guarantee you about these people is that what brings them together in the same circle of greatness is NOT about money or their education. It’s about their integrity and desire to good. Pure and simple.

I will not pretend to imply that earning a college degree is not important. It is. In this day and age of technology and advancement, it is now as necessary as a high school diploma was decades ago. But it does not guarantee you will be successful or happy. It does not guarantee you won’t be poor. What the speaker failed to see is that it is not the paper or the initials after your name that is important. It’s our choices, actions and decisions that determine our success regardless of whether or not we are poor or educated.