I have a particularly unique perspective on being poor and usually when I tell people the reason why I got to where I am is because of luck, they often don't believe me or say that luck doesn't play a part.
My father had died when I was a kid. He was a fisherman and his boat capsized due to problems that should've been recognized and fixed. My family at the time was poor, however she was able to find a lawyer to work pro-bono and won a wrongful death suit. Because of that specific suit, I had just enough money (along with financial aid) to afford going to a local community college and eventually getting a bachelors degree in computer science. Even then, I lived in poverty saving most of my money just to afford classes / help my mother and at times sacrificing my health for a potentially better future.
My father also suffered from mental issues and drug abuse. If this didn't occur, I'd likely be still in poverty. Naturally I tell very few people, but it's frustrating interacting in the software world and seeing so few people understand what it's like to truly be poor. To see your parents struggle and go nowhere.
My father had died when I was a kid. He was a fisherman and his boat capsized due to problems that should've been recognized and fixed. My family at the time was poor, however she was able to find a lawyer to work pro-bono and won a wrongful death suit. Because of that specific suit, I had just enough money (along with financial aid) to afford going to a local community college and eventually getting a bachelors degree in computer science. Even then, I lived in poverty saving most of my money just to afford classes / help my mother and at times sacrificing my health for a potentially better future.
My father also suffered from mental issues and drug abuse. If this didn't occur, I'd likely be still in poverty. Naturally I tell very few people, but it's frustrating interacting in the software world and seeing so few people understand what it's like to truly be poor. To see your parents struggle and go nowhere.