let’s talk about mean what’s the first thing that you think of is it
thing that you think of is it
thing that you think of is it lobster l.l.bean
lobster l.l.bean
lobster l.l.bean Acadia National Park what about moose if
Acadia National Park what about moose if
Acadia National Park what about moose if you’re thinking moose you’re not wrong
you’re thinking moose you’re not wrong
you’re thinking moose you’re not wrong it’s my uncle’s latest profile picture
it’s my uncle’s latest profile picture
it’s my uncle’s latest profile picture from just last week when I tell people
from just last week when I tell people
from just last week when I tell people that I’m from Maine
that I’m from Maine
that I’m from Maine the conversation typically goes like
the conversation typically goes like
the conversation typically goes like this oh you’re from Maine that’s so cool
this oh you’re from Maine that’s so cool
this oh you’re from Maine that’s so cool whereabouts and I say Oh what are you
whereabouts and I say Oh what are you
whereabouts and I say Oh what are you familiar with and I either get a blank
familiar with and I either get a blank
familiar with and I either get a blank stare or a story about how someone’s
stare or a story about how someone’s
stare or a story about how someone’s cousins uncles brother has a beach house
cousins uncles brother has a beach house
cousins uncles brother has a beach house that they once with the summer at when I
that they once with the summer at when I
that they once with the summer at when I tell people I’m from Maine the town that
tell people I’m from Maine the town that
tell people I’m from Maine the town that I’m from Lisbon is not the image that
I’m from Lisbon is not the image that
I’m from Lisbon is not the image that typically comes to mind I have never had
typically comes to mind I have never had
typically comes to mind I have never had Lobster
Lobster
Lobster I went to Acadia National Park once no
I went to Acadia National Park once no
I went to Acadia National Park once no the whole state is not super liberal or
the whole state is not super liberal or
the whole state is not super liberal or granola our governor is a Republican the
granola our governor is a Republican the
granola our governor is a Republican the summers are beautiful and the winters
summers are beautiful and the winters
summers are beautiful and the winters are harsh I come from a town we’re going
are harsh I come from a town we’re going
are harsh I come from a town we’re going to college is not the norm there’s one
to college is not the norm there’s one
to college is not the norm there’s one McDonald’s and three gas stations
McDonald’s and three gas stations
McDonald’s and three gas stations there’s a pub where half the town can be
there’s a pub where half the town can be
there’s a pub where half the town can be found after 6:00 p.m. neighbors coaches
found after 6:00 p.m. neighbors coaches
found after 6:00 p.m. neighbors coaches teachers and there’s one high school
teachers and there’s one high school
teachers and there’s one high school Lisbon high school serves 350 students
Lisbon high school serves 350 students
Lisbon high school serves 350 students from the villages of Lisbon Lisbon
from the villages of Lisbon Lisbon
from the villages of Lisbon Lisbon Center and Lisbon Falls the town of
Center and Lisbon Falls the town of
Center and Lisbon Falls the town of Lisbon a bedroom town is a place where
Lisbon a bedroom town is a place where
Lisbon a bedroom town is a place where people sleep not where they work the
people sleep not where they work the
people sleep not where they work the average commute time is at least 45 25
average commute time is at least 45 25
average commute time is at least 45 25 minutes it’s an old mill town in the
minutes it’s an old mill town in the
minutes it’s an old mill town in the midst of old farming communities one
midst of old farming communities one
midst of old farming communities one mill now serves as low-income housing
mill now serves as low-income housing
mill now serves as low-income housing another mill recently torn down leaves
another mill recently torn down leaves
another mill recently torn down leaves behind an empty lot overlooking the
behind an empty lot overlooking the
behind an empty lot overlooking the river just 11% of those ages 25 and
river just 11% of those ages 25 and
river just 11% of those ages 25 and older in my town have a college degree
older in my town have a college degree
older in my town have a college degree 11% nearly half of the town students are
11% nearly half of the town students are
11% nearly half of the town students are on free and reduced lunch but I was not
on free and reduced lunch but I was not
on free and reduced lunch but I was not one of them when I got to Georgetown I
one of them when I got to Georgetown I
one of them when I got to Georgetown I had a friend told me that she was
had a friend told me that she was
had a friend told me that she was surprised to hear that I was in the
surprised to hear that I was in the
surprised to hear that I was in the scholarship program because of my LL
scholarship program because of my LL
scholarship program because of my LL Bean boots
Bean boots
Bean boots it’s true the inpoots have become
it’s true the inpoots have become
it’s true the inpoots have become somewhat synonymous as the status able
somewhat synonymous as the status able
somewhat synonymous as the status able for young wealthy college girls but I
for young wealthy college girls but I
for young wealthy college girls but I have my bean booths because my dad works
have my bean booths because my dad works
have my bean booths because my dad works at LL Bean in maintenance he started
at LL Bean in maintenance he started
at LL Bean in maintenance he started there 27 years ago part-time and it was
there 27 years ago part-time and it was
there 27 years ago part-time and it was it four years that he was able to get a
it four years that he was able to get a
it four years that he was able to get a full-time position in the maintenance
full-time position in the maintenance
full-time position in the maintenance department not facilities 100 students
department not facilities 100 students
department not facilities 100 students walked in my high school graduation
walked in my high school graduation
walked in my high school graduation today 15 of us have entered our senior
today 15 of us have entered our senior
today 15 of us have entered our senior year of college another 15 have entered
year of college another 15 have entered
year of college another 15 have entered Parenthood when I tell this to people at
Parenthood when I tell this to people at
Parenthood when I tell this to people at Georgetown it shocked them it’s an older
Georgetown it shocked them it’s an older
Georgetown it shocked them it’s an older high school Stephen King actually went
high school Stephen King actually went
high school Stephen King actually went there as did both of my grandmother’s
there as did both of my grandmother’s
there as did both of my grandmother’s one if she had to stay after school he
one if she had to stay after school he
one if she had to stay after school he would walk seven miles home to the
would walk seven miles home to the
would walk seven miles home to the family farm the other dropped out at 16
family farm the other dropped out at 16
family farm the other dropped out at 16 when she had her first child
when she had her first child
when she had her first child my uncle her then-husband also a
my uncle her then-husband also a
my uncle her then-husband also a teenager at the time came home from the
teenager at the time came home from the
teenager at the time came home from the vietnam war for his birth and nine
vietnam war for his birth and nine
vietnam war for his birth and nine months later she had twins my mom and my
months later she had twins my mom and my
months later she had twins my mom and my aunt by the time she was 18 she was a
aunt by the time she was 18 she was a
aunt by the time she was 18 she was a single unsupported mother of three it’s
single unsupported mother of three it’s
single unsupported mother of three it’s not uncommon to have multiple
not uncommon to have multiple
not uncommon to have multiple generations of your family in my town it
generations of your family in my town it
generations of your family in my town it breeds a very much a sense of everyone
breeds a very much a sense of everyone
breeds a very much a sense of everyone knows her everyone and I worry it also
knows her everyone and I worry it also
knows her everyone and I worry it also breeds a sense of complacency for those
breeds a sense of complacency for those
breeds a sense of complacency for those of you that I’ve ever played on the
of you that I’ve ever played on the
of you that I’ve ever played on the sports team you’re likely familiar with
sports team you’re likely familiar with
sports team you’re likely familiar with this photo it’s standard before a game
this photo it’s standard before a game
this photo it’s standard before a game to circle up and stretch with your team
to circle up and stretch with your team
to circle up and stretch with your team in Lisbon we have the idea of the Lisbon
in Lisbon we have the idea of the Lisbon
in Lisbon we have the idea of the Lisbon circle it’s the notion that because we
circle it’s the notion that because we
circle it’s the notion that because we are from Lisbon a small working-class
are from Lisbon a small working-class
are from Lisbon a small working-class less resourced community than our
less resourced community than our
less resourced community than our competitors schools that we can’t make
competitors schools that we can’t make
competitors schools that we can’t make this circle the Lisbon circle is instead
this circle the Lisbon circle is instead
this circle the Lisbon circle is instead a blob a square I worried that what I
a blob a square I worried that what I
a blob a square I worried that what I saw in the sentiment of the Lisbon
saw in the sentiment of the Lisbon
saw in the sentiment of the Lisbon circle went deeper I worried that my
circle went deeper I worried that my
circle went deeper I worried that my peers saw the community we were from and
peers saw the community we were from and
peers saw the community we were from and thought that we were lesser limited and
thought that we were lesser limited and
thought that we were lesser limited and that we couldn’t set big goals and I
that we couldn’t set big goals and I
that we couldn’t set big goals and I wanted to change this
wanted to change this
wanted to change this freshman year of high school I went to
freshman year of high school I went to
freshman year of high school I went to my school board with a plan I was going
my school board with a plan I was going
my school board with a plan I was going to help build a school in another
to help build a school in another
to help build a school in another community with even less educational
community with even less educational
community with even less educational infrastructure than my own to show the
infrastructure than my own to show the
infrastructure than my own to show the kids in my community how important
kids in my community how important
kids in my community how important education was a rural village and
education was a rural village and
education was a rural village and coastal Ghana called the Semco I thought
coastal Ghana called the Semco I thought
coastal Ghana called the Semco I thought that if I could pull this big goal off I
that if I could pull this big goal off I
that if I could pull this big goal off I could show the students in my community
could show the students in my community
could show the students in my community that they too could set big goals in
that they too could set big goals in
that they too could set big goals in Lisbon it’s unreal that one would travel
Lisbon it’s unreal that one would travel
Lisbon it’s unreal that one would travel very far and especially internationally
very far and especially internationally
very far and especially internationally so this was kind of a bit wild for
so this was kind of a bit wild for
so this was kind of a bit wild for freshman year me but I worked on the
freshman year me but I worked on the
freshman year me but I worked on the goal for a year I planned out the
goal for a year I planned out the
goal for a year I planned out the logistics and I went to the school board
logistics and I went to the school board
logistics and I went to the school board and when I got there the first person to
and when I got there the first person to
and when I got there the first person to speak was not concerned about the
speak was not concerned about the
speak was not concerned about the feasibility of fundraising or the safety
feasibility of fundraising or the safety
feasibility of fundraising or the safety of international travel his concern was
of international travel his concern was
of international travel his concern was and I quote that little girls can’t lift
and I quote that little girls can’t lift
and I quote that little girls can’t lift bricks I came back three years later
bricks I came back three years later
bricks I came back three years later with this photo I can’t lift bricks
Lisbon was not a bad place to grow up
Lisbon was not a bad place to grow up aside from the occasional drug deal on
aside from the occasional drug deal on
aside from the occasional drug deal on the sandpit across the street from my
the sandpit across the street from my
the sandpit across the street from my house or the known sexual predators
house or the known sexual predators
house or the known sexual predators around the corner my neighbourhood felt
around the corner my neighbourhood felt
around the corner my neighbourhood felt safe my friends and I would ride bikes
safe my friends and I would ride bikes
safe my friends and I would ride bikes and play manhunt in each other’s
and play manhunt in each other’s
and play manhunt in each other’s backyards
backyards
backyards I live in an older housing development
I live in an older housing development
I live in an older housing development with my single mom and twin brother I
with my single mom and twin brother I
with my single mom and twin brother I actually live on the same street that my
actually live on the same street that my
actually live on the same street that my mom lived on and off of when she was
mom lived on and off of when she was
mom lived on and off of when she was growing up to get me to eat dinner as a
growing up to get me to eat dinner as a
growing up to get me to eat dinner as a kid she used to remind me of how when
kid she used to remind me of how when
kid she used to remind me of how when she was young to put food on the table
she was young to put food on the table
she was young to put food on the table she had to kill chickens kill them be
she had to kill chickens kill them be
she had to kill chickens kill them be feather them and eat them this story was
feather them and eat them this story was
feather them and eat them this story was a part of a greater narrative of her
a part of a greater narrative of her
a part of a greater narrative of her parenting my brother and Mees life would
parenting my brother and Mees life would
parenting my brother and Mees life would be better than hers we live paycheck to
be better than hers we live paycheck to
be better than hers we live paycheck to paycheck but we never went without and
paycheck but we never went without and
paycheck but we never went without and because of my mom’s emphasis on hard
because of my mom’s emphasis on hard
because of my mom’s emphasis on hard work and doing well in school I’m a
work and doing well in school I’m a
work and doing well in school I’m a model example of generational mobility
model example of generational mobility
model example of generational mobility when my mom was in high school she
when my mom was in high school she
when my mom was in high school she sought out an application to the
sought out an application to the
sought out an application to the University of Maine but she had no one
University of Maine but she had no one
University of Maine but she had no one to help her fill out the form her mom
to help her fill out the form her mom
to help her fill out the form her mom worked all the time
worked all the time
worked all the time and then when I was growing up my
and then when I was growing up my
and then when I was growing up my grandmother works cleaning buildings and
grandmother works cleaning buildings and
grandmother works cleaning buildings and houses and when she got cancer in high
houses and when she got cancer in high
houses and when she got cancer in high school my mom and I stepped in when I
school my mom and I stepped in when I
school my mom and I stepped in when I got to Georgetown I made friends with
got to Georgetown I made friends with
got to Georgetown I made friends with people that had house cleaners I found
people that had house cleaners I found
people that had house cleaners I found Georgetown on a Google search when I got
Georgetown on a Google search when I got
Georgetown on a Google search when I got my invitation to Georgetown community
my invitation to Georgetown community
my invitation to Georgetown community Scholars Program for students of diverse
Scholars Program for students of diverse
Scholars Program for students of diverse racial and socio-economic backgrounds I
racial and socio-economic backgrounds I
racial and socio-economic backgrounds I thought that someone had messed up I had
thought that someone had messed up I had
thought that someone had messed up I had always thought of myself as average what
always thought of myself as average what
always thought of myself as average what some might call a basic white girl I
some might call a basic white girl I
some might call a basic white girl I didn’t know that being first generation
didn’t know that being first generation
didn’t know that being first generation was an identity growing up everyone that
was an identity growing up everyone that
was an identity growing up everyone that I knew would be the first person in
I knew would be the first person in
I knew would be the first person in their family to go to college if they
their family to go to college if they
their family to go to college if they went so when I got to Georgetown and it
went so when I got to Georgetown and it
went so when I got to Georgetown and it did I became more interested just how
did I became more interested just how
did I became more interested just how first was I I did what anyone would do I
first was I I did what anyone would do I
first was I I did what anyone would do I opened up a free 30-day ancestry.com
opened up a free 30-day ancestry.com
opened up a free 30-day ancestry.com trial and looked for answers what I
trial and looked for answers what I
trial and looked for answers what I found was that many of my ancestors
found was that many of my ancestors
found was that many of my ancestors arrived to America in boats in the 1700s
arrived to America in boats in the 1700s
arrived to America in boats in the 1700s got to Maine and never left not only am
got to Maine and never left not only am
got to Maine and never left not only am I the first person in my family to go to
I the first person in my family to go to
I the first person in my family to go to college along with my twin brother I am
college along with my twin brother I am
college along with my twin brother I am the first to leave Lisbon Maine when I
the first to leave Lisbon Maine when I
the first to leave Lisbon Maine when I got my acceptance letter to Georgetown I
got my acceptance letter to Georgetown I
got my acceptance letter to Georgetown I was dumbfounded when I got my financial
was dumbfounded when I got my financial
was dumbfounded when I got my financial aid letter in the mail four months later
aid letter in the mail four months later
aid letter in the mail four months later my mom called I was in the car with my
my mom called I was in the car with my
my mom called I was in the car with my dad and the call was short she said Jen
dad and the call was short she said Jen
dad and the call was short she said Jen I’m so sorry but we can’t do it
I’m so sorry but we can’t do it
I’m so sorry but we can’t do it Georgetown cost more than her house I
Georgetown cost more than her house I
Georgetown cost more than her house I didn’t cry I instead sat in the car
didn’t cry I instead sat in the car
didn’t cry I instead sat in the car angry I remember being frustrated that I
angry I remember being frustrated that I
angry I remember being frustrated that I had believed that the dream was
had believed that the dream was
had believed that the dream was attainable that my hard work had paid
attainable that my hard work had paid
attainable that my hard work had paid off and it was a lie I got home and my
off and it was a lie I got home and my
off and it was a lie I got home and my mom was still sitting at the kitchen
mom was still sitting at the kitchen
mom was still sitting at the kitchen table looking at the letter I looked
table looking at the letter I looked
table looking at the letter I looked over her shoulder
over her shoulder
over her shoulder my mom had read the first line and Ben
my mom had read the first line and Ben
my mom had read the first line and Ben succumbed to the sticker shock of
succumbed to the sticker shock of
succumbed to the sticker shock of Georgetown’s $70,000 a year price tag I
Georgetown’s $70,000 a year price tag I
Georgetown’s $70,000 a year price tag I looked below and saw that Georgetown had
looked below and saw that Georgetown had
looked below and saw that Georgetown had given
given
given a full ride this time I cried I went in
a full ride this time I cried I went in
a full ride this time I cried I went in the shower and I cried so loud that my
the shower and I cried so loud that my
the shower and I cried so loud that my mom came in she said it’s okay you don’t
mom came in she said it’s okay you don’t
mom came in she said it’s okay you don’t have to go
have to go
have to go she thought I was scared I was when I
she thought I was scared I was when I
she thought I was scared I was when I got to the Community Scholars Program in
got to the Community Scholars Program in
got to the Community Scholars Program in July of 2014 I remember in my panic
July of 2014 I remember in my panic
July of 2014 I remember in my panic thinking if only I had gone pregnant in
thinking if only I had gone pregnant in
thinking if only I had gone pregnant in high school but I didn’t I went to
high school but I didn’t I went to
high school but I didn’t I went to Georgetown and since I’ve been here I
Georgetown and since I’ve been here I
Georgetown and since I’ve been here I felt like I’ve occupied two worlds my
felt like I’ve occupied two worlds my
felt like I’ve occupied two worlds my main world my Georgetown world at
main world my Georgetown world at
main world my Georgetown world at Georgetown I’ve developed a great
Georgetown I’ve developed a great
Georgetown I’ve developed a great interest in higher education policy and
interest in higher education policy and
interest in higher education policy and in learning about the inequities in our
in learning about the inequities in our
in learning about the inequities in our higher education system I’ve become more
higher education system I’ve become more
higher education system I’ve become more interested in my community back home
interested in my community back home
interested in my community back home the world I so often feel like I’m
the world I so often feel like I’m
the world I so often feel like I’m leaving behind Lisbon this summer I
leaving behind Lisbon this summer I
leaving behind Lisbon this summer I decided to bridge my two worlds from my
decided to bridge my two worlds from my
decided to bridge my two worlds from my senior thesis I went home and I
senior thesis I went home and I
senior thesis I went home and I interviewed 15 of my high school
interviewed 15 of my high school
interviewed 15 of my high school graduating class mates to see how
graduating class mates to see how
graduating class mates to see how they’re navigating this stage of life
they’re navigating this stage of life
they’re navigating this stage of life with and without college in part I was
with and without college in part I was
with and without college in part I was inspired by the election 51% of my town
inspired by the election 51% of my town
inspired by the election 51% of my town voted for Trump he actually made a
voted for Trump he actually made a
voted for Trump he actually made a campaign stop in Lisbon a half mile from
campaign stop in Lisbon a half mile from
campaign stop in Lisbon a half mile from the high school across the street from
the high school across the street from
the high school across the street from the McDonald’s I’m not sure that anyone
the McDonald’s I’m not sure that anyone
the McDonald’s I’m not sure that anyone I interviewed support Trump or follow
I interviewed support Trump or follow
I interviewed support Trump or follow politics at all but I thought that they
politics at all but I thought that they
politics at all but I thought that they could nonetheless help to provide a lens
could nonetheless help to provide a lens
could nonetheless help to provide a lens into the world that so few of my peers
into the world that so few of my peers
into the world that so few of my peers at Georgetown seem to understand my
at Georgetown seem to understand my
at Georgetown seem to understand my first interviewee she asked that I not
first interviewee she asked that I not
first interviewee she asked that I not used her name or photo she went to a
used her name or photo she went to a
used her name or photo she went to a four-year school straight out of high
four-year school straight out of high
four-year school straight out of high school after the first year she decided
school after the first year she decided
school after the first year she decided to transfer to another one there too she
to transfer to another one there too she
to transfer to another one there too she had a bad experience she decided to come
had a bad experience she decided to come
had a bad experience she decided to come home take some time off for the first
home take some time off for the first
home take some time off for the first goal she took out loans for the second
goal she took out loans for the second
goal she took out loans for the second she paid as she went today she’s still
she paid as she went today she’s still
she paid as she went today she’s still paying for her lungs and she’s still
paying for her lungs and she’s still
paying for her lungs and she’s still paying for school number two where she
paying for school number two where she
paying for school number two where she hasn’t gotten credit for the classes she
hasn’t gotten credit for the classes she
hasn’t gotten credit for the classes she took because she hasn’t paid
took because she hasn’t paid
took because she hasn’t paid where does that leave her she works 40
where does that leave her she works 40
where does that leave her she works 40 hours a week as a waitress she’s have
hours a week as a waitress she’s have
hours a week as a waitress she’s have Roldan in the MA online degree and
Roldan in the MA online degree and
Roldan in the MA online degree and medical billing she wants to leave me
medical billing she wants to leave me
medical billing she wants to leave me and someday but for now is only
and someday but for now is only
and someday but for now is only concerned about being able to save up
concerned about being able to save up
concerned about being able to save up enough money to for rent she went to
enough money to for rent she went to
enough money to for rent she went to college because she thought that was the
college because she thought that was the
college because she thought that was the next step she knew nothing about loans
next step she knew nothing about loans
next step she knew nothing about loans Jordan Jordan his mom always told him he
Jordan Jordan his mom always told him he
Jordan Jordan his mom always told him he was gonna go to college his grades
was gonna go to college his grades
was gonna go to college his grades weren’t bad and he was really great at
weren’t bad and he was really great at
weren’t bad and he was really great at track in football Jordan had his first
track in football Jordan had his first
track in football Jordan had his first son the August after we graduated his
son the August after we graduated his
son the August after we graduated his second just had his first birthday
second just had his first birthday
second just had his first birthday when I asked Jordan how he made his
when I asked Jordan how he made his
when I asked Jordan how he made his whatsnext decision he said there was no
whatsnext decision he said there was no
whatsnext decision he said there was no decision to be made he’s worked at a
decision to be made he’s worked at a
decision to be made he’s worked at a beer distributor in your town ever since
beer distributor in your town ever since
beer distributor in your town ever since we graduated and his goal is to someday
we graduated and his goal is to someday
we graduated and his goal is to someday be the manager Paige Paige was one of
be the manager Paige Paige was one of
be the manager Paige Paige was one of the smartest people in my high school
the smartest people in my high school
the smartest people in my high school graduating class she got a near-perfect
graduating class she got a near-perfect
graduating class she got a near-perfect score on her math SAT unheard of for my
score on her math SAT unheard of for my
score on her math SAT unheard of for my town which typically scores in the
town which typically scores in the
town which typically scores in the bottom 20th percentile when faced with
bottom 20th percentile when faced with
bottom 20th percentile when faced with the decision to go to college
the decision to go to college
the decision to go to college Paige chose to go to Community College
recently she graduated with her
recently she graduated with her associate’s degree but she told me she
associate’s degree but she told me she
associate’s degree but she told me she didn’t attend graduation because she was
didn’t attend graduation because she was
didn’t attend graduation because she was embarrassed she said that she was
embarrassed she said that she was
embarrassed she said that she was ashamed she knew she was better than
ashamed she knew she was better than
ashamed she knew she was better than Community College and she’s always known
Community College and she’s always known
Community College and she’s always known that when Paige went to school she
that when Paige went to school she
that when Paige went to school she continued to work at the grocery store
continued to work at the grocery store
continued to work at the grocery store where she and I worked at growing up
where she and I worked at growing up
where she and I worked at growing up today she doesn’t regret her choice she
today she doesn’t regret her choice she
today she doesn’t regret her choice she doesn’t have any debt and she’s working
doesn’t have any debt and she’s working
doesn’t have any debt and she’s working now as a bank teller hoping to go back
now as a bank teller hoping to go back
now as a bank teller hoping to go back and complete a bachelor’s degree maybe a
and complete a bachelor’s degree maybe a
and complete a bachelor’s degree maybe a master’s in the last interviewee I’ll
master’s in the last interviewee I’ll
master’s in the last interviewee I’ll talk about Justin Justin like Jordan
talk about Justin Justin like Jordan
talk about Justin Justin like Jordan works at the beer distributor near town
works at the beer distributor near town
works at the beer distributor near town he and his long-term girlfriend Lily
he and his long-term girlfriend Lily
he and his long-term girlfriend Lily live in one of those adjacent or one of
live in one of those adjacent or one of
live in one of those adjacent or one of those refurbished mill apartments
those refurbished mill apartments
those refurbished mill apartments adjacent to Jordans Lily a year below
adjacent to Jordans Lily a year below
adjacent to Jordans Lily a year below when is going to school she’s two years
when is going to school she’s two years
when is going to school she’s two years in and when she’s not in class she works
in and when she’s not in class she works
in and when she’s not in class she works full-time as a telemarketer during her
full-time as a telemarketer during her
full-time as a telemarketer during her interview she expressed the draining
interview she expressed the draining
interview she expressed the draining interest in finishing
interest in finishing
interest in finishing Justin knows he’s smart he was in all of
Justin knows he’s smart he was in all of
Justin knows he’s smart he was in all of the gifted and talented classes growing
the gifted and talented classes growing
the gifted and talented classes growing up but he never liked school he couldn’t
up but he never liked school he couldn’t
up but he never liked school he couldn’t imagine sitting in class all day and
imagine sitting in class all day and
imagine sitting in class all day and having to pay for it
having to pay for it
having to pay for it plus he likes to work he needs to work
plus he likes to work he needs to work
plus he likes to work he needs to work so that he can pay rent well each of
so that he can pay rent well each of
so that he can pay rent well each of these stories is unique they are not
these stories is unique they are not
these stories is unique they are not uncommon it’s funny the point of this
uncommon it’s funny the point of this
uncommon it’s funny the point of this project was to try and gauge the ways in
project was to try and gauge the ways in
project was to try and gauge the ways in which my peers back home are navigating
which my peers back home are navigating
which my peers back home are navigating their what’s next phase of life as I’m
their what’s next phase of life as I’m
their what’s next phase of life as I’m about to be there as well I’m about to
about to be there as well I’m about to
about to be there as well I’m about to graduate I need a job recently I tried
graduate I need a job recently I tried
graduate I need a job recently I tried to figure out what this consulting thing
to figure out what this consulting thing
to figure out what this consulting thing is and how I could explain it to my
is and how I could explain it to my
is and how I could explain it to my parents I went to a Deloitte info
parents I went to a Deloitte info
parents I went to a Deloitte info session well I walked in so all the boys
session well I walked in so all the boys
session well I walked in so all the boys in suits got self-conscious in my
in suits got self-conscious in my
in suits got self-conscious in my business casual dress from Goodwill and
business casual dress from Goodwill and
business casual dress from Goodwill and I ran home the long way so that no one
I ran home the long way so that no one
I ran home the long way so that no one could see me I cried I made some
could see me I cried I made some
could see me I cried I made some progress I interviewed with Accenture I
progress I interviewed with Accenture I
progress I interviewed with Accenture I had never done a case interview before
had never done a case interview before
had never done a case interview before so you can imagine it was awful I left
so you can imagine it was awful I left
so you can imagine it was awful I left feeling flustered and I’m not kidding I
feeling flustered and I’m not kidding I
feeling flustered and I’m not kidding I fell face-first down the Career Center
fell face-first down the Career Center
fell face-first down the Career Center stairs i nosedive in these shoes I
stairs i nosedive in these shoes I
stairs i nosedive in these shoes I ripped my only pair of dress pants and
ripped my only pair of dress pants and
ripped my only pair of dress pants and the scab on my knee has almost yelled
the scab on my knee has almost yelled
the scab on my knee has almost yelled I’m still the certain Oh just kidding it
I’m still the certain Oh just kidding it
I’m still the certain Oh just kidding it was kind of nice though falling it was
was kind of nice though falling it was
was kind of nice though falling it was humbling it felt like an omen I was only
humbling it felt like an omen I was only
humbling it felt like an omen I was only going to case interviews because I felt
going to case interviews because I felt
going to case interviews because I felt like that was the Georgetown thing to do
like that was the Georgetown thing to do
like that was the Georgetown thing to do I’m still discerning my what’s next well
I’m still discerning my what’s next well
I’m still discerning my what’s next well many of my peers back home are still
many of my peers back home are still
many of my peers back home are still figuring out how they’re gonna finish
figuring out how they’re gonna finish
figuring out how they’re gonna finish their college education if they are
their college education if they are
their college education if they are others are working 40 50 even 60 hours a
others are working 40 50 even 60 hours a
others are working 40 50 even 60 hours a week in hopes that they save up enough
week in hopes that they save up enough
week in hopes that they save up enough money soon to put a down payment on a
money soon to put a down payment on a
money soon to put a down payment on a house I’m lucky to have the chance the
house I’m lucky to have the chance the
house I’m lucky to have the chance the luxury of deciding where do I want to be
luxury of deciding where do I want to be
luxury of deciding where do I want to be next year
next year
next year do I want to travel do I want to try
do I want to travel do I want to try
do I want to travel do I want to try business or social justice
business or social justice
business or social justice the dividing our experiences and in our
the dividing our experiences and in our
the dividing our experiences and in our opportunities is what the Atlantic has
opportunities is what the Atlantic has
opportunities is what the Atlantic has coined the new American Dream it’s the
coined the new American Dream it’s the
coined the new American Dream it’s the idea that today a person’s 20s are about
idea that today a person’s 20s are about
idea that today a person’s 20s are about self-actualization traveling finding
self-actualization traveling finding
self-actualization traveling finding oneself trying new jobs think friends
oneself trying new jobs think friends
oneself trying new jobs think friends new girl How I Met Your Mother the image
new girl How I Met Your Mother the image
new girl How I Met Your Mother the image of people in their 20s today is that of
of people in their 20s today is that of
of people in their 20s today is that of a time of lucrative part-time jobs
a time of lucrative part-time jobs
a time of lucrative part-time jobs expensive cities alcohol and casual sex
expensive cities alcohol and casual sex
expensive cities alcohol and casual sex a time sociologists Jennifer’s Silva
a time sociologists Jennifer’s Silva
a time sociologists Jennifer’s Silva refers to as attractive and realistic
refers to as attractive and realistic
refers to as attractive and realistic for many peers of mine from affluent
for many peers of mine from affluent
for many peers of mine from affluent backgrounds like those from Georgetown
backgrounds like those from Georgetown
backgrounds like those from Georgetown but not for people from rural
but not for people from rural
but not for people from rural lower-class backgrounds like those from
lower-class backgrounds like those from
lower-class backgrounds like those from of my peers in me these stories leave
of my peers in me these stories leave
of my peers in me these stories leave them feeling behind a sense of chaos I’m
them feeling behind a sense of chaos I’m
them feeling behind a sense of chaos I’m not convinced that if everyone in my
not convinced that if everyone in my
not convinced that if everyone in my community strove for Georgetown it would
community strove for Georgetown it would
community strove for Georgetown it would be the right choice but to live a decent
be the right choice but to live a decent
be the right choice but to live a decent life it shouldn’t have to be in many
life it shouldn’t have to be in many
life it shouldn’t have to be in many blue-collar high schools and towns there
blue-collar high schools and towns there
blue-collar high schools and towns there is a the myth of the one or two students
is a the myth of the one or two students
is a the myth of the one or two students that make it out they are the exception
that make it out they are the exception
that make it out they are the exception to the rule the rule that the working
to the rule the rule that the working
to the rule the rule that the working class the cycle of poverty and close
class the cycle of poverty and close
class the cycle of poverty and close family roots maintains constant for
family roots maintains constant for
family roots maintains constant for where I’m from I fit this narrative but
where I’m from I fit this narrative but
where I’m from I fit this narrative but I don’t want to be the exception I don’t
I don’t want to be the exception I don’t
I don’t want to be the exception I don’t want there to be a rule
”
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