Monday, February 09, 2009
Proof of Hope
I've been writing lately about why the struggles that many are experiencing now don't have to be hopeless. I really need to get away from focusing on this from a negative perspective, so this should be my last post that focuses on words like "struggling," and "pain," and "loss."
But I want to draw your attention to a young man who amply demonstrates that being reduced to nothing can actually lead to new and profitable beginnings.
Adam Shepard graduated from college in 2006. Before he graduated, a professor urged him to read a book touted as a definitive treatment of poverty.
The book, "Nickeled and Dimed," by Barbara Ehrenreich, followed her two years posing as as a poverty stricken woman working at minimum wage jobs. In her book, she pictured everyone living under the poverty level as hopelessly trapped by a system that wouldn't let them escape, and that crushed them under unrelenting despair.
Shepherd decided to do his own research project. After graduation, he moved to a different city with only $25 in his pocket, and no other resources to draw from. He wanted to see if, in a year, he could work his way up to having his own apartment, his own car, and $2500 in the bank.
By working hard and being careful with his money, he easily hit his goals and exceeded them. Along the way, he saw both faces of poverty. He saw those who worked just enough to have something to party with. And he saw those with great determination who worked their way into a better life.
Along the way, he learned that even the worst of situations are no dead end to those who are determined to improve their situation -- and are willing to work rigorously to do so. I can sum his message up no better than with his own words.
Jeff
I've been writing lately about why the struggles that many are experiencing now don't have to be hopeless. I really need to get away from focusing on this from a negative perspective, so this should be my last post that focuses on words like "struggling," and "pain," and "loss."
But I want to draw your attention to a young man who amply demonstrates that being reduced to nothing can actually lead to new and profitable beginnings.
Adam Shepard graduated from college in 2006. Before he graduated, a professor urged him to read a book touted as a definitive treatment of poverty.
The book, "Nickeled and Dimed," by Barbara Ehrenreich, followed her two years posing as as a poverty stricken woman working at minimum wage jobs. In her book, she pictured everyone living under the poverty level as hopelessly trapped by a system that wouldn't let them escape, and that crushed them under unrelenting despair.
Shepherd decided to do his own research project. After graduation, he moved to a different city with only $25 in his pocket, and no other resources to draw from. He wanted to see if, in a year, he could work his way up to having his own apartment, his own car, and $2500 in the bank.
By working hard and being careful with his money, he easily hit his goals and exceeded them. Along the way, he saw both faces of poverty. He saw those who worked just enough to have something to party with. And he saw those with great determination who worked their way into a better life.
Along the way, he learned that even the worst of situations are no dead end to those who are determined to improve their situation -- and are willing to work rigorously to do so. I can sum his message up no better than with his own words.
"I'm frustrated with hearing 'I don't have,' rather than, 'Let's see what I can do with what I do have.'"
Jeff
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