I grew up in a small town called Big Bear Lake, in Southern California, where I wasn’t relatively surrounded by almost any people who were homeless, at least as far as I could tell. I grew up in a very sheltered lifestyle, not needing to pay attention or give thought of the importance of paying attention to certain political issues such as the working class, homelessness, and some other subjects. Coming to college did however, change many of my beliefs as I became much more knowledgeable about issues, and surrounded by so many different mindsets. However, back to the main point, I did grow up with my grandmother being heavily involved with helping those who ask for help. She would sit and hold conversations with homeless people, creating hours and hours of connection. She would bring them food, give them money without second thought, and bring clothes. Really, she would do anything to help. I wanted to try to grow up to be like that, but in such a small town where homelessness isn’t too apparent, it’s difficult to be sought after. After even just a few days of this class where we talk about the different means of what it means to be homeless, and the policies surrounding homelessness, I understand so much more why it was so difficult for me to see these instances growing up in my hometown.

After reading “Nickle and Dime,” I realize how difficult it is to even just exist in that sort of lifestyle trying to get by. I feel people, myself in the past admittedly, all too often express how it’s hard work that gets you through life. Once you put in the work, the rest will follow. However, after reading these articles giving different perspectives on working in the underclass, I feel it gives a whole completely new idea on what it means to be in the underclass, and how it works almost like a trap. I would also like to bring up something that stood out to me in an article. It stated how we tend to focus on the lower class as the middle class going into the lower class. Not the people who have been in the lower class for much of their lives. I found that to be a claim in which changed the way I look at class, and how it stands with people peering in on it to observe it as it is. Coming from a perspective on not knowing what an underclass was until a few weeks ago, I feel excited to continue learning what these next few weeks will bring for myself and my peers to learn and experience.