Experiencing Poverty

Yesterday I attended Poverty Simulation. Before attending the simulation I had an understanding of what poverty is, but would never think I would be able to experience it. Well, I didn't necessarily experience real life poverty, but I was put into a situation where I had to pretend. We got to experience one month in poverty through 4 weeks. There were four 15 minute periods. Each "day"(15 minutes) was considered a week. There were different agencies and shops set up in the room that helped/ harmed us. For example, there was the school, mortgage company, bank, quick cash, police department, jail, employment center, health care center. Each person participating in the simulation had a role. We had to stick to that role as much as possible.I was assigned Cindy Chen a mother of 3 who was married to Charles Chen. Cindy worked full time, 40 hours a week, making only 9 dollars an hour.  Her husband was unemployed. They had endless bills to pay, feed the household, and take care of their family... the problem was they didn't have enough money to take pay their bills and buy food. It was such a struggle! During the simulation, I lost my job. I left my employment card at the bank and they fired me. I don't think this was a real reflection on what would happen in the real world. If you leave your ID card somewhere you are most likely to get it back. Since I lost my job my husband applied for a job. He got the job! The only problem was he got his first paycheck, went to cash it, just for the bank to take his check away. The bank closed and took his check and wouldn't give it back. We told the police and he did not do anything about it. I do not believe that would happen in the real world. Although, there were many things that would happen in the real world. In the simulation, my daughter was 16 and pregnant. In our family description it said that she ran off with her boyfriend a lot. My 10-year-old son had to take care of my 8-year-old son. Since I was never home, and my husband was out doing other things such as buying food, our children got into trouble. My daughter came home with drugs and my boys were stealing and getting into trouble. It was impossible to make ends meet 




During the simulation, I realized the frustration people in poverty have to deal with on an everyday basis. No matter how hard and how much you try, NOTHING is enough. Trying to pay your bills, mortgage, car payment, and buying food each week was a struggle. There were weeks we went without food. There were times where we made our children steal transportation passes, and money to help our situation. I just wanted to give up. 
By the end of the simulation, I realized how important being educated on poverty is, especially being a teacher candidate. There are so many children in today's schools that are experiencing poverty. There are many children that I will encounter and have already encountered with my career choice.  School should be a safe place for these children. It is terrible to put children in situations where they feel like they need to help, stay home from school, and take their focus off of being a kid. The simulation changed my perspective on poverty. It influenced me to take the next steps to help those in need. As the holidays begin I realized how fortunate I am. I am so fortunate to live the life I do. I could not imagine what living in poverty every day would be like. I am lucky to have a the oppuntinty to attend college.  I am lucky to have a roof over my head, food to eat, and love from my family. What I am most lucky for is my future as a childhood educator and making children's lives better.