Rising Above Poverty

In Reading, Pennsylvania, 41.3% of the 88,000 population lives below the poverty line (Fessler). Such poverty may seem to be unalterable, but in every situation, there is hope. Generational poverty is a cycle of poverty that may seem never ending, but with the right help and effort, it can be broken. Some people are born into poverty, lose a job and fall into it, or have poverty thrust upon them because of an injury, mental disorder, or abuse. While every story is different, rising above poverty is possible with the help of private organizations, government aid or training programs, or through the power of high quality education options for children. The cycle of generational poverty can be broken. Generational poverty is unfortunately prevalent in today’s society. According to the National Poverty Center, 22% of the 46.2 million Americans living in poverty today are children. A key factor to generational poverty is hopelessness (Understanding Generational Poverty). When you grow up poor and do not see your parents break the cycle of poverty, it is less likely for children to take up the challenge and break the cycle. William Galston’s research concluded that there are three primary behaviors which help you to avoid being poor: graduate from high school, wait until marriage to have kids, and be at least 20 before having kids (Poverty and Culture). 79% of people who are poor have not accomplished these three things (Poverty and Culture). Parents, who have kids at a young age and do not value education, are more likely to have their children follow in the path to poverty. In the United States, getting a college degree or other post-high school education is almost a necessity for getting high skill and high pay employment. We know that education is key to breaking the poverty cycle, but without the support of a family which values education, it is extremely difficult to achieve success throughout the early years of school, get into college and pay for