I am not sure where to post this but…

Yesterday, in class another student said, “whether you want to admit it or not, all of us here are a child of privilege.” The comment made me a little angry. I did not respond because I have learned not to speak out of anger. However, not responding to it has left me a little frustrated with myself and the class.

I come from poverty—better known as white trailer trash. Most of my family has not graduated from high school. Needless to say I am the first and only person in my family to go to college. As a teen I was a child prostitute on the streets doing what I needed to do to survive. I decided I wanted something more out of life. I fought alcoholism and drug addiction and went back to school. I spent 2 years at a junior college learning math and English just so I could qualify to get into a university as a freshman. I have battled my way through the university—working fulltime and having no support from my family—feeling like I am different and don’t belong at a university.

Saying I am a “child of privilege” discounts everything I have done to overcome my past. Saying that everybody in the class is a “child of privilege” implies people like me don’t belong or can’t make it. I would rather be known as a reformed prostitute and alcoholic/drug addict than a “child of privilege.” The moment for me to say something in class has past. That is unfortunate because students need to know that people like me can and do make it through the university. Sometimes we are sitting right next to them and they don’t even know it. I admit, now that I have a college degree I have certain privileges that were once out of my reach, but that will never change who I am or where I have been. We should not perpetuate the idea that only the privileged make it through the university.

So, today, I am frustrated with myself for not speaking out.