Thoughts On.... Opportunity

I was far out of the earliest days of childhood when I truly began to think about the concept of opportunity and how it varied with life experiences. That, my friends, is privilege.

I grew up in the most typical middle class, white suburban environment. I wanted for nothing, except maybe to not have to split snacks between my 3 siblings and myself. I loved school and knew that I'd have a direct path from high school straight into college, no questions asked. I dabbled in various extracurriculars: dance, until I learned how uncoordinated I was; violin lessons that lasted more than a decade; skiing with my family once a year; and much more. All of these were opportunities, chances to explore who I was going to become and who I wasn't.

I have immense gratitude for my parents for raising us in a way that showed us what hard work and rewards looked like. We didn't have allowances, we did chores because we were a part of the household. There was a lot of sharing in a house full of 6 people. To this day, I am incredibly proud of the awareness I have around the value of money earned and carefully spent. But all this learning happened in an insular environment. It was how to succeed in a life exactly like ours. What about the world outside, where people don't start out with a suburban household, with two college-educated parents working white collar jobs?

Like many others, I was first introduced to people who thought differently about opportunity when I went to college. Even further so when I moved to NYC afterwards. I am still expanding my understanding of the differences your zip code, skin color and other factors play into the bespoke opportunities you'll have as you grow up.

I use books as a way to expand my worldview, plus pushing myself to participate in activities where I meet people different from myself.

Here are some that have been incredibly eye-opening for me:

Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City, by Matthew Desmond

Tightrope: AMERICANS REACHING FOR HOPE, by Nick Kristof & Sheryl WuDunn