$$$$ cash money $$$$

So far my adolescent experience has been pretty typical... as well as not so much. I go to the complete opposite of a "typical American high school." My high school is small, you become friends with tons of people from other grades, it's cool to be smart and artsy, being different is encouraged and respected, and the majority of people are friendly and nice and open minded. Other than this, I've had my share of emotional ups and downs, I have a close group of friends, and I have my own interests and enjoy being independent. I feel lucky to be happy the majority of the time, and to be accepted for being myself. I think I'm blessed to be living in a place that is the epitome of liberal and accepting and open minded. I've learned a lot about myself over the past few years and I think I'm finally realizing what I want to do in life and what my opinions are about things. There are still times I feel absolutely lost in what seems like perpetuated darkness but at the same time I always seem to find the light at the end of the tunnel.

I think in the future, what I really want to do is help people. I just feel like those less fortunate people are continually ignored and repressed by society. Since they don't have, per say, a financial advantage, they are basically completely neglected and shoved aside. It's so absolutely completely wrong. Like I can't even put it into words. I hate how in this world, money is power. Money is stupid. Unfortunately it's a necessity, but it only sucks the intelligence out of smart people and divides humanity.

Basically, I have a few opinions on the rich and poor and money in general. I think if you are privileged enough to be more than financially secure, as in having multi-millions and are more than stable, it's your job to help others with the money you have. Even if you don't have a lot of money, it's still your job to help other people and give back to those in need. I watched a documentary in my elective today about the upper and lower classes in America. I'm sure it's more complicated than depicted, but basically, all these rich people are moving into the south side of Chicago, the south side of Chicago being one of the poorest districts in the United States, and pretty much forcing these people who live there to leave. These wealthy people are taking control of the neighborhoods, closing schools, getting rid of public housing, and leaving these people who have lived there for years with less and less resources to grow from. They're attempting to push out these people by taking away their schools, community centers, parks, and so much else. It's just sickeningly wrong and frustrating. Like, rather than attempt to reestablish this community to meet your standards, why not try to better it for those already living their? Why do you have to push out these under privileged people? Why do you belong their more than they do? What gives you the right?

And why do people who actually contribute things to society get no recognition or compensation? Teachers get payed practically nothing while athletes get payed millions a year, which is so stupid because while teachers are actually educating the generations to come, athletes are just playing a sport... doing absolutely nothing to further societal development. It's just so infuriating.

I think everyone has the responsibility to help those less fortunate than themselves. No matter where you are in life, there is somebody else struggling more than you are. Selfishness is becoming such a trend, it's honestly so disgusting. I believe brotherhood and sisterhood unites all of humanity, and I don't understand why we can simply push each other aside and step on one another simply to better ourselves, and why it's seemingly acceptable. It's not.