Category: Education

Poverty is a state of having little to no means of financial support. Consequently, it has an adverse effect on the academic outcomes of children who must support their families, and in turn neglect their own education. This mentality only contributes to the cycle of poverty, by making it difficult for low-income children to learn the skills necessary to obtain a job, and lift themselves out of destitution. Have you ever wondered if these students are just repeating the actions of their parents? As earlier generations dropout of high school, and end up in poverty, the children are six times more likely to do the same. This adds up to a total of 1 in 4 high school students becoming dropouts, in order to pursue a job, and support the economic needs of their household. Not only does this decision ruin any chances for academic achievement, but it can also cause behavioral problems, physical health deterioration, and developmental delays. I believe the first step to ending the poverty of 47 million people in the United States, is to educate the students about the problems that occur by discontinuing school. Low-income households with high school dropouts, lead to a lifestyle of penury for the generations to come. We must remind scholars, that it is easier to work towards a successful education now, rather than suffer later.

– Siya Sharma (10th Grade Student, Santa Clara, CA)

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On March 8, we celebrate International Women’s Day, but if two-thirds of the 774 million illiterate people in this world are female, then why do we continue to possess a notion of gender equality, when it is practically nonexistent? In an era of feminism, education is power, and it helps millions of girls realize the true potential they possess. Sadly, in developing countries they are prohibited from going to school, because it could empower them to break the ideals of becoming only a wife, and a mother. My understanding was that developing countries experienced a belief of subordination for females, but when women are paid 79 cents on the dollar in the United States, for working the same hours as men, I realized that these ideologies are international. Gender inequality is real, and it starts out as a lack of education for millions of females in developing countries. Without school, women do not have the skills to work, resulting in poverty for the generations to come. Education allows these women to make their own decisions, and influence change among their communities. This necessity is the only solution to ending our pay gap issue, but we must first start with a positive outlook towards gender equality, and only then can young girls strive to educate themselves, and change the world.

– Siya Sharma (10th Grade Student, Santa Clara, CA)

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