Monday’s reading assignment was “Entitlement” by Robert Coles. After reading this essay I began to wonder about how at such a young age children can be affected and can comprehend their families financial status. “The common heritage of money and power affects the assumptions of individual boys and girls. Each child however, is also influenced by a certain social, racial, cultural, or religious traditions.” (p.49)
How did your social class, racial background or religious traditions affect you as a child? Has it influenced who you are today? Were you handed money by your parents , or did you have to work for what you wanted?
Now living on our own, its most of our first times balancing our checkbooks and doing our own laundry. Is it a whole new world or were you familiar with the value of saving money for the bare necessities?
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I grew up in a middle-class, Catholic family. Nothing was ever given to me, so I had to work towards anything and everything I wanted. By doing this, I was taught a sense of appreciation to my things and things of others. After I got my license, my mother started doing less and less around the house for me. She knew that I would have to learn how to do my own laundry and clean up after my self. So living at college is not too different for me. Given the circumstances, I believe that my social class and background has effected me and made me who I am today.
My beliefs were based on those of the Catholic church. I made my confirmation and was an alter boy in church when I was younger. So because I was raise in a catholic church it has affected my beliefs. I grew up in an upper-class. Everything was pretty much handed to me so this is a new world for me of doing my own laundry and balancing checkbooks, and making sure i don't spend too much on my credit or debit card.
My beliefs were based on those of the Catholic church. I made my confirmation and was an alter boy in church when I was younger. So because I was raise in a catholic church it has affected my beliefs. I grew up in an upper-class. Everything was pretty much handed to me so this is a new world for me of doing my own laundry and balancing checkbooks, and making sure i don't spend too much on my credit or debit card.
This is a difficult question, because often we have only our own experiences to base our response on...reflexivity is important here, I think.
I grew up middle-classed too...but admit there was a lot "handed" to me...even though I worked since I was 16 and that money was put towards college, not a car.
For example, I was handed a private high school education. I was handed the expectation that college would be in my future...not as a possibility, but a norm. I was handed the resources at home, technology, a quiet place to study of my own, etc. to succeed. I was handed expectations based on the American dream...expectations about what work was, what my future would be, how many opportunities I had...and how to take those opportunities for granted...
I grew up in a middle-class, Catholic family. I wasn't what they call spoiled but my parents definitely tried their best to give me things i wanted. I was never expected to get a job because i was always busy with sports or school work. I did however have to work for my mom on occasion just so I could earn some extra pocket money for things I wanted to do. Being at college isn't so much of a change to me other than I'm so used to being alone sometimes and it's hard to get that here. I think where i have lived and how i was brought up has made me who i am.
I grew up in an upper-middle class family. My parents never reall had anything when they were younger so the "spoiled" me and my brothers. For much of my childhood i always got what I wanted. But as a grew older and older I would have to work for what I wanted. Whether it be having an actual job or doing things around the house to get a car or money for dinner. Seeing my parents didn't have much when they were little they always wanted to make sure we did, but within reason. I learned what both sides are like. They wanted me to see what I can have and show me how to get it. I think being raised like this really did affect me. I always am exposed to things I want but it will never be handed to me, I will have to work for it.
As a child I have to admit that I was spoiled and I still think that I am a little spoiled today. But I don't think that affects how I act or who I am today. Although I do say I was spoield as a child I still wasn't handed everything, I did have to earn what I got. Whether it be little chores around the house, or even to just behave and be good for the day. As I got older, I began to have more and more responsibilites, such as, laundry, managing my own money, and I literally was forced to have a job. Now that I'm in college the resposibilites don't seem that new to me but there are definately more now that I am on my own.
From when I was born till I was about 12 years old, most people would have considered myself and my family lower class. I lived in a 2 bedroom farm house, with only one bathroom, a kitchen, and small living room, for a family of 4. Although my family was not well off, my parents thought it was very important for me to attend Catholic school, with a religious upbringing. They were able to do this by living in our small house and with some financial help of my Nana and Papa. Everything I received I appreciated. My parents raised me to work for what I wanted and be thankful for what I was given(even beyond the age of 12). When I turned 12 my parents had finally raised enough money from their new jobs to build the house they had been dreaming of since my brother was born. When we built our new house and my parents had higher incomes, I guess I would be considered upper-middle class. To most people, it didn't look like I was given much when I was younger but I believe I received life lessons that money cannot buy. I learned the value of a dollar and that there are many things more valuable than money. I received more love than I could have ever asked for. I was taught that if you work hard it will take you far. I was given the opportunity to succeed in school and my faith. And most important, I learned how to do my laundry and manage money many many years before college. The way I was brought up by my parents really molded the person I am today and gave me the chance to succeed.
I grew up in a middle class family and I am Jewish. I can't say that Judaism has had a large impact on who i am today. However the way I was raised has had a much greater impact. I was never handed money by my parents. I have always had a job or have saved money from holiday's in order to pay for what i want. I believe that my parents have given me love and encouragement. I consider the food that is on the table, the support my parents have given me throughout high school athletics, clean clothes, a nice house, and an education as a form of payment. The only thing that is completely new to me in college is doing my laundry.
Growing up i would've been considered a middle class family. However i was never just given things.Even though my mom could have given me money if i needed it, she would always make me earn it. as i got older i had to get my own job because she wouldn't give me any. i had to pay for my college all on my own. my first car was almost as old as i was. i beat it by 2 yrs.Every thing i ever got in my life i pretty much earned it. i beleive that it has had a good impact on me in several ways now that i'm on my own. i've been used to having to fend for myself.i always did my own laundry,woke my self up for school, cooked when i needed to, learned very early how to save money( or as my friends call me a cheap ass).I because of the way i grew up my kids will have it even better.I'll make my kids earn their money as well as i did but i will also give them incentives...EX. If they can get A's B's through school i will pay for their college. or if they have a part time job i'll give them money. things like that would have made me an even better person today.sometimes i wish i would've had it like that.
I grew up in a middle class. Most of the things I got from my parents I had to work for. I grew up in a catholic home and religion was a big part of my life. My parents to me and my family to church every Sunday and we were able to see how other families were that we didn't just live around. Sometimes my parents would just give me things that I didn't have to work for but I never took it for granted. I was always very appreciative because I saw how much my parents had to work for what they wanted. Now that I am living on my own, I am used to saving my money because my parents rarely just handed me money when I started being able to earn it with a job. When I got old enough, I had to do my own laundry, make my bed everyday, make sure my room was clean, and do chores every Saturday. I think that as long as your parents raised you to know the difference of right and wrong and the difference between earning something and just getting it handed to you, you aren't considered "spoiled".
I never went to church much growing up, maybe once a month. My family would sit down on sundays when we didnt go to church and have some what of a bible study. I was never handed anything growing up. I had my first job when I was in the 6th grade as a paper boy and have worked every year since then to pay for things like my car, gas, insurance and even school. One thing I did get while living at home was my mom doing my laundry. I never really had to do it. By the time I reached 18 my mom said she would never do it agian but every saturday there she would be gathering my clothes to do the laundry. Now being away at college it is a lot harder. But I think I was raised the right way that I will be fine on my own and be able to survive enough to make it through graduation.
I grew up in a middle-class christian family. When I would ask for money, I recieved it, but I do not consider myself spoiled because I would sometimes get turned down. When I turned 16 I got my first job and was able to spend my money any way I wanted. Around the house, I never did my laundry or cleaned my room, so going off to college was a new experience for me.
I have grown up in a middle class family. I have had some stuff handed to me but in the past four years i have to keep a job and save everything just to be here. I try not to shop unless it is needed. Also, while living at home I moved into the basement of my house. It was like an apartment and had its own laundry room and kitchen. So providing for myself is something I am used to. My social class has made me who I am and I am glad because now I know how to save money and accomplish things on my own.
Growing up, I was in a catholic family who went to church every sunday. I helped the priest during church as a server. I grew up and most things were there for me. My mom and family would do everything for me, but one i became more mature, i tried to take responsibility for my own life. There were kids just like me who never worked a day in their life and were perfectly happy with that. I would definitely say that my backround has affected me for the better for who i am today
I grew up in the perfect neighborhhod with picket white fences and a golf course as my back yard. I know that i was brought up very priveldged, but my parents always stressed that i need to work hard to get what i want. So yes i am accostumed to a higher life style but i know that i need to work hard to get the good things in life. That is why i am trying to work so hard in college to make sure that i can get what i want out of my life.
I grew up in a upper middle-class family, never spoiled but was never left begging for something that I wanted. I had things handed to me but also worked for things or received things for good grades and such. Unlike some people, I always wanted to work for what I got. I never like taking money from my parents so I would offer to do some chores around the house or my room. When they gave me something I always wanted to do something to show them I deserve what they have given me. My parents have worked very hard to get where they are today and definitely taught that to us kids. I love doing things on my own and making my own money, I love paying my bills, or buying something expensive with my own money, I find doing this very rewarding. Coming to college was not a shock to me at all. Of course their are a lot of different things such as my mom waking me up for school and having breakfast ready as soon as I woke up and things i really appreciate like that but paying my bills, doing my laundry, cleaning my own room is nothing new to me or foreign because I have always been independent in that sense. My social class has made me who I am because I know the feeling of having something handed to you but also the awesome feeling of working hard to do something for yourself.
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