Ch. 8

To the first question, how much are we responsible to our success, I would say that we have mostly full responsibilty. I think that those who are born into wealthy poor families are likely to stay in that social class, and it is easier for those who are born wealthy have an easier time moving up, but it is not impossible to come from poor circumstances and to take yourself to the top. There have been numerous stories of people over the years who started out in poor circumstances. They somehow found the drive to push forward and move on and up from where they came. A lot of these people are very successful today.

No doubt there are difficulties for people who want to move up the social class latter, but it can be done. It is not always easy to move up, which is the second part of this question. Although it can be done, the easiness is not always there. Some people run into good luck, winning the lottery, having a million dollar idea that catches on and makes you money, these experiences are the exception and not the norm though. For anyone trying to work their way up, they will most likely be met with many obstacles.

Personally, I would like to move up from middle class, I don't know many people who don't want to move up and make more money and have better things. But I have experienced the obstacles of climbing up the latter. Just when I have thought my husband I and I were getting ahead and building a savings for us then something unexpected comes along. Cars have been stolen and broken down, teeth need to be fixed without dental insurance, etc. Also, school is my vehicle right now to getting to a career to make more money, but school has been slower than planned because of lack of financial aid and not being willing to go into debt paying for my classes. It will now take me 6 years instead of 4 to finish school. Being in my late 20's this is not ideal because these are the years when I should be in a career, buying a house, and getting ready to start a family.

So while it may be possible to move forward, it is not always easy. Those are very much two different things.