How do Pittsburgh kids experience socioeconomic differences? 

Story by Keena Schott, a member of the SLB Radio Youth Media Corps. Photo above by Taylor Flowe via Unsplash.

What would it be like to live someone else’s life? Have your kids ever thought about that? 

During a senior workshop for the Crossroads Foundation, I was inspired by the speaker, Sherry Williams. She told us about her time in high school, and a project where two kids with completely different socioeconomic backgrounds would “switch” lives for a day after school and then write about their experiences. 

I found that interesting and wondered what it would be like to “switch” with one of my friends for the day. We don’t always know the positive or negative things that another student deals with, and the more we can learn about that, the more understanding and tolerant we can all be. Though I couldn’t truly “switch” lives with my friends, I did interview a few friends to see their thoughts on others’ situations and how they have grown up in different environments. 

One of my friends said, “I thought the workshop was really cool and I liked the concept of it. I wonder what it would be like if I switched lives with someone, like one of our friends.” 

She saw both pros and cons in learning about the life of someone very different: “Since you’re made to be with someone totally opposite from how you grew up, you don’t find people like you. But I guess that’s an advantage as well.”

Being made to change your life for a day could be daunting, because while one person is carpooling to school and getting Starbucks everyday, another might have to get up early and take the bus.

But I also think experiencing the life of someone in a different socioeconomic status can show a willingness to become more enlightened on others’ situations and learn from them. We could become more open about what others are going through compared to ourselves, as we start to understand how other people navigate life and finances. 

Do your kids think about socioeconomics? 

Because my friends and I  went to a private high school, we got to know many different people from different backgrounds. Though we’ve now graduated, I wanted to know if my classmates saw the difference. So I asked them, “Do you think your experience at a private school showed the differences between economic classes?”

“At my middle school, you couldn’t really see it, but coming to our school  I remember my friends and I were talking, and one of them was like ‘Yeah my parents are going to buy me a Jeep Wrangler.’ I was like ‘Woah, when I have to buy a car, that’s probably going to be some run down car,” said Kendra, a Penn State University freshman.

There were other differences that I noticed – and other students noticed, too. 

In our school, those with money usually had more power than those who didn’t. By power, I mean confidence and even the ability to escape some punishment. At our Catholic school, I  got in trouble with a couple of friends for skipping mass. But I noticed that others who were more popular and wealthier were not punished. It made me wonder if their wealth was part of the reason why that happened. 

Though social power can go along with financial power, they’re not always connected. One of my friends was wealthier, yet not as popular or well liked by the administration. She was still punished for skipping mass. I also realized that having this power in high school isn’t always a good thing, because a student may be too immature to manage that power.         

At my school, many students did acknowledge the position that they were in. They knew they were fortunate and had thoughts about how best to handle it.

“I can admit I have money. I get stuff I want, and I’m grateful for it.” said Francesca, a CCAD freshman. 

But she sees many others who don’t seem to appreciate what they have. “These girls,” she said, “are not grateful for anything.” 

Because of the money that their families possess, I’ve seen some students look down on those who do not have it. Sometimes they don’t realize that’s what they’re doing, but it still affects people.  

Knowing that we were all in different economic standings, I asked Francesca, “When did you realize you were in a good or bad financial situation?”

“I feel like I always knew as a kid that I was well off. Not like well-well off, but I knew that I was spoiled. I’ll admit that,” she said. “But as I’ve gotten older, I try to not ask for really expensive things. Like I still feel guilty for the fact that I got that new computer. I know I needed it for school, but I still feel guilty.”  

I think that many students who have classmates with more or with less than they have realize that they want to be aware of their relationship around money. Workshops like the one I participated in help put into perspective all of the different relationships people have with money.

We also see that those with more family income are less likely to get help with college tuition by using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to apply for aid. Among my friends, Kendra received federal government funding toward her tuition, while Francesca did not. 

Every teen wants to have a successful future. And though some families have more resources than others, there are many organizations ready to help all teens reach their potential. Knowing the hardships of teens in different socioeconomic statuses, I went looking for information that can help.. 

• The Crossroads Foundation helps those with lower incomes cover the cost of private school tuition and gives them additional resources.
• Helping Hands helps families find assistance that they qualify for, including benefits, other resources and discount programs.
• The American Psychological Association gives insight into how socioeconomic statuses affect those in the community.
• This Parents magazine article looks at the benefits of talking to your kids about socioeconomic issues.

No matter the socioeconomic background you come from, you and your family will always be interacting with people from many different backgrounds. Becoming more involved and informed about the community and helping with different concerns for the community can be good for your whole family. It can help your kid or teen understand – and maybe even become less stressed about their own socioeconomic situation, if that ever troubles them.  And it can open up great conversations between kids and parents, too.