@“Yalie 2011”
I don’t really appreciate how you call them “bums” rather than what they are, which is the poor and underprivileged. I happen to be one of those people. Sure, you can complain about the woes of being a privileged citizen with a nuclear family and access to many things, (side note: “underprivileged summer programs”? Really? Most kids I know go to actual summer programs that are well known and they do this because they are driven and have merit. If these middle class families are so privileged, surely they can send their kid on a summer program, and if not, that does absolutely nothing to weaken their summer experiences. They can get a job, volunteer, self-study. A summer program doesn’t really do much for anyone; it is the experiences they have and how they respond to it that matters.) but the fact of the matter is most of this poorer families that don’t have all of this have to often work harder to get there. I am a leader in many different things that are important to me, and I can barely make it to them because my mom works two jobs to support my family by herself. I have to watch my sister and study, self-study for the ACT and AP exams because I can’t afford the fancy tutors, and yet there are people like you who reduce efforts of people like me once we get in the door. Please, take a step back and look at what you’re saying. The plight of the average and middle class is a real one, but don’t reduce the plight of others to make theirs seem more important.