How My Social Class Influenced Me Analysis

I grew up in Berkeley, California. A city that is located next to two major cities in the US, contains one of the top public universities and has over a 100,000 people. Going to a high school of over 3,500 students has exposed me to a variety of cultures, political beliefs and opportunities. Each day I was in class I would learn something new from those who surrounded me. To list a few examples one girl was a professional ballroom dancer, one would train horses with the family at the local race track and another student struggled going to school because he was homeless. Through my involvement as class president at my school, I had to learn how to represent such a diverse group of students which came to be a difficult task. I would like to think …show more content…
Coming from the lower-middle class, I grew up with more opportunities than many, however they were sometimes limited. Without coming from this class, a higher education would not be attainable. Even with going to a public university, college has put a large financial strain on both of my parents. Due to my mother’s job as a nurse and her ability to work night shifts, my childhood was full of many fond memories of her. My father was heavily present too, but my mother’s personality has rubbed off on me over the years. Many tell me that I am just like my mother, which I am not denying. I have developed her ability to care strongly for those around her, and the skill of multitasking and organization, even when surrounded by complete chaos. My father’s constant reminder of working hard and the importance of succeeding in school, additionally is the reason I attend this university. He has helped me set high expectations for myself and work until I achieve what I am expected of. Because of some family issues that occurred my last few years in high school, I have learned to be more independent and focus on my needs, rather than getting distracted by the events I was surrounded by. It not only made me emotionally stronger, I learned the importance of communication and relationships. It is one of the things that made me most prepared for college and living on my own. Family been one of the most influential factor on my …show more content…
Being involved in school politics and interning for state politics has made me more aware on the boundaries that gender can hold. Because of my gender, I could say the same thing as a male equivalent but be interpreted in a negative way. Many times I am told I come off as too intense and aggressive; which would not apply if I was not a young woman. I also got to experience extreme gender boundaries when I traveled to Casablanca, Morocco. Unlike most women there, I have light colored hair that was not covered by any type of scarf. The locals there would stare and whisper to one another as I walked down the streets arm and arm with my friend. I was told that when walking in public I must stay next to the women I was traveling with, behind the men. When I took a taxi, I needed to sit in the back rather than the front. I was not permitted to sit in a café because that was for men. I must stay fully dressed at the beach like the other women, rather than the men who wore swimsuits. These were some of the many restrictions I encountered due to my gender. It made me more appreciative for how far our society has come, yet made me more determined for gender equality. My experiences of being restricted due to my gender has motivated me further, shaping my identity as a female interested in