Although America is the wealthiest country on earth, growing up in poverty significantly impacts millions of children all across the country. After reading Sandra Cisneros’ novel The House on Mango Street and comparing the lives of the characters to my own childhood, it was apparent that the low socioeconomic status of both our families had a profound impact on various aspects of our individual development. The financial struggles of a child’s parents inadvertently places a significant emotional burden on a child, who must cope with the lack of material goods and sometimes even basic amenities. Albeit, Esperanza and I both aspire to escape poverty and move to a safer neighborhood, both of us have vowed to return and assist our communities
…show more content…
Esperanza’s lack of sociability seems to stem from her displeasures and insecurities from growing up in a financially unstable household. For instance, Esperanza infers, “No, this isn 't my house I say and shake my head as if shaking could undo the year I 've lived here. I don 't belong. I don 't ever want to come from here. You have a home, Alicia, and one day you 'll go there, to a town you remember, but me I never had a house, not even a photograph ... only one I dream of” (Cisneros 106-107). Instead of embracing her home and community, the stress factors surrounding her daily life caused Esperanza to remain isolated and withdrawn from her peers. Unfortunately for me, I also experienced similar social anxieties throughout my …show more content…
Whether it is the stigma behind living in a “bad” neighborhood or not having enough food at home to eat, the challenges children in poverty face can seem endless. These same challenges are what interconnects Esperanza’s upbringing on Mango Street to my childhood growing up in West Ventura. Like Esperanza, I also aspire to move out of my neighborhood and provide a better life for my family, however I have embraced my community and plan on continuing to serve the Avenue community long after my departure. In the end, the financial struggles Esperanza and I have faced in our upbringing, challenged us to work towards escaping the cycle of poverty that affects millions of children
Esperanza’s lack of sociability seems to stem from her displeasures and insecurities from growing up in a financially unstable household. For instance, Esperanza infers, “No, this isn 't my house I say and shake my head as if shaking could undo the year I 've lived here. I don 't belong. I don 't ever want to come from here. You have a home, Alicia, and one day you 'll go there, to a town you remember, but me I never had a house, not even a photograph ... only one I dream of” (Cisneros 106-107). Instead of embracing her home and community, the stress factors surrounding her daily life caused Esperanza to remain isolated and withdrawn from her peers. Unfortunately for me, I also experienced similar social anxieties throughout my …show more content…
Whether it is the stigma behind living in a “bad” neighborhood or not having enough food at home to eat, the challenges children in poverty face can seem endless. These same challenges are what interconnects Esperanza’s upbringing on Mango Street to my childhood growing up in West Ventura. Like Esperanza, I also aspire to move out of my neighborhood and provide a better life for my family, however I have embraced my community and plan on continuing to serve the Avenue community long after my departure. In the end, the financial struggles Esperanza and I have faced in our upbringing, challenged us to work towards escaping the cycle of poverty that affects millions of children