First Generation Poverty

The United States has been known as the land of opportunity for a long time now and not only among its citizens but, to the to entire world. For that reason, many foreigners leave their own country, along with their homes, culture and family in order to obtain that opportunity. For many immigrants that settle into this new country they have to start a new life with no financial help, ultimately having to live in poverty like many in the United States. Living in poverty may not be the most ideal way to live but, for most its gives them motivation and a distinct perspective on life that drives them to obtain a better life for themselves and for their families. The film First Generation follows the lives of four graduating high school seniors

The parents of each of each individual student did not go to college and this idea of not requiring a college education is transferred form generation to generation. Jess unlike the other students in the film did has the luxury of both her parents being involved in her life. Her mother did not go to college and created her own business while her father joined the workforce and learned a trade. Dante's mother has battled with drug addiction for over twenty four years leading him to constantly move from one family to another. Cecilia's mother comes from a culture where the women are suppose to be housewives and does not believe in going to college or being independent from a man while her father recently got deported back to their home country. Among the most tragic is Soma, who faced his father's untimely death and was left to take care of not only his mother but nine other relatives in a two bedrooms apartment. The instability of the family requires the students to take on more responsibility, from getting job to taking care of their own parents all of the extra responsibilities negatively impacts their educational future. The instablity of a family was something I also faced when I was younger. During the years that my parents first immigrated to this country their financial stress started to affect other areas of their lives, one area being their relationship. Both of my parents faced hardship while assimilating to this new culture and this lead them to get a divorce. I can strongly determine that the separation from my father not only affected emotionally then and now but also made it more difficult for my mother to raise two children on her own. While both income and family stability have an important role of deciding whether to obtain a higher education or not, the available opportunity is also