Because of how expensive it is, college campuses tend to be full of upper-middle to upper-class students. This isn't inherently a problem--after all, someone's parents have to fund the new wing of the library. However, if you didn't grow up affluent, you can feel a little out of place on a college campus, no matter how kind your friends are. Here are [] things you'll relate to if you're the poorest of your college friends.
1. You help all your friends fill out job applications.
You've been on the minimum-wage job grind since you got the legal right to work--this is your domain. But then you have to stop yourself from laughing when they ask if they can put their mom as a professional reference.
2. That small, awkward pause when you tell someone you have to work.
To people who grew up with money, the word "job" equates to a professional career, not a minimum-wage food service or retail job. Every time you mention working, they have to take a second and remember "Oh right! You have to work."
3. People actually get offended when you make jokes about rich people.
You don't mean any harm! You thought everyone had something against rich people. Did everyone forget about Occupy Wall Street? Bernie Sanders shouting about "the top ten percent of the top one percent"? You apologize anyway, but geez...it isn't personal.
4. Scholarships are not just for high school seniors.
If your wealthy friends filled out scholarships at all, they stopped worrying about them after college started. BUT NOT YOU!! You're thoroughly familiar with your school's scholarship site and they're always at the back of your mind.
5 "Poor People Guilt"
Growing up, your family had trouble affording things for themselves, let alone any of your friends. Because of this, you have a deep-seated guilt complex that only rears its head when someone offers to pay for you. This is a strange phenomenon that's hard to explain to anyone who doesn't experience it, but it's very real and very prevalent.
6. Greek Life? Hell no.
It doesn't matter what you think of Greek culture. It's that you absolutely cannot afford it. Hundreds, maybe even thousands of dollars?! Per semester?! MINIMUM?!?! Do they know how many groceries you could buy with that money?! Jesus.
7. You have a hard time trusting someone who's never worked a crappy minimum-wage job.
How can you trust someone who doesn't know about FIFO? What is their knowledge worth if they can't fold a shirt right? What do they know about life if they've never been yelled at by a middle aged white woman with a bad haircut for something they couldn't control?
8. This tweet:
9. Being poor isn't pitiful, though.
You always get that look when you tell someone you're poor, grew up poor, or can't afford something. Even if for a moment, they look at you with pity. But you're not pitiful! You still have friends, you still go out, you're still involved with clubs. You just have to work a little more and spend a little less.
10. And finally: staying calm while all your friends freak out about having to support themselves for the first time.
Pssssssh. You've been doing this since high school.
What do you think? Do you relate? I know I do. Let me know in the comments!
