Personal Narrative: My Lower-Class Family

I would consider my family and I to be in the working class status, which is also defined to be under as a lower-class group. My family has worked extremely hard from having absolutely nothing to something. They migrated from Mexico to the United States for better opportunities, since in Mexico there were insufficient jobs for my parents to even have a home or food. My parents first moved to Florida where I was eventually born. We then moved to North Carolina when I was about a year old. I honestly never knew there was such a thing as social classes and the meaning of it each class. Since, I can always remember my family have shared similar characteristics to that of a lower-class family. Our first few homes that we paid rent monthly in Florida and North Carolina were trailers. We first shared a trailer with my uncle’s family and later moved to our own trailer. We moved often in search of more work opportunities for my parents. Living in a small trailer with my parents and three siblings was sometimes a struggle. I would have to share rooms with my sister and my two brothers would share a room also. My parents have always worked full-time jobs, regardless if indoor or outdoor. They have worked outside planting trees, picking strawberries, and factories. My mother not only has a full-time job
but also cleans houses on her days off to make a bit more money. I would barely see my parents because they had to work 12 hour shift weekly. My brothers and sister have also helped to pay bills by working part-time jobs. As I grew up, I learned more about how my social class effected my life.
My parents rarely ever took us out to buy clothes or food at fast-food restaurants. We would always buy our groceries at a run-down place because they had more affordable food. Fortunately, every Christmas our school would donate money in order for my family to receive some gifts which were mainly school supplies and clothes. During middle and high school, was when I finally realized that I had less opportunities than any of my friends. I was not able to participate in many out of school activities because of money being tight. My senior year of high school was the most I struggled with
financially. Despite some of the disadvantages of being in a lower class status, I have learned many helpful and insightful things. My parents have taught me to be independent and work hard for what I want. Growing up in a small environment with my siblings I was able to communicate better with them and stronger relationship with one another. In other words, I saw a positive perspective of being in a lower class. It has motivated me to continue to strive for success regardless of the circumstances I may face.