My mother is still focused around being "the single mother", but she finally realizes that she can definitely handle the task at hand. Although looking back, I wish that I had a more stable, closer family, but at least I've never felt unloved. .
I grew up in an upper middle class area. Because of this I consider myself extremely lucky. Both my parents worked and still work extremely hard to keep me in such a great lifestyle. Due to the fact that my parents are divorced, did although put a damper on the economic situation while growing up. I have been working since I was fifteen years old, whether it be at the local McDonald's or at a neighborhood shoe store where I continue to work until this day. Since then, I have always bought my own clothes, paid for my own gas and paid for all the extra expenses that a teenager endures. This isn't to say that I am not thankful for all that I have had. My father was able to buy me a car and my parents were able to afford to send me a great college. I am thankful for everything that my parents have given me during my childhood. I know that they worked extremely hard to be able to afford the great area in which I grew up in, and for that I will always admire them.
Because I am a white male, I"m supposed to have al of these special benefits granted to me. So far in my life, I have never felt such benefits. I can gladly say that I never witnessed anyone in my high school being judged or criticized on their race or ethnicity, and so being one of the majority, I never felt I had the upper hand against the minority. Having yet not applied for a professional job, I have not experienced the privilege of getting a job over someone else simply because of their race, gender, or ethnicity, which statistics state I probably would. I am in fact very happy that I have never yet been able to experience such "privileges" granted to people like me, but I have definitely experienced a disadvantage.