Summary
This article explains that life can be unfair for people in low-income communities, but there is still hope. Even with challenges like poor schools, low pay, and limited resources, we can move forward by learning, using free help, speaking up, and supporting each other. The system may not be built for us, but with strength and unity, we can still succeed.
Some think that it’s only “smart” people who get ahead in life.
They believe that to be successful, you must go to college, have passed with straight As, and use big words.
But this is not always the case.
And intelligence is cool to have, but it’s not the only winning factor in life.
In all, plenty of folks who are doing ok or even well off have never attended a fancy school or even college itself.
What separates the two is some other quality that pushes them forward.
You might have that same quality.
So here’s what matters.
To start off, in order to be successful, it starts with hard work.
Some people are just smart; some must work hard to get something so smart.
Sometimes talent gets beaten by hard work, but only when talent doesn’t try.
Showing up every day with your best effort and determination not to quit is what wins for you.
Book smarts are all well and good, but common sense is a force to be reckoned with.
You use common sense in the way you try to solve something, keep your family safe, or work out how to spend $20 on food for a week.
That’s real life—and it takes real skill.
Interacting with others, keeping cool and solving problems with people is a pretty big deal.
People who know how to do this get jobs, keep them, and often become leaders.
You can learn this at home or at church or when helping others.
“Grit” means you keep going when it’s hard.
“Hustle” finds a way even when the road is blocked.
Most people in low-income communities have grit and hustle.
They find ways to earn money, care for others, and make ends meet. That’s not weakness; it’s strength.
Think of what you’ve done just to survive or take care of your family.
You might have fixed a car when you didn’t have money for repairs, scrounged up a big meal out of practically nothing, or helped someone find a house or a job.
That’s skill.
That’s wisdom.
That’s value.
Its safe to say that a college degree is not required to succeed.
To succeed, you must first realize your worth and believe in yourself and keep pushing forward.
It’s not to say that you should not go to school because you most definitely should, if you really want to, but you already know you can do it right now.
You also must learn to use what you’ve got.
Begin with doing what you already know or can do on a small scale.
Starting small may involve the provision of services such as barbering, house cleaning or even food services.
Learn for free.
Watch online videos for free.
Attend free classes at your local church or library.
Get help.
Look for mentors, friends, or even programs that can help you grow.
Never give up.
Good broods over you than the struggles themselves.
You’re More Than “Intelligent”
Intelligence is certainly a winning factor, but it’s not the only one in the game.
More importantly, you have a heart.
You have strength.
You have street smarts.
And that’s what gets you ahead.
Don’t wait to be perfect.
Don’t wait to be “smart enough.”
Be in the present with what you presently have.
The tools are already inside you.
