Ten Years

Ten years. A lot can happen in ten years. It’s a measurement of time that has been coming up for me a lot lately. There’s the ubiquitous “where do you see yourself in ten years?” question. There’s the student who recently told me I’m an “old woman” because I’m ten years older than she is. And there is the ten year anniversary of a local organization called Panhandle Twenty/20.

Ten years ago, I was 23. I was recently divorced, working two jobs (a waitress and a receptionist) and was living all by myself for the first time in my life. My biological dad had died 6 months prior. It was a rough time. I had an Associate’s degree in English; I had worked as a waitress, a substitute teacher and a secretary. Had I continued on that path, I would not likely make much money ever or be very fulfilled in my work. I probably would have been fine, but I think today I’m much more than fine.

In the past ten years, I have gotten married, become a mother, and obtained a Bachelor degree. In another eight months, I’ll have a Master’s degree and I’m contemplating a PhD. I no longer work two jobs (an argument could be made that I work at least three jobs under the guise of one, but I digress). 

A lot has changed in ten years.

I attended a working lunch meeting today for PanhandleTwenty/20’s tenth anniversary. Ten years ago, a group of community leaders had Dr. Steve Murdock speak to them and decided they had to do something to address poverty in the Panhandle. They decided education was the “something” they must do. Ten years ago, I was working two jobs and barely paying rent. I was in poverty. It was situational poverty, but poverty nonetheless. I marveled that I was sitting in that room full of community leaders today discussing what our next step for the community should be. 

I realized for the first time that I am one of the people who got out of poverty because of education. My story is a bit complicated. My husband has a job that doesn’t require formal education and he supported me through deciding to get an education and actually getting it. But I am at home in that room full of community leaders because of education. 

I will never have to work two jobs again. I will never have to bargain with my landlady again about paying the rent or getting kicked out. 

I have been putting a wall between myself and the people in poverty that we are seeking to help. Not because I don’t care about them. I was raised in a middle class family that highly values education and many of them have grown up in poverty with no emphasis placed on education. When a local speaker talks about the eviction notices these people receive, I think, “I will never be at that level of poverty.” Today I remembered that brightly colored piece of paper on my apartment door ten years ago. I was able to scrape together enough tip money to pay the landlady. I had a support system and my parents paid my car payment a few months (I later paid them back). If my parents hadn’t been there, I don’t know where I would have lived. 

The only difference between me and “them” is that I was lucky enough to be born in a home where my parents had opportunities and could give the same to me.

A lot can happen in ten years. To go from an eviction notice to a room full of community leaders is quite a trip. Now, where do I see myself in ten years? Only time will tell!

Happy 10^th birthday to Panhandle Twenty/20! This is an incredible organization and I encourage everyone in the Panhandle to see how you can get involved with them or their mission.