03225

My town kind of freaks me out.
I know I shouldn't be this prejudiced, but it's just really weird to me. The poverty isn't a new thing; I've always been around that. But every time I go into one of the local businesses (i.e. a gas station or the country store because that's about all we're working with here) everyone just seems--defeated. Worn down. Worn out. In Massachusetts poverty seems more aggressive. I don't know why, but there has always been more fight in those people, across all socioeconomic backgrounds. Barnstead just doesn't have any hope for opportunity or expansion or anything. I know a lot of people find the country peaceful and I do too. It's the sadness that bothers me. I don't notice it as much in my area because it's mainly composed of middle-of-the-middle-class retirees from, you guessed it, Massachusetts, but as soon as you go towards the center of town where old families are established, you can just feel the weariness. It's not only the adults either. The kids don't have any prospects here because neither their education nor their circumstances demand it of them. Many of them will stay here for the rest of their lives. If they choose it because they love the area, then that's wonderful. I wish them the best of luck and hope that they can make the most of whatever limited opportunity they have. If they don't see any other option, then I feel sorry that they couldn't live up to their potential.
When I talk about opportunity, I'm not talking about a white collar job that brings home a wheelbarrow full of cash. I mean the opportunity to explore what talents and abilities you have, to make more of yourself and push yourself towards whatever direction you find yourself naturally oriented. Is there money in that? Sometimes, yeah. But it's the options that people need, not the finances. Hell, do you think I'm going to Harvard for the financial security? I don't know what I'd do with money. I honestly don't. I would keep enough to pay for college for whatever kids I may or may not have, set a little aside to live off of when I retire, and probably end up just giving the rest away. Excess is just unappealing. (I am SUCH a lousy American, where did my culture abandon me to a side road...) If I do go into medicine, start making a list of charities that look halfway decent. I'll need someone to take the waste off my hands.
L