Chicago is known throughout the United States as having one of the worst public school systems in the country. Although I attend a private school, each day that I sit in my English class, I have a clear view through the windows of the public school across the street, where other students my age who are equally as talented and intelligent as I am are in overcrowded classrooms without the resources and opportunities that I have. At Ignatius, I have had the chance to travel around the world and join exciting clubs. I have also been able to work with teachers who have the time to meet with me individually and be in an environment where everyone is genuinely excited to learn. Ignatius is surrounded by public housing buildings and run down schools and when I look through the window at the other school, it reminds me that others are not as lucky as I am. There are thousands of kids in Chicago who do not have the opportunity for a fantastic education like I have had. From very early on, their parents do not have the financial stability to spend money on education and they slowly fall behind. Because of the circumstances that they were born into, many students are already far behind by the time they enter first grade and without the proper support system, there is no way for them to catch up. When they do reach high …show more content…
Rather than worrying about whether or not we will be able to afford college, we focus on getting in to the top universities in the country at whatever cost. For other seniors in the city and even students at Ignatius on financial aid, they cannot afford ACT prep classes, visits to college campuses around the country or even the extremely expensive applications to each of the schools. College is not a given for these students like it is for the students at Ignatius. Without a college degree, it is very difficult to find a job and provide for a family, restarting the vicious