Living On One Dollar Analysis

Throughout my almost eighteen years I have been truly blessed to be where I am in my life, and to have the opportunities that I do. However, my reality is an unattainable dream for some people ostracized in third world countries. My revelation began one day, like any other. I attended class, sitting in my designated desk shaking from the cold air that permeated the classroom while listening to a short lecture. Although class seemed as if it would consist of the normal routine, I was wrong; my teacher began playing a documentary. His actions instantly set my peers into a deep sleep, but I am forever grateful I did not join them. The movie we watched, “Living on One Dollar”, followed two college students and two filmmakers from New York, who traveled to Guatemala

Throughout the film the Americans quickly befriend the locals and learn the everyday struggles having to pay for food, school, loans, or crops. One of scenes that deeply resonated with me was when one teenager was ripped of his education to work for his family because they could not pay a twenty five dollar tuition fee for the school year. Despite the fact many of the citizens were uneducated, malnourished, and extremely underprivileged, they all shared a commonality of true happiness. Once the credits began rolling, my eyes filled with tears due to the realization of how blessed I truly am. While taking a short walk to my next class I began reflecting on the film and envisioning how a poverty-stricken teenager from Guatemala would feel living my daily life walking in my shoes. How he would be in a constant state of euphoria being able to gain an education or eat three full meals throughout the day. This breathtaking film also made me grasp that allowing yourself to be interdependent on family or friends is acceptable and serves you a happier