Letter: Don’t invalidate any struggles of being low-income
(02/01/19 5:00am)
When I read Ali Thursland's column on being financially underprivileged at Duke, I related to a lot of her struggles. I am a low-income, first generation student and a member of a Greek organization. How many birthday dinners have I missed because I can’t afford a meal out? How many times have I lied about where my clothes are from? How many times have I skipped a mixer or party because I have nothing to wear? But, at the same time, I have also lied about why I would drive home 12 hours instead of flying, or about where my brother, sister and parents went to college. I have had to uncomfortably explain why I stayed at Duke for Thanksgiving, why I have two jobs, and why I didn’t go abroad.