The Best Coffee I’ve Ever Had

The best coffee I’ve ever had came from my local bodega and I swear it could compete with any fancy coffee chain in New York City, for sure.

It got me thinking about how our society is so consumed by the mega commercial corporations that seem to run our economy. I have actually seen this with my own eyes while commuting between downtown and uptown recently. It has revealed the enormous wealth gap that is extremely prevalent here in New York City. 

Wealth inequality is a real problem here. More so here than any other place I have lived. A problem that I hope to help fix.

Why do I care about this problem? Because it affects students the most.

Kids growing up in poor neighborhoods get poorer educations, food qualities, and senses of safety. Less access to health services leave many kids out of luck with little help to get the support they need. An 11 year old kid in foster care can grow up to be a 21 year old homeless person. In fact, I recently met someone who embodies this awful, harsh truth of our society.

I met him while riding the subway. I listened to his story while he was begging for money. He said he was 26, the same age as me. This happened a few weeks ago but I still think about the rawness of the moment. He was screaming to passengers about how he has been homeless for 5 years, after aging out of foster care at 21. He was telling passengers that he was scared, on crack, and didn’t know what to do. This man needed serious help and it honestly broke my heart, being his peer.  

This man serves as just one example of the many individuals suffering from the environment of New York City. Of course, this mans story probably has a lot more to it, but the simple fact that our society produces realities like his is extremely sickening.

After living here for about a month, I have noticed how each neighborhood has a different feeling of wealthiness, some more wealthy feeling than others, with more wealthy neighborhoods consisting of fancier dressed people, more modern looking buildings, more high-end shops, and senses of aesthetics. It is a huge spectrum. In all neighborhoods, though, you will also find people like this man on the subway. The poorest of poor. People who look like they are struggling to survive while thousands of people ignore them each day. Pregnant women begging for their next meal. Kids laying on the street while their parents beg for help. Income inequality is real here in New York City. I believe educational resources can be the most immediate cure.

Therefore,

My goal is be a world-class music educator, here in New York City, for every student that has their eyes on me in the classroom. My goal is to make each moment as impactful as possible for my students, so they can benefit from the powers of music. My goal is to continue to work towards creating a non-profit educational organization that funnels money and resources to students who need it most. Perhaps, if this was done for that 26 year old man on the subway when he was a kid, he would be telling a different story today, sharing his own talents with us. Talents that every human-being possesses. Let’s start by changing the environment.

-J.S