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We grew up on food stamps and church food pantries. Had drive-by shootings in our neighborhood. Never wore new clothes. All of our vehicles were in questionable running condition. Most of my cousins are dead, on drugs, in gangs, or in jail. I was the first person in my family to attend a university.
So, I definitely know what its like to grow up poor. However, my wife and I are doing great now and we are able to live a financially successful life and also help our parents (who sacrificed so much) as well.
Thank you
My dad worked two valet jobs and my mom worked as a parking attendant until my brother and I went to college. My dad eventually was able to take on only one job and my mom found a job that paid a little more. My family desperately relied on the tips that my dad made from rushing to get people’s car and he instilled in my brother and I that we should tip people well as it’s a main source of livelihood for many people. I was the younger sibling so I got everything secondhand from my brother. My mom wanted my brother and I to attend something other than public school so luckily we had partial school assistance from a low ranking catholic school. Thank God for uniforms as there was hardly any money in general, much less for decent clothes for my brother and I. A lot of ramen and food from convenience stores were what kept my brother and I fed since we were “latchkey” kids. I thought I was a normal size until I reached professional services and quickly realized my female peers were all
Size zeros and twos (whether they are that way in a healthy manner or not is their cross to bear). I entered public accounting feeling super grateful but was called slow and felt slow by peers and some bosses (I started at a big 4). I learned a lot of things the hard way alone, plenty of nights of studying py tax returns since I was too afraid of asking too many questions for fear of being written off for a younger, smarter person. I eventually found my footing on a good team that supported me, and have realized that I have grown so much intellectually and personally. My parents couldn’t teach me about financial literary, about investing, real estate, and other wealth accumulating strategies but this and many other things I can pass on to my kids so for that I am grateful. I may be behind financial markers compared to some people on this forum but I’m a fighter so I know I’ll find my way.
Find a good mentor and someone who will invest in you. It makes a world of difference
I never went hungry but my dad did a few times so my sister and I wouldn’t
Actively have to bite my tongue when people air their first world problems at work
I am that Mom who went hungry so her children could eat. people would comment how skinny I was and I'd just smile like it was a compliment. Most times it was, but they didn't know the reason. As the youngest of 6 from a broken family, spent most of my childhood being passed from one family to another. At 16 I left home for good. I grew up in poverty and raised my children in poverty. But it didn't stop me.
When I had a child as a single 21 yr old thought I could do it. I did, Worked 3 sometimes 4 jobs and it was tough. Child was latch key and we barely saw each other. We survived. I finished my education when she finished hers. She will be 35 in a couple of weeks and she's proud of where I am now and I am so proud of where she is.
Came to the US as a refugee with my parents and five siblings. We didn’t speak a lick of English. We lived in government housing for a while and was on food stamps. All six of us made it through college. I remember when I got my first job at a Big 4. My starting salary was more than my mom and dad combined. Learned to be humbled and never take anything for granted l. Above all, learned to be a humble servant leader. Only wish parents were still around to see their sacrifices was for nothing.
Very inspiring P2! My family also came to the US as refugees and having that humble beginning has shaped my worth ethic. Hopefully my career can be as successful as yours
I didn’t come from extreme poverty but I came from experiences of not having everything and today I’m thankful for everything that I have. I certainly feel for the people I work with who were born with a silver spoon in their mouth. Observing their behavior, their attitude, their reactions to those who are struggling, they will never get it.
Wouldn’t say extreme poverty, lived in a 2 bedroom house with 3 brothers mom and dad, was on food stamps for a while. My first bedroom by myself doubled as the laundry room. Public Accounting is a very common first generation wealth building career. Making partner can be a generation changer for your family. But very few second generation wealth that are partners at firms. It takes a certain amount of strength that is hard to get without some struggle growing up. IMO.
Yep. And it’s definitely not a knock or slight on them. It makes sense. Times change.
Not extreme poverty but definitely low income. My father worked pain stakinngly hard in a blue collar job that he took so much pride in, and often picking up side jobs and overtime for everything we had, even though compared to most it wasn’t much. It was a very humble household. We had one car so we would all wake up super early, my parents would tuck us in in the backseat and we would sleep while we drive my father to work. Then go pick him up after work. I could count on my hands all the articles of clothing I had, we never had “treats” just basic groceries, I remember a treat was every once in awhile my mom would buy a grapefruit and we would share it. My father always reminded us how fortunate we are to have a warm house and food. And everything we did get how we needed to cherish and appreciate it. He always told us “you don’t give up when it gets hard” that sense of grit has always stayed with me ♥️ Even though I appreciated everything my parents did for me, I knew I wanted to go to school to get a job that paid a lot of money. I didn’t want to be the next generation of living like that. I couldn’t even tell my parents my starting salary because it was well above what my father currently was making. Every year I give a good portion of my bonus to my parents.
Yep. There were times my family of 5 lived out of a pickup truck, sleeping in parking lots. But military service got me a GI bill, which got me a degree, so I won’t ever have to live that way again and I can keep my parents under a roof when they’re too old to work.
I was never homeless but my house got taken by the bank, sometimes the lights went out due to payment issues and let’s just say I ate a lot of ramen. I made more money than my mom by at least double my first day on the job here. Feel very grateful.
I wouldn’t say extreme poverty but my parents came from overseas with little to their name. Had 5 kids and lived off of govt assistance programs for most of my childhood. Got a job in high school to be able to pay for extra clothes, spending money, and save for a car. Had to pay for everything including cell phone, car payment, insurance, etc if I wanted it. Was never handed anything bc my father made about 30K. Growing up I never felt like we didn’t have anything, i thought everyone was the same. Realized as I got older my parents sacrificed a lot and tried to give us what they could without making us feel like we were struggling. My starting salary is almost double what my dad made supporting his wife and 5 kids, so I feel truly humble.
My mom and I lived in a homeless shelter in NY for about a year when I was 6-7. It was a rough time, but we made it through. Grateful to have made it this far in my life!
Yes. My mother was an alcoholic and my father was addicted to crack cocaine. Raised in a single parent home with 4 other siblings, we didn't even have a car growing up. Lights would get cut off regularly and selling food stamps was so rampant that I didnt realize that it was illegal until about 4 years ago. Everybody in my neighborhood made less than 20k a year.
Pretty much all of my closest friends have criminal records.
Yet, here I am with the smartest people from their respective state schools and a senior at one of the coolest firms on earth. America, luck, hardwork and God - only way I can explain it.
Don’t downplay it as luck and undervalue yourself. You may also be as smart or smarter as “the smartest ppl from their respective state schools.” Hard work and God are certainly important aspects too.
Wow. Can I just say how amazing this thread is? I had kids at 18 and 21, and struggled as a single mom. I was on Medicaid and WIC for a time trying to get my life together. I landed a job at KPMG and worked my butt off and up the ranks. I felt like an outsider amongst wealthy, highly educated Republicans for many years. Until I realized that I’m ME - I’m the shit whether I came up like you or not. :) People respect that and what I bring to the table with or without a masters or a privileged background. I think our personal experiences make us even more marketable because of our diversity. I take pride in who I am and what I’ve been through and I hope you do too!
Can I say how amazing YOU are?! Keep being yourself. The same determination and trueness of self got me where I am. A young, resilient, honest and hardworking KPMG partner.
In all seriousness though, not severe poverty as I’m taking it to mean. Had a roof over our heads, but I made more my first year working than my dad did when he retired. First real job was construction at 14 at $5.15/hour. Most of what I was able to safe my first few years in PA went back to them to buy them a car and repairs to their house. Also helped pay for my younger siblings to go to college - one is now in residency
I’m incredibly fortunate to have many of the opportunities I have had. My wife and I still work with kids and families where I grew up - to show them what they can do and that there are other paths
My kids will.
These are a lot of amazing stories! I came from low income, and maybe poor, but not extreme poverty by any means. I am the oldest of eight kids and my dad worked in a factory (and I made more than my parents combined my first year out of school). We lived in a three bedroom house with all ten of us, and had some other family staying with us at times. My mom worked various jobs to supplement my dad’s pay and my dad would work overtime quite a bit (but I also remember him being home for meals and at all important events). We had food stamps at some point and would definitely get second hand clothes. As kids we also helped at a young age to make money doing things like picking strawberries and apples, babysitting, mowing lawns, stuffing newspapers with ads, etc. However, I must admit that I was fortunate as the oldest, and very close to my grandma who would get me anything that I needed. I worked in high school and college, and a great attitude and hard work ethic led to other jobs - two attributes that anyone can have from any situation and will take you very far in life. My parents did not have a college education, but they sacrificed a lot for us and did have love, grit, a hard work ethic, faith, and family, which were all extremely valuable (and made me wealthy in a different way even though we did not have money) and have shaped who I am and helped me to get to partner. My parents valued education and sacrificed a lot (and got a lot of help from our church) so we could go to Catholic schools - most of the other students there were also from low income families ( and emphasize that a private school is not necessary by any means - my mom wanted us to go to church regularly and instill certain values, but I know you can find those values in public schools also). Now, because of the values my parents taught us, all of us kids have college degrees except one who is very successful in a trade, and we are able to go on family vacations every other year. We also all help my parents and each other (during some bumpy times). I am extremely grateful, and also realize I am privileged, to have the support of my family and models of the values that matter. Probably the most important value learned is to give to others - we generally had what we needed with family, clothes, food, and shelter, and my parents (with us kids) helped migrant workers at church who were working nearby during the summers and also volunteered at food pantries. My parents today help families who are poor and close to homeless or homeless, and provide a home and teach those families to also share with the community. I want to offer some words of encouragement to keep working hard and have a great attitude. You likely will find some ways you learned how to survive will need to be shed and you will learn new ways to propel you in this next chapter of your life. I think sharing your story is extremely valuable. In my experience, vulnerability can lead to great development personally and professionally. Of course, some people are in a better position to hear the stories and provide support and others may not be able to comprehend the relevance based on where they are in life. Each of us is different and contributed in a different way - continue being curious and learning and developing and pass on what you learn and achieve to others - that is real success!
Grew up in section 8 with split-home parents having various mental health and physical health issues. All family members generally end up alcoholics, drug addicts or in jail. Before I started my career, my cousin died outside homeless in severe winter weather. I am extremely grateful for my path thus far and will continue to work hard to provide a better life for myself and my future generations. It’s all about mindset OP. You are not alone, keep grinding.
I needed this. Currently in training and it really shows who came from humble beginnings and those who've headed life handed to them. Thanks for the inspiration to keep grinding
Don’t quit or think of yourself as anything less than.
I slept on a couch with holes in it growing up until I want to say age 5 or 6. Then I got my very own bed. Playing sports was usually a no because we couldn’t afford equipment. I am a white male though so I’ve never really thought of myself as being in a difficult situation.
This might be one of the best threads I’ve see to date.....
Agreed. I would happily interview any of the respondents to this thread and offer any career support I can.