"You see, I just got out of the hospital and I figured I'd come to the train station and beg. I hate begging for change but I need to get home." .....or "I just got out of jail and I need to buy a train ticket." .... but mostly, "Hey man, you have a dollar for me?"
Almost everyday after school, from my walk down University Avenue to Broad Street Station, I get approached by some sort of homeless and/or handicapped individual asking for money. I mean, it doesn't bother or scare me at all; living in Clifton, Lodi and Paterson has presented me with similar altercations. Yeah, a majority of these beggars probably need their fix, whether it be crack, alcohol, etc. Yet, one experience and a blog post by a student in our class has made me realize something different.
There was a woman, right outside Broad Street Station. She sat in a wheelchair, due to the fact that her right foot was amputated. I was approached with her hospital story, how her foot was amputated as a child due to infection, and whether she could borrow some money. I mean, we aren't dumb; most people are aware when a crack head or alcoholic, or any sort of heavily drug abused individual is in our presence. The features are very distinct, and, (call me rude or stereotypical), especially in a city like Newark, these individuals are easy to spot out.
Except, this woman actually seemed like your average 50 year old, African American woman. She went on to tell me a story of her childhood. I had a few minutes to spare before the train came, so I decided to listen. Once, some guy explained to me how much he loves the NFL and how Jim Brown was the best running back he has ever seen in his life....
Back to the woman. She was very sweet, and kept going into detail about her life of poverty and being handicapped.
A few days later, one of the students wrote a blog about her troubles with arthritis...
I analyzed Alyssa's blog so much while reading it. It really made me think and understand how much people can suffer, even due to a handicap issue that nobody can notice by looking at you. This woman lived her whole life in severe poverty, and on top of that, did not have a foot, yet, she seemed so happy and thrilled and grateful to be alive! Basically, I am trying to explain to you all that the Alyssa's blog really made me realize not to take anything for granted. Also, the woman at the train station also inspired me in a way. As much as I think my life may suck, or how much I may be down at one point, there is always a way for me to get back up. Also, there are many people that have it worse than I do. Not a knock on them at all, but rather a knock on myself. This woman really changed my outlook on not taking life for granted and actually live a little.
Just because things aren't looking up doesn't mean I can turn things around and make an experience or a lesson out of it.
I really enjoyed reading this, and I'm honored to know that my blog inspired you in some way. I think you captured a very unfortunate but very real problem in Newark. We are all guilty of stereotyping homeless people as being drug addicts or alcoholics, often without thinking about what drove the person to addiction in the first place. I think you have a good balance of story and analysis here. The only thing I would suggest is that you remove the Jim Brown sentence because it throws off the rhythm you've established telling the woman's story.
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