“Many Elkhorn students have only experienced wealth. Many live without struggle, not recognizing the luck with which they are gifted. They surround themselves with friends just like them. In their free time, they talk about each other behind their backs and take Instagram photos with Lululemon and Sephora shopping bags. ” This was written by reporter Elan Perry in the opinion piece, Bridge the Divide.

I would first like to clarify that I am not going to comment on the racial aspects of the article, only the things stated on the status of wealth at Elkhorn North. 

When I first read Perry’s opinion, I found myself agreeing with almost every statement on the abundant wealth at Elkhorn North. I shared her anger with people having so much more than me without realizing how different it may be for others. 

After reflecting on what I was truly feeling, I’d like to offer another perspective on what Perry might be missing. When you look at someone like me, you see my nice clothes, expensive water bottle, and just expect me to be another extremely wealthy student. Except, what people classify me as (wealthy, affluent, rich) based on what they see differs drastically from the life I actually live. 

I live in a small house with only one of my parents, and for the longest time I never wanted anyone to see where I lived. My mom works four jobs and in no way was I born into wealth. I was ashamed and embarrassed of the fact that I never had what other girls I saw at school, so I covered it up. My mother made sacrifice after sacrifice to make sure I had the nicest things to wear and kept up the façade of the ‘rich kid.’ 

I can say with confidence that there are some extreme over-generalizations about Elkhorn North in “Bridge the Divide” because I am a prime example of someone pretending to be exactly like the people Perry described. My perspective on the issue is to look deeper than what is presented around school. There are so many people like me that you’d never guess live in a similar situation. Reading this opinion article helped me understand my own ignorance in what I have been trying to be, but it also helped me recognize that what she was saying is, respectfully, something I don’t believe. 

Elkhorn North is not the home of shallow, rich kids. It is full of people from every economic class, lifestyle, and wealth bracket. Being less fortunate can look like not having nice clothes, but being able to afford a larger house. It can even look like having the best clothes, shoes, and life, but not having food on the table when coming home. I beg you, when you see people who seemingly have ‘the perfect life’ think about what they might be trying to cover up. 

I’m glad there is a place where both Perry and I could share our viewpoints on this topic. An issue like wealth is always going to be controversial and complicated, and it is important to see many different ideas on the issue. Hopefully, with patience and understanding, the students, faculty, and parents of Elkhorn North can learn to embrace the vast differences between every single person in the building. A student’s wealth should never be ignorantly flaunted or covered up with embarrassment.