Capital Region Study on Poverty Reflection

The information that I just read from this study was highly disturbing and unsettling to me. I was horrified to see the statistics of poverty in the area surrounding me, while I am sitting inside my nice dorm on a beautiful, and sometimes secluded campus in ritzy Loudonville. I literally felt bad that I am able to come to such a wonderful college, yet I am extremely grateful at the same time. If it were not for my scholarships and grants, I would not be able to afford this college, or any other college for that matter. I live with my single mom, and I know what it's like to have struggles with money. Thankfully, I have never known the poverty that was displayed in this study, and I can't even begin to imagine what it is like for the people living that reality day after day, just trying to make ends meet.
I was also very bothered at the statistics that were displayed about how Wealth Disparity in Upstate New York has changed in the past two decades. Why is it that the gap between the wealthy and the poor is growing at such a rapid pace? There is no need for the top 5% of average upstate New York income to have grown 104.7%, while the bottom class and middle class only grew 19.7% and 35.2%, respectively. The margin should either stay around the same area, or shrink, not increase at such high percentages.
The graduation rates in this area are terrible, and very sad, seeing that without a high school diploma it is difficult to get a half way decent job these days. When I saw that Albany has a 38% graduation rate, my jaw literally dropped. There are some major issues in this area if only a little over 1/3 of high school students graduate. I hope that we can do a lot in this community to make it change for the better!