We Can Do It

There are two types of girls in this world: The Can-Do girl and The At-Risk Girl. The Can-Do girl population consists of a primarily white girl ( can-do girls can also be of other backgrounds) from a family that is financially comfortable, typically middle class. Her parents are both living within the same household and have very successful careers. Their parents share the same interests in their child's well being. Both are involved in their child's extracurricular activities.

She receives many opportunities that further her education and brings her closer to her future career goal. Her life follows a subsequential order of the cliche' American dream. That goes something like this: As a child, she's enrolled in specialized programs, such as dance or karate or even takes up playing an instrument. These creative programs encourage her to use her imagination and develop a sense of creativity, all while molding her personality.

Now let's fast word to High School. The Can-Do girl is enrolled in a private high school that gives a stellar education and helps them decide what their career goals will be before stepping onto a college campus. Then little things come along, such as getting her license, buying her first car, and then moving onto campus to make the first step toward her career.

Later, she graduates from college, moves into her first apartment, and gets an irrefutable position in her dream career. Afterward, she finds a soulmate and gets married, she buys a house and then has children.

On the other hand, we have the " at-risk girl" who is on the opposite end of the economic chain than the Can-do girl. A Girl who is considered "at-risk," comes from a low-income background and tends to fall between the cracks of the improperly paved road to success. Her early childhood will is swarmed with many adversities, and lack of opportunities will cause her to have low self-esteem and ambition. She is prone to teen pregnancies, followed by dropping out of school. She will use alcohol and drugs to cope with any mental infirmities she develops throughout her life.

But COVID has changed that.

During this medical crisis, lifestyles are changing. You may be thinking that with the sudden closure of businesses and unemployment rates reaching an all-time high, Incomes are either increasing or decreasing. The financial barriers that restricted the"at-risk" girl have now placed her in a spot where she can be as comfortable as the "Can-do" girl. The "Can-do" girl is falling from grace and restrictions are being placed on her lifestyle. This may be true, however, the "at-risk" is still at risk. Though she is placed in a better financial bracket, the issues that surround her still remain. While the "Can-do" girl may be cutting back on somethings, she still has finances saved up to keep her for some time.