24% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck, with no safety net, no money for entertainment, no way to survive other than to work. The average US citizen clocks in 300 more hours per year when compared to countries like Denmark and Germany.
These, however, are harms that many PHS students may rarely see. With a median household income of $192,079 as reported in 2024 census data, most families here are thriving. Multi-thousand dollar trips across the globe are normal, an expected part of many students’ high school experiences. Very few towns have the privilege of living like this; much of Princeton is a bubble, an almost idealistic society.
However, not all of Princeton is equal. There are certainly income disparities that exist within the neighborhoods of Princeton, neighborhoods that should be the targets of PHS aid initiatives. PHS clubs and programs must do the proper research to identify which communities truly need the help that they are providing rather than simply going to the easiest location. This can mean something as simple as moving the position of drives that clubs hold to ensure that communities in need are the first to receive resources.
In the case that there are no local, Princetonian communities to help with a project, it is also possible to look outwards. Princeton is, on average, wealthier than other nearby towns, meaning that the commute does not need to be very far to arrive at other locations that could benefit from aid. For example, a 20-minute drive to assist schools in Trenton could make a much larger impact than reinforcing existing opportunities in Princeton. Of course, there is the trade-off of providing maximum utility and practicality; ideally, clubs are able to find a happy medium between these two options.
On a larger stage, all students must seek out different perspectives before forming a view on the world. The struggles that we face are very often not the struggles that most people face. All of us should aim to make the world a better place for everyone in it, and that starts with recognizing the problems that need to be addressed. Before supporting a candidate, we should read about their policies and how they affect all demographics, not just ones that pertain to us. It is imperative that we remain informed of what life is like beyond our bubble, be it through reading about the lives of other people or simply paying more attention to the news. When society is founded upon capitalism and millions of Americans are struggling to scrape up any money to truly live, it is an incredible freedom that we are able to live in a community such as Princeton. We must use the opportunities we have to improve the lives of the people who live in less fortunate communities, the fellow citizens, who continuously toil to give us this privilege, and that help begins with how we focus the aid that we give today.