(Short Take is a new feature in which
people represent the 47 percent or honor someone who has represented the
47 percent in one-to-two sentences. Learn how to submit yours by clicking here.)
I grew up in the Marine Corps. My dad was a career Marine.
Throughout his career, despite the hard work he put in, which often
included long deployments overseas, my lunches were always subsidized,
my family received food stamps, and government cheese and peanut butter.
We once ate hamburger helper every night for three months straight
because we couldn't afford to shop for pricier groceries.
Jan Becker
Jan
Becker is an MFA student at Florida International University, where she
is able to attend because of the loans she receives from the
government. She is the first person in her family to attend college, let
alone graduate from high school.
