--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Kids who are middle class…" description: "\"Kids who are middle class, socioeconomically, are surrounded by mentors. They have coaches, teachers, they have family friends, their parents have frie..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/794/soledad-o-brien-8701_challenges_kids-who-are-middle-class-socioeconomica_2830958.jpg" --- # Kids who are middle class, socioeconomically, are… ![“Kids who are middle class, socioeconomically, are surrounded by mentors. They have coaches, teachers, they have family friends, their parents have friends. They might have opportunities, they might have jobs that allow them to experience things that kids in poverty often don't have. Sometimes they…” quote by Soledad O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/794/soledad-o-brien-8701_challenges_kids-who-are-middle-class-socioeconomica_2830958.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/794/soledad-o-brien-8701_challenges_kids-who-are-middle-class-socioeconomica_2830958.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/794/soledad-o-brien-8701_challenges_kids-who-are-middle-class-socioeconomica_2830958.jpg) > “Kids who are middle class, socioeconomically, are surrounded by mentors. They have coaches, teachers, they have family friends, their parents have friends. They might have opportunities, they might have jobs that allow them to experience things that kids in poverty often don't have. Sometimes they come from dysfunctional families. And when you come from a family where money's a real challenge, then it might not be a priority to get you into a summer internship.” [Soledad O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soledad-o-brien/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Middle‑class kids often have mentors and opportunities, while poverty limits access to such resources. **In simple terms:** Socio‑economic status affects mentorship and opportunities. Key Takeaway Advocate for equitable mentorship programs. Themes inequality education opportunity Mood empathetic thoughtful Type activist educational When to use this quote - policy - non‑profits Key Concepts social mobility family dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How can mentorship be made accessible to all? - What barriers prevent low‑income youth from accessing opportunities? A Different Perspective Addressing inequality requires systemic change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Challenges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/challenges/) [Dysfunctional Families](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dysfunctional-families-2/) [Dysfunctional family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dysfunctional-family/) [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Family Friend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family-friend/) [Family friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family-friends/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids/) [Mentor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mentor/) [Mentorship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mentorship/) [Middle class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/middle-class/) [Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity/) [Parent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parent/) [Poverty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poverty/) [Priorities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/priorities/) [Summer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/summer/) [Teacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teacher/) ## Related quotes > [My actual first summer internship was in the design department of Clinique.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aerin-lauder/my-actual-first-summer-internship-was-in-the-design-department-of/) [Aerin Lauder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aerin-lauder/) > [When the kids see the poverty in their neighborhood, but they see these successful kids who come from the countries they come from, come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafe-esquith/when-the-kids-see-the-poverty-in-their-neighborhood-but-they-see/) [Rafe Esquith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafe-esquith/) > [Going in is really more of an acknowledgment that kids in poverty, in their situations, can get out of it, and it doesn't always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-faulk/going-in-is-really-more-of-an-acknowledgment-that-kids-in-poverty-in/) [Marshall Faulk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-faulk/) > [Get kids out of poverty. Poverty is devastating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-zigler/get-kids-out-of-poverty-poverty-is-devastating/) [Edward Zigler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-zigler/) > [We all have rosy memories of a simpler, happy time- a time of homemade apple pie and gingham curtains, a time when Mom understood…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-heimel/we-all-have-rosy-memories-of-a-simpler-happy-time-a-time-of-homemade/) [Cynthia Heimel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-heimel/) > [When schools truly become centers of the community, where you have extraordinary teachers, the best teachers, the best principals, great nonprofit partners coming in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arne-duncan/when-schools-truly-become-centers-of-the-community-where-you-have/) [Arne Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arne-duncan/) > [I talk all the time about how much I read growing up and how much I love Stephen King and how he impacted my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-plec/i-talk-all-the-time-about-how-much-i-read-growing-up-and-how-much-i/) [Julie Plec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-plec/) > [I don't think people who are already burdened with social, economic, psychological situations, dysfunctional families, need to be burdened with other people with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/connie-nielsen/i-don-t-think-people-who-are-already-burdened-with-social-economic/) [Connie Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/connie-nielsen/) > [“Families living in dysfunction seldom have healthy boundaries. Dysfunctional families have trouble knowing where they stop and others begin.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-w-earle-lpc-love-is-not-enough/families-living-in-dysfunction-seldom-have-healthy-boundaries/) [David W. Earle LPC- Love is Not Enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-w-earle-lpc-love-is-not-enough/) > [“Perhaps nothing so accurately characterizes dysfunctional families as denial.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bradshaw/perhaps-nothing-so-accurately-characterizes-dysfunctional-families-as-2/) [John Bradshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bradshaw/) > [People talk about dysfunctional families; I've never seen any other kind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-grafton/people-talk-about-dysfunctional-families-i-ve-never-seen-any-other/) [Sue Grafton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-grafton/) > [Well, while I didn't have the more extreme experiences of some of my characters, I didn't exactly come from the most normal of households.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-de-lint/well-while-i-didn-t-have-the-more-extreme-experiences-of-some-of-my/) [Charles de Lint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-de-lint/) > [“Perhaps nothing so accurately characterizes dysfunctional families as denial. The denial forces members to keep believing the myths and vital lies in spite of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bradshaw/perhaps-nothing-so-accurately-characterizes-dysfunctional-families-as/) [John Bradshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bradshaw/) > [“Slavery is at the heart of dysfunctional families. When people serve others because they are forced to do so, freedom to truly serve is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-chapman/slavery-is-at-the-heart-of-dysfunctional-families-when-people-serve/) [Gary Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-chapman/) > [People who come from dysfunctional families are not destined for a dysfunctional life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-bennett/people-who-come-from-dysfunctional-families-are-not-destined-for-a/) [Bo Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-bennett/) ## More by Soledad O'Brien > [When I was 13, I began relaxing my hair, and that meant when I turned 18 it began to crack and fall off, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soledad-o-brien/when-i-was-13-i-began-relaxing-my-hair-and-that-meant-when-i-turned/) [Soledad O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soledad-o-brien/) > [One thing that's certain: around the corner from every ugly thing, there's something really beautiful. If we stop at every bitter interaction; we'll never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soledad-o-brien/one-thing-that-s-certain-around-the-corner-from-every-ugly-thing/) [Soledad O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soledad-o-brien/) > [People will say you cannot get a job in a down economy. People will say you cannot get a job that you love that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soledad-o-brien/people-will-say-you-cannot-get-a-job-in-a-down-economy-people-will/) [Soledad O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soledad-o-brien/) > [Audiences want great story telling; it's why white people watch my show 'Black in America.' It's why black people watch 'Latina in America.' All…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soledad-o-brien/audiences-want-great-story-telling-it-s-why-white-people-watch-my/) [Soledad O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soledad-o-brien/) > [My hair journey involved a lot of trying to figure out how to deal with my hair as a bi-racial girl in a white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soledad-o-brien/my-hair-journey-involved-a-lot-of-trying-to-figure-out-how-to-deal/) [Soledad O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soledad-o-brien/) > [It is truly not fun to be the family that sticks out in an all-white community. On the other side, I have five brothers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soledad-o-brien/it-is-truly-not-fun-to-be-the-family-that-sticks-out-in-an-all-white/) [Soledad O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soledad-o-brien/) > [A smart politician needs to come in and create a plan for when our students graduate college, there are opportunities in fields that interest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soledad-o-brien/a-smart-politician-needs-to-come-in-and-create-a-plan-for-when-our/) [Soledad O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soledad-o-brien/) > [At screenings for 'Black in America,' I've heard people say, 'Well you know, I never thought you were black until you did Katrina, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soledad-o-brien/at-screenings-for-black-in-america-i-ve-heard-people-say-well-you/) [Soledad O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soledad-o-brien/) > [Investing in girls can actually move the needle in communities... and can actually benefit boys, because girls are the mothers of boys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soledad-o-brien/investing-in-girls-can-actually-move-the-needle-in-communities-and/) [Soledad O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soledad-o-brien/) > [Step out of the space you're in. Use fear to grow. We can change lives, starting with our own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soledad-o-brien/step-out-of-the-space-you-re-in-use-fear-to-grow-we-can-change-lives/) [Soledad O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soledad-o-brien/) > [When you have a child who has special needs, you really start thinking about children across the board with special needs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soledad-o-brien/when-you-have-a-child-who-has-special-needs-you-really-start-thinking/) [Soledad O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soledad-o-brien/) > [There is nothing worse than doing nothing and saying nothing when your voice is needed,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soledad-o-brien/there-is-nothing-worse-than-doing-nothing-and-saying-nothing-when/) [Soledad O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soledad-o-brien/) > [I have four relatively small children, and around fourth grade, they start doing big projects on Native Americas: everything is Native Americans in elementary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soledad-o-brien/i-have-four-relatively-small-children-and-around-fourth-grade-they/) [Soledad O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soledad-o-brien/) > [I come to New Orleans so often that, one day soon, someone's going to declare me a native. I love the food. I love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soledad-o-brien/i-come-to-new-orleans-so-often-that-one-day-soon-someone-s-going-to/) [Soledad O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soledad-o-brien/) > [I don't think being beautiful takes away from your credibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soledad-o-brien/i-don-t-think-being-beautiful-takes-away-from-your-credibility/) [Soledad O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soledad-o-brien/) [Explore all 78 Soledad O'Brien quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soledad-o-brien/) ## More Challenges quotes > [I know for my wife and I, we always loved the idea of being young parents. It is an incredibly inspiring and challenging job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hanson/i-know-for-my-wife-and-i-we-always-loved-the-idea-of-being-young/) [Taylor Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hanson/) > [Our biggest challenge is to eliminate the popular perception that economists don't have anything useful to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-zandi/our-biggest-challenge-is-to-eliminate-the-popular-perception-that/) [Mark Zandi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-zandi/) > [I think books in which people are really happy and things are going well are probably the most challenging novels there are to write,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-think-books-in-which-people-are-really-happy-and-things-are-going/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [I think the next 50 years are going to present the human race with challenges that so far exceed the limitations of geopolitical boundaries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-quinto/i-think-the-next-50-years-are-going-to-present-the-human-race-with/) [Zachary Quinto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-quinto/) > [“Doing the work to transform your dreams into reality is like walking across the earth. It can be that hard, and it can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dragos-bratasanu/doing-the-work-to-transform-your-dreams-into-reality-is-like-walking/) [Dragos Bratasanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dragos-bratasanu/) > [I want to be perceived as a guy who played his best in all facets, not just scoring. A guy who loved challenges.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/i-want-to-be-perceived-as-a-guy-who-played-his-best-in-all-facets-not/) [Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/) > [People in great groups have blinders on. Their work is all they see. They value failures as learning opportunities. They are optimistic, not realistic,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/people-in-great-groups-have-blinders-on-their-work-is-all-they-see/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [If, as I anticipate, a wide array of personal, portable information/communication devices becomes increasingly important and widespread for information-intensive users, it will be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-peters/if-as-i-anticipate-a-wide-array-of-personal-portable-information/) [Tom Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-peters/) > [“Two powerful, little words I've learned to use when facing challenges, fears, and doubts— so what? ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/two-powerful-little-words-i-ve-learned-to-use-when-facing-challenges/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [It's a challenge to work a character's arc into a format in which you only have a very limited amount of time to grow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginnifer-goodwin/it-s-a-challenge-to-work-a-character-s-arc-into-a-format-in-which-you/) [Ginnifer Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginnifer-goodwin/) > [I personally think if something's not a challenge, there's no point doing it, because you're not gonna learn much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-personally-think-if-something-s-not-a-challenge-there-s-no-point/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Men want a challenge, but they want a challenge they can win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whitney-gaskell/men-want-a-challenge-but-they-want-a-challenge-they-can-win/) Whitney Gaskell > [Growing up with a parent in the army, I saw firsthand the challenges our service members face when transitioning to new jobs after time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharice-davids/growing-up-with-a-parent-in-the-army-i-saw-firsthand-the-challenges/) [Sharice Davids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharice-davids/) > [Nobody challenges me. I challenge myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shakuntala-devi/nobody-challenges-me-i-challenge-myself/) [Shakuntala Devi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakuntala-devi/) > [Challenging is good, like good conversation, yes? Who wants to have dinner with the same old easy listening music sounding friends all the time?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilton-als/challenging-is-good-like-good-conversation-yes-who-wants-to-have/) [Hilton Als](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilton-als/) [Browse all 8,851 Challenges quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/challenges/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Kids who are middle class, socioeconomically, are surrounded by mentors. They have coaches, teachers, they have family friends, their parents have friends. They might have opportunities, they might have jobs that allow them to experience things that kids in poverty often don't have. 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