I knew that there were plenty of families who had less than us, because I had like, friends. And their parents didn't always have a nice house, or a house at all. And my parents obviously reminded us that we were privileged.

However, I didn't really 'get it' until I went to college in Chicago, and became friends with a much more diverse group of people; some who grew up even way more privileged than me, and some who grew up extremely poor. I've moved around a lot in my 20's so far, and have known people from all different backgrounds -- and as I get older and understand how hard it is to make a good living, and how complicated life is, I've developed a deep empathy for everyone who struggles financially.