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Meggie Lavelle

With the highest homeless population in Western Washington, the students in the Mount Vernon School district have difficult lives. In addition to homelessness and foster children, many of our students work in the berry fields with their parents all summer long just to have enough money to buy pencils and paper for school. I have a student who lives in a one room cabin, without running water or electricity, with 22 other people. Several other students live in similar housing situations, with averaging 8-10 people per cabin. Some students work night jobs and show up at school just a few hours later. These kids are 12, 13, and 14 years old. One of the major challenges we face at LaVenture Middle School is helping these underprivileged students be successful and see beyond the cycle of poverty in which they live. As such, our students have little access to the world outside this small town. Multiple students have never left a 60 mile radius of our small town. I would like to provide my students access to the world through multiple opportunities. One of the small ways I can help my students access the world is through current event magazines provided in a range of reading levels. A large way I can help my students access the world is through field trip opportunities and travel. With resources our students' could grow into their potential as active citizens and strong, effective leaders. Without resources, our students will continue to live in the cycle of generational poverty.