What I have in my life

What I have in my life

Coming from a rural family my parents have always taught me to have a tight grip on money and not spend lavishly on any thing. A major chunk of my life(from higher school till I graduated my bachelors) I was in school apartment. I hardly used to get RMB600 as my pocket money every month. Sometimes less because my mom would use that extra money from my pocket money to pay the utilities. I never demanded or complained anyway. I had been given numerous lectures on the importance of money even before coming to the university. My dad took a loan to sponsor my masters, but being a student with good academic background my university decided to fund me half of my tuition fee(since I handed in the application form for student loan). We were happy. So on the night before my travel to school my father handed me RMB1000 cash. This was for the travel expenses and for my first month’s living expenses.

A day in my first year of university, several of my classmates talks about hanging out in the downtown for a while before getting dinner. “It’ll be so much fun,” they said. “You should totally come with us!” I said I would be happy to tag along, and I followed them. When we finally reached our stop, I suddenly found myself surrounded by clothing stores and restaurants as far as the eye could see.

Feeling a pit in my stomach, I followed the group into a store they decided to enter at random, and walked idly around the interior as I gazed at the golden lights, the shiny surfaces, and the beautiful clothes.

I saw a pretty jacket and checked the price tag.RMB560.

“That would look so cute on you!” One of classmates, Melanie, was suddenly standing beside me, taking the jacket from the hanger and holding it up against my chest. “It totally goes with your hair color.”

“I think I’m good, thanks.”

“Are you sure?It’s totally cute.”

“Honestly, I’m okay.” I paused, noticing the piles of clothes Melanie held clutched against her chest. “Did you find anything you like?”

“Oh my god, yes! It totally sucks living in a university because there are, like, no clothing stores. I honestly try to come to downtown as much as possible just to shop.”

I almost laughed, thinking she was joking, but when Melanie turned away to inspect a RMB800 dress hanging from the wall, I realized she was serious.

The other classmates ended up spending money at the store, their purchases being folded carefully and tucked away into colorful paper bags.

To be very honest, I find it fascinating to be surrounded by classmates who come from wealth like I have never experienced. I’m not embarrassed for being unable to afford the things some of my classmates buy dozens of through online shopping. I’m not embarrassed for growing up being told “no” again and again, because my family simply didn’t have enoug h money.

I’m proud of who I am, and where I’ve come from. And that’s enough for me.