The Story Behind The Photo

I think that this photo is about the start of a hot meal program in a particular school system, where low income neighborhoods have been hampering the opportunities of children. The school district would have received a great sum of money to fund in-school kitchens to provide nourishment for the students. In many western countries there are still millions of families that cannot afford to feed their children a well rounded meal for breakfast and/or lunch during the week. This specific initiative is most likely providing a free hot meal during the day for the students, encouraging healthy eating habits and giving them the energy to pay attention and excel in school. This program would costs only a few dollars a day per student and the benefits are exponential. It is only fair for the community to support its youth in any way, and in this case, giving them breakfast and lunch gives them the same opportunities as kids in areas that are more affluent.

It makes a huge difference for the kids whose parents couldn’t afford to pay for their lunches, because now instead of thinking about how hungry they are, they can get the most out of what they are being taught. To have good marks and a successful education is becoming increasingly more important in today’s society as job and post-secondary competition is heating up. It is likely that the school starting such an initiative would be setting an informal precedent as soon as the results began to appear, compared to other systems that are still suffering from the malnourishment of their pupils.

Where do our values and beliefs come from?

1. Our upbringing / childhood which includes parents, mentors, teachers, and peers.

2. Mainstream media and advertising (TV commercials, subliminal placement of messages, political presentations, movies, the radio, music)

3. Life experience as an individual, as in going out and doing stuff on your own, or with a few select friends

4. Provocative literature, newspapers, magazines (Sometimes mainstream media if it is a very hot and controversial topic)

5. The ‘shrinking of the global village’ in recent years, as more and more events are reported around the globe and are represented to have a greater effect upon everyone (Globalization, the struggle over non-renewable resources etc.)

6. The popular ways of local society and culture. Effectively the ‘mob’ mentality (Sometimes people tend to act as their surrounding friends and acquaintances act and feel because it is easier than thinking individually.)

The answers and how they affect my current beliefs in order of relevance:

1, 4, 3, 5, 2, 6

The answers and how they may affect my current beliefs in order of relevance 10 years from now:

3, 5, 4, 1, 2, 6