How the financial situation of an individual impacts their personal development.
The world we live in today relies heavily on money, arguably more than ever and in turn, the amount of money an individual is brought up in has an undeniable impact on how they transition throughout the years an into adult life. Money is one of the world's most powerful forces and can influence many different factors of one's upbringing, ranging from the place and quality of education to any extra-curricular activities or hobbies someone has. A person who grows up in a financially stable family can be provided with access to many more opportunities and experiences which can help to shape their future goals, relationships and development of skills which can be used for their careers.
"Wealth is the ability to fully experience life" - Henry David Thoreau.
Money can shape a person's upbringing due to the stability it provides meaning that children are brought up in more stable and comfortable environments, allowing them to always have a roof over their head, clean clothes on their back, and access to basic human needs such as food and water. These factors will give an individual a better mental well-being as they do not have to worry about things such as poverty and homelessness, providing them with a more stable frame of mind for the future.
It can be argued that people who haven't experienced life without money, do not understand the true value of it. For people who come from wealthy families and have had access to money their whole lives, and have never had to worry about the cost of items, it is not uncommon for them to not know the value of things such as regular food prices, clothing prices or even rent. Whereas someone who has been brought up in a less financially fortunate family will be more familiar with the value of money as each penny they had may be very significant to them and are overall more appreciative of money.
Education
Education can be perceived as the most significant part of an individual's upbringing as this is where a person will have their first opportunities to develop their social skills and also their intelligence levels. Children from high income families are likely to attend the higher quality schools, many of which are private and require expensive tuition fees. On top of this, many of the expensive/private school allow their students to have access to private tutoring sessions and allow for a wider range of extra-curricular activities which will provide a solid foundation for their students' futures, creating a strong pathway for success.
On the other hand, people from lower-income families may attend school that are of lower quality, meaning their level of education will be lower which can limit a person's learning, leading to them having less opportunities in the future such as college and university. If someone is unable to attend a college or university, it may decrease their chances of a high paid job and will limit their careers success.
Mental health
The amount of money by which an individual is brought up in can also have impacts on their mental health as it may affect aspects such as their confidence and their self-esteem. People who come from high income households may feel like they are more socially accepted and will be confident in their status. Whereas it has been said that people from lower-income families may have a sense of shame and embarrassment in their financial situation, reducing their confidence levels, negatively impacting their mental health.
Children who are growing up in more affluent families will also have better access to support and resources that can be used to improve their mental health. for example, therapy and extra-curricular activities. Therapy with high quality psychiatrists will be more expensive but will be more effective and extra-curricular activities can play an important role in allowing a person to socialise and for them to use it as an outlet for any negative emotions.
"Can money really buy happiness"
Overall, regardless of who you are, money has the power to dictate many different aspects of a person's life that can be used to shape who they are, in the way it decides their level of education, what hobbies and activities they enjoy doing and can even determine the mental health of some individuals. It is important that everyone soon recognises the impact of money on shaping a person and changes need to be put in place to ensure that each and every child is brought up in a way that allows them to be successful and reach their full potential.