Unlike most PhDs, I grew up socioeconomically disadvantaged. Neither of my parents went to college #firstgen. When I was born, the WIC program paid for my formula and food for my mom. When I ate lunch in high school, I paid less than everyone else, while working a part time 1/10 job after football and wrestling practice.

When I went to college, I was fortunate to receive generous grants because my family made so little our expected contribution was $0. I still had to do work study, and many years of undergrad I worked another job on top of that. 2/10