Trapped by the Paper Ceiling

Albert is 49 years old. He went to school until 5th grade, but had to drop out when his family became homeless. While his friends went to school, Albert had to pick up odd jobs to help support his family. He said, “School was supposed to be my gift, and I should’ve stuck with it.”

As he got older, he tried to find more well-paying jobs. But he found his lack of education to be a significant barrier. No one was willing to hire him. Even many minimum wage restaurant jobs required him to have a GED. No one was willing to hear his story and give him a chance. 

Finally, he found a job at a FedEX facility. When I asked him if his situation had improved since then, he shook his head. Albert’s low paycheck isn’t enough to lift him out of homelessness. He’s stuck in a vicious cycle, barred off from a majority of jobs due to the paper ceiling. 

I asked Albert if he had any advice to give to his younger self, and others who may be in similar situations. “Stay in school,” he said in a dowcast tone.