BY ISHA MISHRA
Most Americans can’t cover a $400 emergency. Recently, we learned exactly why—and what living with that pressure really feels like. This past week, I was one of five Bank of America Student Leaders at Crisis Assistance Ministry to participate in a “poverty simulation,” an experience designed to challenge how we think about surviving with little to no income while juggling constant bills.
We began with an online game called Spent, where we were split into two groups to simulate a month of financial challenges and decisions. My group barely made it to the end, facing difficult situations like choosing between a child’s birthday gift and essential medication. When a dental emergency hit, we were forced to gamble with health we couldn’t afford—an all-too-common reality. The other team didn’t make it through the month, and watching them struggle reminded us that in real life, there is no reset button. Joseph, a fellow intern headed to Wake Forest, put it best: “I didn’t expect it to be so scenario-based. It was very intense, and I felt the pressure.” He reminded us that poverty isn’t just about income—it’s about trauma, mindset, and lack of support. Reading about poverty is one thing, he said, “but really getting into their shoes, even for an hour, is another.”
But it was the reflection dialogue afterwards—led by two remarkable women, Judith and Shara, both Customer Advocates—that truly reshaped our thinking. These women had done the simulation before, but more importantly, they had lived many of the realities we discussed. Their openness in sharing their own stories created a powerful space for us to share ours.
Judith, in particular, left a lasting impression. She spoke about living with a disability and how attitudinal barriers and a lack of workplace accommodations made it nearly impossible to find consistent employment. This led to a cycle of desperation and eventually brought her to the Crisis Assistance Ministry. With time—and mindset, a recurring theme in our conversation—she turned her experience into purpose, founding her own nonprofit for others facing similar challenges. Her story reminded us how deeply poverty intersects with health, identity, and access. It also reframed poverty not as a lack of will, but a lack of equitable opportunity.
Jack, an intern heading to Chapel Hill for Environmental Studies and Business, captured the moment perfectly when he said: “It’s not about people being lazy—it’s about empathy. Never assume anything. People are genuinely trying.” Inspired by Judith and Shara’s honesty, we Student Leaders began to open up too. What began as a simple debrief quickly turned into something deeply personal. Vance, a Student Leader set to attend NC A&T, reflected on how the simulation mirrored many aspects of his own life. “I didn’t expect it to be so relatable,” he said, “because I’ve lived and experienced half of the situations that came up in the game.”
The space felt raw and real, filled with pauses, tears, shared struggles, and overwhelming gratitude. Many of us had never spoken this openly before, but something about that room—the vulnerability, the mutual respect, the weight of the stories—made it feel safe. It was only the second day of our internship, and yet, it felt like we had known each other for years. A sense of family began to form.
That sense of empathy didn’t end with the simulation—it deepened as we continued our work at the Crisis Assistance Ministry. Leticia, another Student Leader and rising senior at Levine Middle College High School, reflected on how her view of Crisis Assistance Ministry’s customers evolved as she got further into the internship. “At first, I thought they’d be more closed off, more distant,” she said. “But now I see how open people are to sharing their stories and forming connections. There’s so much community here.” This simulation and the days following reminded us that empathy is more than a feeling—it’s a skill. It’s something that requires effort, listening, and humility. Poverty isn’t just about money. It’s about impossible choices. It’s about navigating systems that are often stacked against you while still trying to hold on to your dignity, your health, and your sense of self.
Isha Mishra is a rising Senior at Providence Day High School and a Bank of America Student Leader interning in Community Engagement this summer at Crisis Assistance Ministry.