After another long day of studying indoors, despite the great 80 degree weather in San Francisco without a cloud insight, I hopped on the BART train and headed home. I can't believe how much time I've invested in, how many weekends I've sacrificed, all in the name of the MCAT (not to mention the other science courses I have to study for at City College). Just as the trained pulled to the next stop, I heard a familiar voice. It was one of my old classmates from middle school, who I see from time to time, especially when I stroll down my old neighborhood. We chatted and provided brief updates on our lives. No, I wasn't coming home from work-- just spent the day studying. He, on the other hand, was coming from work, looking forward to seeing his daughter, whom the courts have allowed him to see every other weekend. Okay, April Joy, get over it. While you're developing a grasp of everything from electromagnetism to hemodialysis, you're middle school buddy is trying to make ends meet so he can provide his daughter with a better future.

As I walked home, I started to take a mental excursion to my past, and recognize how over the years, I've gained entrance into circles of privilege.

During the YP4 summit last January, I was reminded of how not everyone graduates from college (let alone from high school, as my middle school acquaintance was a case in point). Then, I looked around and thought about the other YP4 fellows in attendance, who's here as well as who isn't. I realize I've entered yet another circle of privilege: the "progressive" circle.

In my Ethnic Studies classes, we throw around terms like discourse, marginalized groups, grassroots efforts, status quo, dominant ideology, to name a few. In comparison, through the progressive movement, I've been exposed and involved in work including lobbying on healthcare for low-income children, writing to my representative to "Save Darfur", organizing rallies and teach-ins on immigration rights, and caravaning to Southern California to talk with high school youth about access to higher education. As much as I take pride in my Ethnic Studies education and previous and current work in addressing social issues, I sometimes have to ask myself, who thinks/talks like this? Or, who has time and/or energy for all this progressive work?

If I asked one of the elders in my community about her thoughts on the dominant ideology, I'd probably get a blank stare. Likewise, when my friend strikes a conversation about the need to take action in the fight against global warming, she gets responses like, "I'm just trying to keep food on the table."

While the lack of participation in the progressive movement may be for apathetic reasons, many others, including the mentioned individuals, don't have access to the same information/resources, are unaware of how to get involved, or are simply trying to survive. Though others may not be familiar with the commonly used terminology in progressive circles, their personal experiences have showed them the urgency of addressing and resolving issues of employment, incarceration, discrimination, access to healthcare/higher education, and immigrants' rights. The challenge then, is how to open up the circle so others may realize the right to be progressive.