Since the inception of the education system, there has been an invisible barrier separating people based on class and social position. Without even realizing it, students may have been taught a specific way to get into a career path set by someone else. This is how a person's social class and position play a role in education. Someone's economic background can determine their educational path right from the start. The social class you belong to can determine where you live and where you go to school. Usually those schools are filled with people of similar backgrounds, which automatically puts a label on the school, making it easier for those with higher standing to determine and influence their future. There is a huge gap in this system, which keeps opportunities hidden only from those who have the wealth and connections to obtain them. The education gap doesn't just start when you start school, it goes back even further, to when your parents were enrolled. Richard Rothstein states, “The achievement gap between poor and middle-class children and black and white children is widely recognized as our most important educational challenge” (Richard Rothstein 2004, p.17). Students believe they are the only ones carving the path for their future, but they are misled and blinded by the idea that they have equal opportunities compared to those who attend a more prestigious school or those who have had a family degree from universities of higher education. That doesn't mean it's impossible, but instead it means you have to do a lot more to be on par with someone who did the exact same thing as you, but went to a more recognized school. Not only does your social class determine your education, but also who you tend to befriend. Roth... middle of paper... er because they have to decide whether to continue working and earn money, or stay in school. For many low-income students, the feeling of finally making money means more than investing multiple years in an education with no idea where it will take them. The idea that your social standing has no effect on your education or future is a misconception that many people tend to believe. Many think that everyone has the same opportunity to come out ahead where they started, but those who really believe this tend to be the people who have never had trouble paying for their courses, or worried about having to take a semester off to study. earn enough money to pay for school. While financial aid has helped ease the burden of tuition for many people, it is still an extremely stressful situation for less privileged students.