Let’s face it: the vast majority of college students decide to attend college to obtain a decently paying job after school.Yes, some are here for more noble reasons — maybe to better themselves or gain new experiences — and others are here for more questionable ones — to find that future husband or wife.No matter our reasons, we’re the lucky ones.Roughly 37.5 million people in this country live in poverty, slightly more than the entire population of California.Furthermore, roughly 34 million Americans receive food stamps, or about 11 percent of the population.As college students, we should feel thankful we, while probably not yet wealthy, have the opportunity to escape poverty.Unfortunately, that’s not the case here on campus. Like much of America, we prejudge those who are on welfare or who use food stamps.To be honest, I don’t believe I know anyone who is using food stamps or has ever used food stamps. I am from The Woodlands, an upper-middle class suburb of Houston.It was a bit of a culture shock when I came to Baton Rouge and, for the first time, I heard little quips about people less fortunate.I was in class a few weeks ago and overheard a peer joke to a friend “What’s the difference between a Republican and a Democrat? Republicans get up and go to work in the morning, while Democrats get up and go to the welfare office.”The common misconception is people that take welfare or those on food stamps are lazy, don’t work and, at least in the South, are probably black.The racial overtones here are hard to miss. People will often tell me I don’t understand because I am not from here and because black people elsewhere are different.I’d beg to differ. I think the difference is in the views and attitudes of white people. Where I come from, not only is racism considered entirely abhorrent, it is also extremely trashy.The facts, reported by the U.S. Census Bureau, the United States Department of Agriculture and the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, may come as a surprise to some.For instance, 47.6 percent of people on food stamps have jobs, while only 18 percent of those people on food stamps also take welfare and do not work.On that note, 41 percent of participants are white, the highest percentage of any ethnic group.In 2008, $39 billion  was spent on food stamps, a decent amount of money.Yet, I would rather spend that $39 billion on food stamps than the $110 billion spent in Iraq. The money spent on food stamps doesn’t simply disappear. That money goes directly back into the economy.It in itself is an economic stimulus. It goes to grocers, farmers, distributors and marketers.We can count ourselves fortunate we don’t have to rely on food stamps. As someone who spends $150 a week on food, I doubt I could live off a mere $28 a week on food.I would be forced to give up La Carreta, Chelsea’s, and Tsunami and the social value I place on going to restaurants.Instead of passing judgment, we should be respectful of those less fortunate. I don’t know if it makes me a weaker person, but I am pretty sure there is no way in hell I could live below the poverty line.I physically couldn’t do it.Stephen Schmitz is a 19-year-old mass communication sophomore from The Woodlands, TX.Contact Stephen Schmitz at [email protected]