Mike Rose - I Just Wanna Be Average Blog Assignment

1)

Mike Rose is the victim of his own circumstance. He was born in an era that didn’t focus on the potential of EVERY child so much as the focus that every child can do manual and remedial labor. To that, expectations never ran high and education was not a luxury one could afford elsewise. Add to the mix that his parents were immigrants with little or no pro-active support to his academics and the fact that teachers and staff were over worked, underappreciated or just plain old warn out and you have a recipe for low self-esteem and drive in the field of advanced academics.  

Fortunately, my personal experiences in school have never been as detrimental as Rose’s. I loved learning. I loved socializing and I loved each opportunity my education afforded me. My parents put an emphasis on the opportunities one could have with learned direction and they often played an intricate part in my class selections and after-school activities as a means of ‘showing me the way.’ Now, that said, I did bear witness to the discrimination some of my peers experienced when it became evident that they did not have outside support and the teacher became frustrated with the never ending challenge of motivating the unmotivated.

I do believe that Mike Rose expressed himself quiet well as he described his peers, the surroundings and the intensity of his situation. For that, I would like to try and use such detail in my Narrative paper.

2)

Just as kids today have advanced classes and programs such as TEAM, there are classes and programs set up to assist the student who has some sort of learning disability. In the past, people had horrid names for such programs and they carried with them the stigma that the child was ‘dumb,’ ‘stupid’ or ‘incapable.’ Being placed in such a class injured a child self-esteem and had the potential of extinguishing the fire with in the students belly.  Mike over-came some of his challenges by developing ‘short-cuts’ or ‘magic tricks’ to see him through the class. He would later go on to state that he regretted such an act, as it truly did hinder his later attempts at furthering his education.

What I am attracted to Mike’s honest approach. He is very candid with his story telling and the truth that only he can relate is relevant.

3)

Ken Harvey ran full speed into a solid brick wall. He went into the high school behind the 8-ball and just couldn’t seem to catch up. This was the direct link as to why he hated the academic experience. What breaks my heart is that: far too many students experience some sort of negative situation that shapes and molds their outlook towards a class environment or the educational experience as a whole. In retrospect though… finding kindred spirits and people who have similar likes and dislikes does help one get through the day in a classroom, tutorial or other means of confinement in academia.

4)

For me, going back to college in my 40’s has been extremely disorienting. The stark contrast between me and those around me are more than physically obvious. I don’t only standout as the ‘more seasoned’ student, but I don’t use the same verbiage in conversation, I don’t understand some of the drama the others deem ‘life changing’ and I don’t have the luxury of, what I presume to be as, wasting time. My days are crammed full with obligations that someone half my age wouldn’t necessarily have.  That said, I have found some of my peers to be a breadth of information and if asked in the right manor, they have been more than willing to step up and be a beacon of light for me to gravitate to. Thus far, my method of coping has been to just ‘jump in.’ In other words, I don’t care about what anyone else thinks. I am here for me and the opinions of others cannot and will not hinder me from achieving my goals. I cope with the strain and stress by focusing on my long term vision and know that these short months are just a stepping stone to finding fulfillment once I become an empty nester (which is right around the corner for me.)