After reading about Rodriguez's experiences I have realized that although I relate to him in a few ways, there are also many differences about the experiences I have gone through throughout my education. Unlike Rodriguez, one of my parents has gone on to receive a four-year bachelor's degree. Therefore, education has been important throughout my life, starting the first day in kindergarten. Even though my father was unable to attend college, it had little effect on our relationship; in fact, if anything, it made him push me harder in school. He wanted me to further my education in a way that he was unable to do. Simultaneously, my admiration for my parents was greatly different than Rodriguez's. "The scholarship boy reaches a different conclusion...He cannot afford to admire his parents" (434). This was not the case for me. Whereas Rodriguez was embarrassed of his parent's education, or lack thereof, I admired my parents for not only their success in their education, but also helping me through mine. They always have pushed me to be the best student and person I can be, and still do to this day. They make me push for the A's, instead of the B's. Rodriguez's experiences with his family and his education have made me truly feel appreciated for the education I have and the parent's I have behind my back.
At the same time, while growing up education is something that I valued. I would study and do homework on a daily basis, sometimes isolating myself away from my family. I can relate to Rodriguez when I read, "What most bothered me, however, was the isolation reading required" (441). Whenever I found myself studying or doing homework, I became very lonely and at times became disconnected from my family. There were numerous times that I remember myself staying home from particular school events to focus on my school work. I have learned that in order to truly be successful, not only in school, but also in life in general you have to make sacrifices.
Much of my success in school, as well as the person I am today, is because of the teachers I have had in the past. Just like Rodriguez did, I looked at my teachers as a "figure of authority" (434). The relationship I had with my teachers was important for me to succeed in my education. I thought a strong quote that explained this relationship was, "I sat there and sensed for the very first time some possibility of fellowship between a reader and writer, a communication, never intimate like what i heard spoken words at home convey, but one nonetheless personal" (441). I had a similar experience working one-on-one with one of my teachers. He truly helped me understand how important it was to go to your teachers for help and opened my eyes up to how important my education was to me. Teachers can open up their student's eyes and can truly have a large effect on their education, as well as the person they are. It is important to think that truthfully students spend the majority of their days with their teachers, not their parents. Therefore it is crucial to have a strong relationship with your teachers.
Your relationship with your parents and how they view education is very similar to the one I have with my parents. Both my parents graduated from a four year college and doing well in school was a must for me and my sisters. There was always room for improvement in their eyes, but at the same time they gave us plenty of praise for our academics. A's and B's were acceptable in my household, but anytime there was a C on my or my sisters report cards we knew we were in trouble. The mixture of praise they gave us and the push they put on us to get good grades was a big part of my success in school. College was not only something my parents wanted for me, it was something we had to try. Furthering our education in order to have a successful life afterwards was of great importance for my parents and to me as well.
ReplyDeleteRegarding the student-teacher relationship, I had a similar experience working one on one with a teacher. It happened early on in my education, first grade to be exact. Mrs. Houk was one of my favorite teachers to date and guided me academically throughout all of my elementary years. She showed me the importance of going to your teachers when you need help, thats what they're there are for. She taught me that most if not all teachers want to see every single one of their students succeed and I've taken that with me throughout the years.