I can identify with Rodriguez when it comes to growing up and valuing education. I’m the oldest of three and I always wanted to prove to my parents that I could be successful. Bringing home good grades and being on the honor roll were a big deal to me when I was younger. I always felt that I had to prove to my parents that I was this really good kid by keeping myself on top of my school work, or reading on my down time or volunteering at school. Unlike my younger siblings I’m not athletic so I knew I couldn’t make my parents proud by excelling in track or softball, but I knew I could make them proud by giving it my all when it came to school. I think that is the way in which I can relate to Rodriguez.
In middle school is when I really tried to excel in school. I’d throw myself into school not really caring about anything else but school. Reading became a hobby for me. My mom would even take me to Borders on the weekends to buy new books. Much like Rodriguez I would be exited to cross a book off of my list of things I’d read or accomplished.” In a ceremony of great pride, I solemnly crossed Plato off my list (444).” I felt good to be using my time being productive and educating myself rather than playing video games or things my parents saw as a waste of time. I think this is really the only way in which I can actually relate to Rodriguez. My parents have always been supportive of me and have always valued education. Not that Rodriguez’s family did not value education, but my family has always been supportive of the decisions I’ve made when it comes to my education no matter what. When I made the decision to go away to college I never had a doubt in my mind that they wouldn’t be there right by my side supporting me. Distance was never an issue for my family, they’d always tell me to not think about the distance but make a decision because it’s the right choice in a school. I was never asked “Why do you need to go so far away? Or why aren’t the colleges here in Sacramento good enough for you? They are for your brother and sister (439).” I think because my parents were supportive of my education and wanted me to go on to college that they kept an open mind when it came time for me to leave for school, which made for our relationship to be stronger. I didn’t push them away like Rodriguez did. I think both my parents valued my education so much because they were young parents and didn’t have the opportunity to go to college they way I did.
I can definitely relate to Rodriguez when it comes to emerging myself in my school work and reading. I know how he felt wanting to get that satisfaction and making others proud. That’s where our similarities end though. I wanted to make my parents proud of me but I didn’t push them away. I still kept my family close to me. Rodriguez focused more on making his teachers proud and pushing his family away more than anything. I’ve always realized how important my family was in my education process, while it took Rodriguez longer to realize how important his family was in his life.
In middle school is when I really tried to excel in school. I’d throw myself into school not really caring about anything else but school. Reading became a hobby for me. My mom would even take me to Borders on the weekends to buy new books. Much like Rodriguez I would be exited to cross a book off of my list of things I’d read or accomplished.” In a ceremony of great pride, I solemnly crossed Plato off my list (444).” I felt good to be using my time being productive and educating myself rather than playing video games or things my parents saw as a waste of time. I think this is really the only way in which I can actually relate to Rodriguez. My parents have always been supportive of me and have always valued education. Not that Rodriguez’s family did not value education, but my family has always been supportive of the decisions I’ve made when it comes to my education no matter what. When I made the decision to go away to college I never had a doubt in my mind that they wouldn’t be there right by my side supporting me. Distance was never an issue for my family, they’d always tell me to not think about the distance but make a decision because it’s the right choice in a school. I was never asked “Why do you need to go so far away? Or why aren’t the colleges here in Sacramento good enough for you? They are for your brother and sister (439).” I think because my parents were supportive of my education and wanted me to go on to college that they kept an open mind when it came time for me to leave for school, which made for our relationship to be stronger. I didn’t push them away like Rodriguez did. I think both my parents valued my education so much because they were young parents and didn’t have the opportunity to go to college they way I did.
I can definitely relate to Rodriguez when it comes to emerging myself in my school work and reading. I know how he felt wanting to get that satisfaction and making others proud. That’s where our similarities end though. I wanted to make my parents proud of me but I didn’t push them away. I still kept my family close to me. Rodriguez focused more on making his teachers proud and pushing his family away more than anything. I’ve always realized how important my family was in my education process, while it took Rodriguez longer to realize how important his family was in his life.
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