The Achievement of Desire
Jacob Sutton
Dr. Mirskin
"The Achievement of Desire", part two of "Hunger of Memory" by Richard Rodriguez talks much about his schooling as a Mexican American student in an English speaking classroom. Coming from a very underprivileged family, he quickly admits that much of his success came from him never taking his education for granted. Rodriguez felt that since he began American schooling at a disadvantage to other students, he had to work harder than everyone else in the classroom. Rodriguez is implying that his background as a lower-class, Mexican American student gave him a kind of advantage in the classroom, since it made him so aware of the changes his educating was bringing to his life. This very awareness caused him to push harder in his academic endeavors and ultimately helped him succeed and quickly exceed the standards of pretty much all of his teachers (and receive more outstanding grades compared to his peers in the classroom).
This excerpt of the chapter made me sit back and take a moment to reflect on my own education. It often seems that when someone enters a more "privileged" society of learners, they almost always feel more determined to push harder to succeed both in and out of classroom. As American citizens, many of us just don't understand how easy we have it. We just push to the side the fact that many things are simply handed to us. In all honesty, many American students (including myself) have been ultimately coddled, in a way, when it comes to education. But of course, we have all taken our education for granted in some way. We have so many learning tools and resources at our disposal that we just somehow do not seem to care that much about. I think it is important to always remind ourselves just how privileged we are, and to never take our privilege for granted. And Richard Rodriguez indirectly reminds us this throughout the whole chapter.
Dr. Mirskin
"The Achievement of Desire", part two of "Hunger of Memory" by Richard Rodriguez talks much about his schooling as a Mexican American student in an English speaking classroom. Coming from a very underprivileged family, he quickly admits that much of his success came from him never taking his education for granted. Rodriguez felt that since he began American schooling at a disadvantage to other students, he had to work harder than everyone else in the classroom. Rodriguez is implying that his background as a lower-class, Mexican American student gave him a kind of advantage in the classroom, since it made him so aware of the changes his educating was bringing to his life. This very awareness caused him to push harder in his academic endeavors and ultimately helped him succeed and quickly exceed the standards of pretty much all of his teachers (and receive more outstanding grades compared to his peers in the classroom).
This excerpt of the chapter made me sit back and take a moment to reflect on my own education. It often seems that when someone enters a more "privileged" society of learners, they almost always feel more determined to push harder to succeed both in and out of classroom. As American citizens, many of us just don't understand how easy we have it. We just push to the side the fact that many things are simply handed to us. In all honesty, many American students (including myself) have been ultimately coddled, in a way, when it comes to education. But of course, we have all taken our education for granted in some way. We have so many learning tools and resources at our disposal that we just somehow do not seem to care that much about. I think it is important to always remind ourselves just how privileged we are, and to never take our privilege for granted. And Richard Rodriguez indirectly reminds us this throughout the whole chapter.
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