Reading Response Colin Powell – Valon

“it was not a place where you would expect much of a military presence. When I returned to school in the fall of 1954, I inquired about the Reserve Officers Training Corps, and I enrolled in ROTC. I am not sure why. Maybe it was growing up in World War II and coming of age during the Korean conflict: the little banners in windows with a blue star, meaning someone from the family was in the service, or a gold star, meaning someone was not coming back.”(Pg. 92 paragraph 1)

After reading pages 90-97 of ‘My American Journey’ by Colin Powell, he gives an in depth description of his experience as a student attending the City College of New York. To begin, Colin made the decision to enroll himself into this specific college because of its convenient tuition of just ten dollars a year. He decided to study engineering to pursue the dreams of his mother who convinced him that the money was in that field. Colin was unsure going into college but the first semester was a learning process, though he spent the majority of his time remembering what the guy selling pretzels had to say. Spending time enrolled in school would eventually help him find what he’s passionate about. As he explored the college campus he came across men dressed in uniform, he admired how they were together as one, this left Powell interested in what the men stood for. Shortly after he had joined the ROTC program. He grew up while World War II occurred and soon enough the Korean conflict was rising, so this gave Colin every right to join the forces and prepare to be drafted since it was likely to happen. Powell’s main goal was to find purpose and something to represent, in the reading he states “the little banners in windows with a blue star, meaning someone from the family was in the service” to help us readers understand his interest in serving and what he really wanted to take part in. Serving gave Powell a sense of brotherhood that he never had throughout his life since he always differed from the kids in his neighborhood, school, and sports teams.

1 thought on “Reading Response Colin Powell – Valon”

  1. Valon–you are making this HW harder than it is. Just start with the quote and explain that part…no pre-explanation necessary. Half of your response is not necessary. Read the instructions for the HWs carefully and do what is asked for!

    Your HW should start with:

    Shortly after he had joined the ROTC program. He grew up while World War II occurred and soon enough the Korean conflict was rising, so this gave Colin every right to join the forces and prepare to be drafted since it was likely to happen. Powell’s main goal was to find purpose and something to represent, in the reading he states “the little banners in windows with a blue star, meaning someone from the family was in the service” to help us readers understand his interest in serving and what he really wanted to take part in. Serving gave Powell a sense of brotherhood that he never had throughout his life since he always differed from the kids in his neighborhood, school, and sports teams.

    Reading Response Colin Powell

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    “Reading Response Colin Powell – Valon”

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