The first day of middle school was a huge milestone in my parents’ eyes. My parents werent given the opportunity to make it past 5th grade back in Mexico, they had other priorities and education was not one of them. They had to start working at a noticeably young age and came to the states with one foot in front of the other, following the American Dream. I was super excited, I just graduated 5th grade and it was my first day at my dream middle school. It was a school known for its high academics in both math and science. I was an excellent student and everyone there was too, but little did I know I had to prove myself. I was Mexican American; you could tell when I was the only tan girl there with dark brown eyes and deep brown hair that glows light brown in the sun. I was bilingual with the skill of having to change my Mexican ways to become more formal and acceptable around school. They didn’t think highly of us Mexicans.
I obviously stood out and it was hard to make friends when all my classmates would have same race friendships, blondies with blue or green eyes and pale skin, I felt like an outcast. They would comment if I really deserved to be there, if I were as good at school as I was at jumping borders. It did not even matter if I were born here in Brooklyn, New York, all they saw me for was a child from an immigrant family. It came to the point where I questioned myself and wondered if I had pale skin and blue eyes, would I be more accepted here? About a month into the school year, I had my first math test; it was difficult that even Mr. Cordova announced that only a few students performed well. I was proud to be one of the students that performed exceptionally. But many were not happy about it. During the school year I was often awarded and given certificates for exceptional performance, and that seemed to make them accept me and respect me. This was my experience “between two different worlds.”
Hi Miah, My parents also didn’t have the opportunity to finish their education due to them wanting an American dream. I also get how it feels to be in a school were you don’t fit in because of your race, most of my school years I’ve always been in a white school which made me constantly have to prove myself.
Hey Miah, its so inspiring to see you push pass the people who doubted you at such a young age because being the minority is always so scary and the fact that you were just in middle school shows a lot about your will power and determination.
Hey Miah, my parents are also immigrants that weren’t able to finish their education and coming to the states was difficult for them. Having to prove yourself to a group of people can be difficult and at times frustrating. Middle school was a milestone that you overcame and an experience you can look back and be proud of.
This is the beginning of a good story. I think you are using Choice 5 from the Assignment: Single Story.
NOW — Can you create a few scenes?
This part could be a great scene. You write: I felt like an outcast. They would comment if I really deserved to be there, if I were as good at school as I was at jumping borders. — THIS SOUNDS AWFUL AND INSULTING! CAN YOU SHOW me this scene? Describe more on the other students — blondies with blue or green eyes and pale skin — good now more details on what they looked like? Were they the “popular” kids? How did they act? Where did this happen — hallway, lunchroom? What were the exact questions they were asking you? You write you felt like an “outcast” — great word — Can you describe more on your feelings? How did you act? What did you say? What were your inner feelings?
So you proved yourself to the other students who were stereotyping you by excelling at academics. Did they finally respect you and accept you? Or did you never feel accepted by these students? How did you survive your time at this middle school?
Towards the end of your story — What did you learn from this event in your educational life? Remember there has to be a bigger message somewhere at the end.
GIve details that are missing: What was the name of this middle school? What NYC neighborhood was the school in?
Your description of winning awards sounds like Esmeralda when she won those awards and proved she did not belong in the learning disabled class. It sounds like you triumphed! Could this be another scene in your story?