“The uniform gave me a sense of belonging, and something
I had never experienced all the while I was growing up; I felt distinctive.”
I feel like this is kind of significant about Powell’s life when he was growing up. Joining the ROTC was something he always looked forward to do. After putting on the uniform he felt as if he belongs there, wanted. This could show that his life growing up he had it difficult. He probably felt unique in way that others didn’t accept him for what he did, along with his parents. He could’ve also faced discrimination as such it was in the 1950s.
Ahsan — you are reading into the passage more than the author says. Stay close to the words when you are explaining. For example, you write: ROTC was something he always looked forward to do. However Powell DOES NOT tell us that he had always wanted to join ROTC. This was not an organization that you had been thinking about before he went to college.
Again you are adding in things that are not in the text when you write: This could show that his life growing up he had it difficult. He probably felt unique in way that others didn’t accept him for what he did, along with his parents. He could’ve also faced discrimination as such it was in the 1950s.
I did not ask you to speculate. Stick closely to Powell’s words. Don’t add what he did NOT say.