“As I took in the grand Gothic structures, a C-average student out of middling Morris High School, I felt overwhelmed. And then I heard a friendly voice: “Hey, kid, you new?” He was a short, red-faced, weather-beaten man with gnarled hands, and he stood behind a steaming cart of those giant pretzels that New Yorkers are addicted to. I had met a CCNY fixture called, for some unaccountable reason, “Raymond the Bagel Man,” though he sold pretzels. I bought a warm, salty pretzel from Raymond, and we shot the breeze for a few minutes. That broke the ice for me. CCNY was somehow less intimidating.”
This quote is significant because it emphasizes Powell’s early impressions of the college, which were ones of intimidation and overwhelm in a strange atmosphere for him. He felt more relaxed after meeting Raymond the Bagel Man, which changed his perspective. This demonstrates Powell’s ability to quickly adjust to new circumstances and his generosity and adaptability, both of which definitely help him throughout his military and political careers. It also shows Powell’s humility because he can still understand and write about a clear and straightforward interaction with a street seller from his undergraduate days.
Nice one! This sounds like he has the ability to adapt to diverse situations, which I believe is an important skill for people to have if they want to thrive in a world that is rapidly changing every day. And, as you mentioned, Powell demonstrates these abilities throughout his military and political careers.
This paragraph also stood out to me. I think you did a good job on describing this.
Good choice of quote!
Yes Raymond the Bagel Man — what an unusual person to include in this essay about his education. How is it that a pretzel seller could be remembered and part of his narrative? Raymond was the first person who made him feel welcome on that first intimidating day at City College. Surprisingly it’s not a professor or a newly meet peer! And he makes Raymond sound like a character, truly a person who stands out in his memory. It helps us as the reader visualize the scene at City College and to feel his insecurity as a new student.