MITES Essay
I have always attended predominantly African-American public schools. Early on in Elementary school, I realized that I was held to a very low standard of achievement at school, while I was held to a higher standard at home. My family has always taught me to strive for the best, no matter what circumstance, though in school, I was taught to just do whatever was necessary to get by. I was not satisfied with this type of ideology and it disappointed me that this low expectancy of behavior was accepted. This has fueled my passion to succeed from the start. I noticed that my motivation was intrinsic, and had nothing to do with my atmosphere. Had this not been true, I might have easily slipped through the cracks of the educational system like many of my peers.
After some reflection, I’ve been reminded of the many struggles and challenges that I’ve faced in school alone – and in no way due to a personal fault. Why should I succumb to a guidance counselor that tells me that AP classes will be too hard and a waste of time, or peers that think it is pointless to put real effort into my work? At times, it has been discouraging to succeed, and I was often confused as to if I was doing something wrong. It has been a true struggle to stay above the influence, but I have learned with true dedication and set goals, one can easily overcome such barriers. This type of thinking as taught me to deal with challenges and whatever hand life deals you.
Although my future is not set in stone, I know that I will be distanced from the constant exposure to these types of negatively-influencing situations. As an aspiring engineer, I understand that I am a double-minority in the field. Although I like to disassociate myself from the negative stereotypes that I will inevitably encounter, I am now able to look past that and recognize myself as a distinguished individual.
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