Succeeding Happily

Timothy Brown

J. Hutchman

Lang 120

September 14, 2012

Succeeding Happily

A reading response to "I Just Wanna Be Average" by Mike Rose

            Learning environments for young students are very important in order for a student to be successful; without a positive or open environment to learn in students just like Mike Rose are subjected to face greater difficulties in life. Mike Rose is a professor at UCLA, but within the excerpt “I Just Wanna Be Average” from his book Lives on the Boundary, we are described a learning environment that was not supportive for his high school education. He describes the difficulties of going to a private school where he is placed on a vocational track rather than a college prep track all due some paperwork mix-ups.

            Throughout this essay, Rose is very accepting of his past even though he had very difficult times in the school he attended. In the private school he attended, he was tossed into the “dumping grounds” for the “disaffected”, had to accept the titles “slow”, “half-minded”, and “mediocre” as he also had to face the fact that a vocational education would only train him for “un-desired work”. Through all the bitterness tone and resentment of these experiences he reveals a revelation towards the end that makes it all worthwhile. At the start of Rose’s junior year he was placed into the college prep track after doing exceptionally well in his biology course. Due to his ability he was able to get to experience a new English teach in a way that he may not have gotten had he stayed on a vocational track. This English teacher, Jack MacFarland, was not only an inspiration to Rose’s ideas and love for writing, he was also a huge tool in getting Rose to attend college. MacFarland gave Rose the chance to rise to the education mark rather than float upward, allowing him to see the opportunity his life possessed.

            Through his writing style of acceptance while showing bitterness, Rose does a great job at portraying his stories from the years he spent at his school Our Lady of Mercy. He stays very structured in his stories by making sure his stories are in chronological order while flowing to create this recall. Through this structure, Rose is able to connect to his audience by truly getting them to understand his past while getting fulfillment just as he did in his revelation. Anyone that has every had a hard time in school, felt that they were subjected to unfriendly or unjust learning environments or just are concerned for the education of others can get a lot out of this excerpt. Readers get the chance to either relate or observe in a meaningful way to get the same hopes of a brighter and better future just as Rose did.

            Despite having to read this excerpt a few times, as well as feeling left in the dark on some aspects of his stories I enjoyed reading this. I came from a school where vocational education is not at all considered a bad thing and is more respected than a college prep track. For that reason it was very interesting to see how schools with such diversity, and geographical differences can be immensely different. Rose was able to add to my perspective by showing that there are always going to people out there like Jack MacFarland to give you the inspiration and hope you need in order to succeed happily.

Based off the source:

Rose, Mike. “I Just Wanna Be Average.” Writing and Community Action; A Service-Learning Rhetoric with Readings. Thomas Deans. Addison Wesley Longman, Inc, 2003. 39 – 50.