Reading the documents attached to this assignment, I felt really distant from those people and their words I was reading. I could hear their pain but I can not feel that or relate. I will never understand that. Growing up white and middle class, regardless of my personal struggles, I was taught to a higher standard in school. My peers and I have had access to a higher education because our community has access to better resources. I have had access to technology since elementary school, I have had access to public libraries as well as paid memberships to private libraries. I grew up with WIFI and computers in my home. I have always been able to express myself in a social and writing setting. I have never had to be shamed or mocked for what I can not change about my physical apprearance. This has not affected my education, identity, or writing in a negative manner. I am privileged to have abundant resources available to me and safe spaces to use them. This has advanced my writing dramatically compared to peers even within my school whose parents just didn’t have the means for the technology or resources that others had. Peers that so desperately wanted to further their education out of highschool, but simply could not afford it. While at the same time, I am able to attend a university without the pressure of finding a job immediately. People in this country are oppressed, stereotyped, looked down upon, and hindered from success for the same factors that promote my success; the color of my skin and/or my social class. This in turn has shaped my identity. I will never not use the resources available to me to educate myself on the hardships others endure while using, regardless of my social or economic standing.

As a graduated junior now a freshman in college, I strongly recommend to take your freshman year of highschool seriously. Your GPA is so important throughout highschool and getting into college, therefore focusing on maintaining grades to the best of your ability is imperative. Being class of 2020 as a junior cut my highschool career extremely short. I gave up my senior year, and COVID-19 ended my junior year in March. There are many things I look back on now that I wish I would have been apart of. The time truly flies by so do not take it for granted. Go to the games and the dances. Highschool is a confusing time and you will grow up and grow out of friendships, but you are in control of your future so make the best of the time you have. Always put your success and education first. You will meet people that will stick with you and support you through your goals, but you will also have to outgrow those who are holding you back.

Weekly Reflections are longer, more thoughtful posts that you will complete about every week of the semester. Topics for these posts will vary by instructor, but they will usually be completed outside of class and have a specific word-count requirement.