In Class/OutClassed

Honk. Honk. 

Eyes open just as the sun comes up. The big sunshine yellow bus sits, waiting for me as I pull the velcro on my shoes snugly across the tops of my little feet, pink Barbie backpack hung neatly over my shoulders. 

I blink and I am in the middle of Ms. Thomas' classroom, showing off my latest story to the class. This time its about the dinosaurs that tried eating my dog for breakfast.

I blink and I am walking down the corner, to all the third classrooms. As a measly second grader my knees start to shake, but then I remember my duty as the official mailwoman of Dutch Neck School, and I march on fearlessly.

I blink and I am finally in third grade, waiting to move onto bigger and better things. It is the last time I shake hands with Mr. Grabell on my way out to catch the bus...

I blink... and my two years in upper elementary blur together, not quite making sense, but only evoking the excitement of finally becoming a middle schooler.

I blink and I am in a sea of braces and glasses. While the pigtails have started to go away, I see Ugg boots and mini skirts take its place. But I was too busy with my math book under my nose to really pay attention to that.

I blink and my years as a middle schooler come to a close and I walk down the aisle of teachers, reaching their hands out to congratulate me and the 364 other students in my class.

Just as I blink, I am walking down the halls of High School North, so used to being at the top, that this idea of listening to the seniors makes no sense.

Home:

Born July 20, 1993. I grew up in a two parent household as an only child. My parents were very involved in my early education, reading to me  and playing board games with me. My parents held positions on the PTA at my elementary and middle school. Between home and school there was an open dialect between my parents and teachers until high school.

School:

Enjoy!

-Meg

Attached is my educational access map, from birth to BMC!

After the class discussion last Thursday, I discovered about how class issues are reflected in two texts and thought about myself. I recognized a characterestic of human nature "People always want more". Lower-class women in Luttrell's study desired a stable life and the social recognition. Tompkins, who got all of them, desired something more - a fulfillment of her inner side. It is somehow associated with my life. When I was a kid, our family's desire at that time was a realistic one- a stable financial life. The purpose of my education in the past was also very practical - getting into a business school. I focused on the subjects required for the university entrance exam rather than learn what I really liked. When I got into a top high school and my opportunity to get into a good college was nearly guaranteed, I realized I did not take care of my human side. I used to love reading and creating poems but now I can rarely write a good essay. Compared to my middle-class classmates, I am just a nerd who knows nothing except for study. I feel like I am one of the students in Tompkins class who are forced to pursue some practical careers without being interested in them. However, if I compare myself to a woman in Lutrell's study, to many poor children on the streets and to myself in the past, I may be a lucky girl.

Hey Everyone!

Hopefully you'll be able to view my "map"/path!

Enjoy!

-Jillian