Scholarship Boy Richard Rodriguez Summary

1). What are the turning points in the narrative? What are the most important things the writer seems to learn? The greatest turning point in Richard Rodriguez’s; Scholarship Boy, was the moment when Rodriguez recognizes his parent’s foreknowledge of his own intelligence. “You both must be very proud of Richard,” the nun said. They responded quickly. (They were proud.) “We are proud of all our children.” The this after-thought: “They sure didn’t get their brains from us.” They all laughed. I smiled (p.22 From Inquiry to Academic Writing. “Scholarship Boy” Richard Rodriguez).” Rodriguez becomes aware that his family has been his greatest supporters all along and feels a sense of comfort knowing that he is not as alone as he once perceived.
2). What incidents or insights did you find most interesting? Why? I found Rodriguez’s reasoning for why he feels the need to choose education over his relationship with his family to be disturbing and narcissistic. Rodriguez grew up in a culture in which, one would assume would make someone humbler. Rodriguez’s outlook on having to choose education over his own blood reflected an attitude of self-pity which was agitating and made his work hard to appreciate.

3). What seems to be the key …show more content…
“The scholarship boy reaches a different conclusion. He cannot afford to admire his parents. (How could he and still pursue such a contrary life (p.19 From Inquiry to Academic Writing. “Scholarship Boy” Richard Rodriguez). Rodriguez believed that in order to be successful he had to give up his beginnings and separate himself from the people who linked him to who he was. This concept can be applied in my own writing as I advance in academic writing. I have always been a strong, creative writer and knowing that academic writing will challenge myself in new ways will be a journey I cannot wait to look back