Richard Marquez The Achievement Of Desire Analysis

Superior Essays
In Richard Rodriquez’ essay, “The Achievement of Desire”, experiences with education and how a desire to acquire knowledge has the possibility of straining family relationships are explored. Rodriquez describes himself as a scholarship boy; the type of student who is “Always successful” but “always unconfident”, he was “exhilarated by my progress” but “Sad” while being “anxious and eager to learn”, in conjunction with being “an imitative and unoriginal pupil” (Rodriquez 339). In essence, Rodriquez is saying that while was eager and excited about learning, he was also unsure of himself and his ideas. Rodriquez reflects on his experiences in the classroom when he states “A primary reason for my success in the classroom was that I couldn’t forget …show more content…
My instructors always presented the message that reading will open doors and enable a student to go far in life. I looked up to my instructors as role models, so I took their thoughts and suggestions seriously. After school, I could always be found visiting with them or “helping” them straighten the classroom or filling different things. I would do anything as long as I got to be with them and pick their brain for the knowledge I envied. During these times, I formed a close relationship with some of my instructors; to this day I can still call them just to visit or to seek advice. They have become my mentors that have encouraged me to advance my education in order to reach the same status that they hold in my …show more content…
Like Rodriguez I have always idolized my instructors and desired to obtain the knowledge that they possessed. I also relate with his description of the scholarship boy; “He is the great mimic, a collector of thoughts, not a thinker,” (Rodriquez 352). I am not very quick to jump to a conclusion of my own. In a discussion, I prefer to sit back and listen to everyone else’s opinions first before jumping up and giving my own opinion, which is based off of points from everyone else. This is not such a bad thing, however, it allows me to see both sides of an argument clearly before choosing a stance. Finally, I can relate with Rodriguez over being embarrassed of my parents. While Rodriguez is embarrassed of his parents due to their lack of education, I am embarrassed of mine, due to their old age. Whenever my parents attend parent-teacher conferences I do my best to move them along quickly to prevent they from getting confused about some of the difficult classes I have

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