Her name is Eniolahun Olakunle, and unlike her brother and sister she does not have the ease of an English middle name like Peter, or Phoebe, so everyone just calls her Enny. Some would say that this name is easy enough in itself. However, it was a name that highlighted her difference much longer than her thick Nigerian accent did. It was a name that she would have gladly given up. So then when given that exact chance on March, 12 2015, why didn’t she? It was a normal Thursday morning so no specific details stuck in her mind, but she does remember that it was a chilly day, so she was wearing a red sweater over jeans and a tie dye shirt. She also remembers that her mom had been teaching her some traditional Yoruba songs, which she had been religiously …show more content…
"Freak," she can recall them saying. "Kunta Kinte," they would whisper! Even though Enny was a name that was easy enough in itself, it seemed like her new classmates found their alternatives better. Everywhere she turned, it seemed like there was an ongoing joke that she was not allowed to be a part of. The first couple of weeks, she would cower and wait for the ringing laughter as soon as the teacher mispronounces her name for roll call. After six years, she finally earned it. She was now a typical American teenager. She was even what you would consider a “popular kid”. She had her friends, and her thick accent was not so thick anymore, even if it was not gone. However, there was still one thing that separated her from the rest of her group, and every time she introduced herself to a new person she knew that. “It’s Enny, as in anything,” she would
Now I wished that I could pen a letter to my school to be read at the opening assembly that would tell them how wrong we had all been. You should see Zachary Taylor, I’d say.” Lily is realizing now that beauty comes in all colors. She is also again being exposed to the fact that her way of being raised was wrong, that years and years of history was false. “The whole time we worked, I marveled at how mixed up people got when it came to love.
No one would talk to her, recess was spent in anguish, and she would find garbage and spoiled food in her book bag. As she progressed into 5th grade, some of the social atmosphere began to shift in subtle but profound ways. Being accepted into a clique is all that matters. Instead of being admired for class participation, as in earlier years she was laughed at and labeled as “teacher’s pet.” She said the rules were simple “shun or be shunned—if you weren’t willing to go along with the crowd, you would become the reject.”
The author explains different situations she has been exposed to throughout her life. The main factor that differentiates her case from the others is her level of education. She has been educated and has been exposed to two different cultures. Due to these factors, she knows how to behave under different circumstances. A good example is when a drunk man offended her and she reacted by walking away instead of creating a big discussion. Maria’s friend complemented her for the cool handling of the situation. Another reason why she feels so proud of herself is because she took advantage of that education chance and does everything possible to keep growing up. She explains that sometimes she is sent to that “kitchen” where she belongs. Her genes will follow her everywhere and not matter where she is at, people will keep asking her where is she from.
Bonnie had a childhood that alluded to eventual greatness. Bonnie was known by everyone as being beautiful and adorable (Rosenberg). Some of her early interests included romance novels, writing, and drama (Rosa). She was an honor student, and was always winning prizes for her essays, spelling, and public speaking (Fortune 49). One of her most notable victories was when she won Cement City’s Spelling Bee championship (Rosa). When she was younger, at her school in Cement City, Bonnie’s class had someone come to teach them elocution once a week. Bonnie was obsessed with that class. Her classroom performance was excellent, and the teacher liked her to the extent that she even got permission to occasionally bring Bonnie to spend the night with...
When she arrived, Emily was remembered and accepted. She laughed more, made friends with people young and old and felt happy for the first time in years. It was also in Ucluelet tha...
She has never had to experience the idea of fitting in with her own culture. Being American is simply natural and a way of life for her. Traveling to another country, especially to one that was nothing like she expected it to be, helped to her stumble upon some important insights. She states being away from her own culture did not change her but made her able to realize what values and habits were the most important to her. In the other story, author Patricia was of Korean descent, but was born and raised here in America. Due to her Korean descent Patricia never really knew for sure where she belonged. She used a name to describe it, “hyphenated Americans,” because she looks like she is from another country but was born and raised here. People right on the streets of New York will ask her where she is from and compliment her on her good English skills. This makes it difficult to truly identify as an American. To really know what values and habits are her own. Traveling to Korea, visiting what they have called her homeland, taught Patricia some important insights of her own.
...he class barriers that exist in society and the differences between these different groups. She comes to see the differences and the similarities between her life and that of the two boys.
After spending years at the same school, there is no doubt that you will change from the beginning to the end. Joy not only had a change in maturity, but in work ethic as well. Balancing life and school is always difficult, which she understood, as a young actress Joy recalls “thinking that acting
The first time Kingston had to speak English in kindergarten was the moment silence infiltrated her world. Simple dialogue such as “hello” or asking for directions was hell for her because people usually couldn’t hear her the first time she asked, and her voice became weaker every time she tried to repeat the question (422). No matter what, speaking English just shattered her self-esteem.
As Anne grew older, she was pretty and popular with the boys. However, her performance in school was lacking in m...
Before collage, Toni went to all integrated schools. In elementary school, Toni was the only person in her class that could read (2). Because she attended all intergraded schools, she was friends with many of her white school mates and didn’t encounter discrimination until she started dating (1). She was very dedicated to her...
Some people are excellent friends due to their humour and generosity. Others may be admired by their perseverance and organization skills. However, a person is not capable of holding all traits, which is what makes each and every one of us unique and our own ways. Bonny’s personality may not be perfect, but those three personality traits were definitely revealed through her actions. Although she is still only a teenager, she exemplifies the sense of being independent, imaginative, and a reliable individual. Throughout the pervious experiences, she was able to undergo changes and improve herself. This final act is what qualifies Bonny as a truly interesting individual and what makes her special from others.
... up. She has friends. She does things she would have never have been able to do at home. Now she’s going to go to college. There’s a future for her.”