Overcoming Barriers: Richard Rodriguez's Achievement of Desire

In order to broaden your understanding of [gender, race, class, incarceration, injustice, or any other social issue] , you should read Richard Rodriguez’s “The Achievement of Desire.” This piece of writing is a perfect example of working hard to achieve one 's goals even after crossing into a new country. Twenty years ago Richard first came to this country barely able to speak English, Richard had an ambition to be successful in life at an early age. The first time I read his article i thought i can relate to it at a personal level. I came to this country at the age of 9 years old. I remember when i first walked into my first middle school with my mom. She was registering me and my sister to the local middle school where some of my cousins were already attending. Since the “No Child Felt behind Act” was active, even kids like me with no papers were permitted to enjoy the same education like everyone else.

As ESL teachers were working with me by teaching me English and translating every worksheet the teachers in all the subjects were giving out. For some reason Richard never mentioned the school he went to having an ESL program. I know i am going on about my experience about my past education and how weird it was to be in a place where the teachers didn’t just speak to me in Spanish. Even if you didn 't grow up in another country it 's okay, by Richards writing you can still get a sense of what it feels like to be changed by the education here in