Summary Of The Achievement Of Desire By Richard Rodriguez

Publication Information

Rodriguez, Richard. “The Achievement of Desire” Rereading America: Cultural Context for Critical Thinking and Writing. Ed. Gary Colombo, Robert Cullen, Bonnie Lisle. Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2004. 214-227.

Brief Summary In “The Achievement of Desire”, author Richard Rodriguez, recounts his difficulties in balancing life in the academic world and the life of a working-class family. As a child, Rodriguez was the exception to the stereotypical student coming from a working-class family. He was always top of his class, and rather than spending his time out with friends or with his family he spent his time with books and notes. Initially, this approach makes Rodriguez stand out as an exceptional student, but as time goes

The power of education turned a child into one with two lives, one being his academic and the other was his working-class family. Rodriguez discussed the thoughts of Richard Hoggart saying, “The scholarship boy must move between environments, his home and the classroom, which are at cultural extremes, opposed.” Rodriguez’s academic success distanced him from the life he had with his family. As he grew older and became smarter than his parents, and he distanced himself from them as they were an embarrassment and a distraction to his new life of academic acceleration. He didn’t hang out with friends or spend time with family. His new life with an overpowering education became one that changed his mindset. He “wanted a more passionate life” and to be “less alone.” His education brought him into a world of isolation because he thought that was the only way to succeed and become as smart as his teachers. At times, I feel the same way as Rodriguez, I turn down a lot of fun nights and times with my family because I assume I cannot afford to push back my school work. My education is my number one priority and something that gets in the way of my personal life, even if it isn’t worth