Juliana Wilson

ENG 2150

Assignment 3 Draft

December 7, 2023

Identity Crisis

“When children are given labels, it affects not only the way they see themselves but also what is expected of them and how they are treated, which in turn, influences who they become.” (Kim)

Juliana 

As a child I was incredibly shy and reserved. I was scared of talking to adults or telling people how I felt. I’m in a constant loop of wanting to do things that I want to do and wanting to do things because they’re expected 

“Inferences are made about how the child should behave and perform without consulting her or him. These expectations often are not conveyed to the child and result in a disparity between expectations and performance. This can be very confusing and even painful for the child. Perceptions and expectations of a child’s performance may change overnight due to a score on a test, when in reality the child remains the same.” (Gates)

Elementary School

I made sure to accelerate my reading level far beyond that of my classmates. I loved to boast about how I could read at a level P while they could hardly read a D. I ridiculed them, and I was not gentle. I still regret how I would gloat. I was a show-off and know-it-all. Going into fifth grade, it was a requirement to take a foreign language. We had two choices: Italian or Spanish. While the majority chose Spanish, I opted for Italian. The only reason I made this choice was because I heard that Italian was the more challenging language.

“To the students I see every day, excellence has come to mean never trying anything scary in case your grades should suffer. It means not trying to think about new things very hard, for the same reason. It means, “Just tell me what’s on the test, Mr. J.” It means “Isn’t there a study sheet for this? You mean we have to read the whole thing… and think about it?”” (Johnson)

Middle School

In middle school I learned that I had a bit of a rebellious side. Not only was I rude to my peers but I was also rude to my teachers. I had some idea about myself that I was greater because of my title which in the grand scheme of things held no weight. 

“As long as people believe that their label influences the way that others perceive them, they will act as though it does.” (Ryan)

High School 

I was led to believe that everything should come effortlessly. I was in my freshman year when I failed a test for the first time, and my sophomore year when I nearly failed a class. I became so discouraged by my poor marks, and even more so by my teachers suggesting I find a tutor. I realized I wasn’t learning anything. I dedicated all of my free time to doing homework and studying for exams, and I also began to work with a tutor. For the first time in my life, I had a healthy relationship with education. I showed up to all of my classes prepared and on time, I began tutoring other people, and I became a member of the National Honor Society. At the end of the year, I was disappointed to find my cumulative average did not reflect my hard work.

“As our society becomes more and more divided between haves and have-nots, we, who care about children, need to recognize this: Our schools are places where children can thrive, and also places where harmful systems hurt children. Each and all of us owes it to our children to make our precious public schools places where all children know that they are needed, that they are extraordinary and have great potential, and that their communities are working to recognize and open doors for their unique and special talents. All of our children. Each one of them.” (Dawson)

College

I was really excited for college. I would get to have my third fresh start. When I was little and was asked the question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?“, I would always respond with, “I have no idea.” One thing I always did know, though, was that I wanted to have a “smart job” that would make me a lot of money. It holds true from then to now and undoubtedly the future that I want to reach my highest potential— whatever that means. In 12th grade I applied to countless colleges across New York City and state. I spent my last four years dedicated to music and performance, so it would only make sense that I proceed with music in college right? Well I decided that, though a career in music would make me happy, being a musician isn’t a “smart job”. 

“Although gifted may seem like a harmless label to many, when referencing young children it only serves as an addition to the struggles gifted students already face in society. Much of the anxiety these students have is created by being labeled as the smart kid from a young age and tirelessly trying to continue holding that identity. Society needs to stop perpetuating this dangerous relationship many gifted students create with themselves by refraining from the use of labels such as smart, talented and gifted when speaking to young children.” (Culcasi)