Mike Rose I Just Wanna Be Average Essay

In his essay, “I Just Wanna Be Average,” author Mike Rose says, “students will float to the mark you set” (164). From my past experiences, I completely agree that students will work harder if their teachers set the standards high. Generally, teenagers do not have high goals or standards for themselves, so it is up to the teachers to encourage and push the students towards success. Throughout his excerpt, Rose shows through numerous examples that teachers are a vital part to a student’s success in life.
“Why work hard in a class that didn’t grab my fancy?” (Rose 167). I agree with this quote because I have had many classes that have not grabbed my interest; therefore, I did not study properly and work hard to earn a good grade. In my freshman year of high school, I had a science teacher named Mr. Stara who clearly did not want to be teaching, and that was reflected in the lack of material we covered in class. Mr. Stara never offered to help us if we were having trouble understanding the material, and it seemed as if he didn’t care if we passed or failed the class. Ever since then, I have had no interest in any type of science and I believe that Mr. Stara is the reason why.
Rose explains that everyone should be taught on the same level no matter how smart one is.
After being placed in the Vocational Education class, his interest in his studies faded, and he did the minimum amount of work to pass. To make matters worse, the teachers did not care whether or not the students became more educated. Rose believes that if teachers do not have high expectations for their students, the students will have a decrease in work ethic because there is no one pushing them to succeed. Throughout my years of schooling, I have been lucky enough to have teachers who taught every student on the same level. It is the only fair way for everyone to have an equal chance for
success.
Another main point Rose makes is that everyone has a chance to succeed no matter what. In his excerpt, he describes how he had a poor education up until Jack MacFarland became his teacher. He gave Rose extra attention, made sure he was on the right path to success, and became like a father to Rose. MacFarland eventually helped him get accepted into a four-year university. I fully agree with this main point, because I believe that each student has full control over their grades by the amount of work they put into studying and how desperately they want to be successful. Everyone has the chance to succeed; some just need more motivation and encouragement than others. I am one of those people. I need someone there to motivate me to do my work, not only in school but in sports as well. I have trouble motivating myself to go to the gym, and I always feel the need for someone to be there to lift weights or shoot baskets with me. I believe if someone is dedicated and hard working, then anything is possible and the opportunities for success are endless.
Throughout the excerpt, “I Just Wanna Be Average”, the author explains that teachers play an essential role in their student’s success. Rose believes that most students are not self-motivated, and it is up to the teachers to set high standards for the children. I agree with all of Rose’s points, and I think that those who are determined and motivated will become successful in all aspects of their life.