Outliers 1&2

Rachael Kerr
AP English 11
May 25, 2010
Outliers Ch. 1&2

Although it may not be a lot, I have received some crucial advantages. I was raised by my parents to do my best; working hard meant more to them than the best grade I could receive. Luckily, I was always a student of higher intelligence, and exceeded my classmates in my work. As established in Outliers, this got me special attention from teachers. Some people might take the praise from parents and teachers as leeway to slack off, but not me. I was so scared that I might fail those who had so much faith in me; I always had the drive to be the best.
Along my academic career, I have had a few things tracking my success. One was the constant butting-in of my aunt; her intent was pure, but her methods were tainted. She herself is a teacher, and she confused me with one of her students. Another was again the paranoia and competition. I was never going to let the sacrifice my parents made by paying to send me to private school go to waste (and some of that drive was to completely surpass those who took that luxury for granted). And I would NEVER let anyone I did not like get better grades than me; spite seemed to get me pretty far.
Over the years, I watched my grades improve in certain subjects I never cared for (history), and ones I actually struggled with (5th grade history, 5th grade math, and penmanship). I always made sure to keep my grades up so I had nothing to worry about outside of school. As difficult as I make this sound, at my school it required little effort on my part.
Unfortunately, I got too used to this life style; I was so used to barely doing anything and being top dog. When I got to high school, I received a rude awakening to real competition. Regrettably, I dropped status. Although, I don’t beat myself up about it because those student above me deserve to be there and actually work to be there.
However, being in an Advanced Placement course has provided me with the exact kind of challenge I need. Having constant assignments that require actual concentration, thought, and academic prowess, I bettered my study habits and my intelligence. Not only in English, but by being (literally) forced to take an Advanced Placement course in US History I learned what I am truly capable of.