Blog #3 - Always Running - Expecting the Worst?

   
     Within class today, my peers and I participated in a Socratic seminar, and discussed topics that were centered around the books we read so far in the curriculum. One of the topics, in particular, that was heavily elaborated on was the concept of expectations and how heavy of an impact they have on a child as they grow up. I feel that this concept was deeply portrayed in Always Running. For instance, when it came to his brother, Luis was always expected to obey and be a sort of punching bag for his brother. As kids he grew so accustomed to it, he couldn't fight back anymore, and allowed himself to be subjected to the physical abuses from his brother. Because he felt so weak as a child, you could see why Grillo wanted more power later on. He wanted to move away from the expectation that he'll always be weak, thus forming an entirely new expectation on himself; he wanted to become powerful. Furthermore, later on in the story, on his first day in school, because he couldn't understand English, his teacher had no expectation on his learning. Even as far as having no interest in teaching him, letting him sneak off to a different class. You could tell this greatly affected Luis, because he explicitly states that he knew he "wasn't wanted". This part in particular is tragic because it's something that still happens today. There are still some second language learners who aren't receiving all the education they need in this country, and aren't taken into priority for the sake of the students that already know English. It's just mind-boggling how real it is, and how despite change, remnants of the past still linger within the education system. I take into consideration that this is an autobiography, and realize that these events actually happened. I honestly feel that it's sad how large of an impact these little judgments had on Luis, very much like how they do to us as individuals, especially because it takes an even smaller amount of thought to create them.