Learning Confidence

Learning Confidence
Michelle grew up around people who were striving.
Striving to make the most of what they had, and striving to give their children better opportunities than the ones they grew up with.
Even as an elementary school student, Michelle strove to do well at school.
However, given her circumstances, it wasn't always easy to shine.
For instance, when Michelle started second grade, she was stuck in a class full of chaotic kids, with a helpless teacher unable to get things under control.
Luckily, when Michelle explained how much she hated this class, her mom listened and soon had her tested and moved up to a third-grade class with other high-performing kids who liked to learn.
Michelle still wonders what her life would have been like if her mom hadn't intervened.
For she continued to perform well academically, eventually earning a spot at the Whitney M. Young High School – an equal-opportunity school with progressive teachers that drew in high-performing kids from all over the city.
But now that she'd found a school that was a good fit, she had to learn how to fit in.
For the first time, Michelle met kids from the wealthier North Side of Chicago – kids who had passports and took vacations that involved skiing.
Kids who wore designer purses and lived in high-rise apartments.
However, Michelle did form a bond with one fellow student.
Santita Jackson was the daughter of Jesse Jackson, the famous political leader, and Michelle was welcomed into the exciting and colorful Jackson household.
One scorchingly hot day, she even marched in the Bud Billiken Day Parade with Sanita and other Jesse Jackson supporters.
This marked Michelle's first introduction to what life in politics was like.
And truth be told, it wasn't appealing.
The Jackson household was chaotic, with staff running every which way and very little calm or stability.
As a polite girl who liked a sense of control, she could already tell it wasn't really her thing.
Michelle started to gain intellectual confidence in high school.
She learned that the harder she worked, the closer she came to reaching the top of her class.
And by the time she was a senior, she'd been elected class treasurer, was in the National Honor Society and was on track to be in the top 10 percent of her class.
At this point, she became confident enough to set her sights on Princeton.
Her guidance counselor wasn't so sure about this plan.
She said Michelle might not be “Princeton material.” But Michelle was now confident enough to know that her counselor was wrong.
Michelle applied. She continued to strive. And, in the end, she was accepted.
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Learning Confidence Michelle grew up around people who were striving. Striving to make the most of what they had, and striving to give their children better opportunities than the ones they grew up with. Even as an elementary school student, Michelle strove to do well at school. However, given her circumstances, it wasn't always easy to shine. For instance, when Michelle started second grade, she was stuck in a class full of chaotic kids, with a helpless teacher unable to get things under control. Luckily, when Michelle explained how much she hated this class, her mom listened and soon had her tested and moved up to a third-grade class with other high-performing kids who liked to learn. Michelle still wonders what her life would have been like if her mom hadn't intervened. For she continued to perform well academically, eventually earning a spot at the Whitney M. Young High School – an equal-opportunity school with progressive teachers that drew in high-performing kids from all over the city. But now that she'd found a school that was a good fit, she had to learn how to fit in. For the first time, Michelle met kids from the wealthier North Side of Chicago – kids who had passports and took vacations that involved skiing. Kids who wore designer purses and lived in high-rise apartments. However, Michelle did form a bond with one fellow student. Santita Jackson was the daughter of Jesse Jackson, the famous political leader, and Michelle was welcomed into the exciting and colorful Jackson household. One scorchingly hot day, she even marched in the Bud Billiken Day Parade with Sanita and other Jesse Jackson supporters. This marked Michelle's first introduction to what life in politics was like. And truth be told, it wasn't appealing. The Jackson household was chaotic, with staff running every which way and very little calm or stability. As a polite girl who liked a sense of control, she could already tell it wasn't really her thing. Michelle started to gain intellectual confidence in high school. She learned that the harder she worked, the closer she came to reaching the top of her class. And by the time she was a senior, she'd been elected class treasurer, was in the National Honor Society and was on track to be in the top 10 percent of her class. At this point, she became confident enough to set her sights on Princeton. Her guidance counselor wasn't so sure about this plan. She said Michelle might not be “Princeton material.” But Michelle was now confident enough to know that her counselor was wrong. Michelle applied. She continued to strive. And, in the end, she was accepted.