Quote:
Originally posted by AKA2D '91
Fear of exercising my authority
Stephanie is a 26-year-old, who just started teaching at a prestigious private elementary school. She was confronted by an irate mother who disagreed with her assessment of her child's performance. Stephanie had difficulty standing her ground, even though she had plenty of evidence and knew her assessment was accurate. She wanted the parent to like her and to approve of her as a Black professional, so she withdrew the report, even though it would be better for the student to have the assessment at that time.
Self-defeating attitude: No one will take me seriously because I am viewed by others as young, Black and inexperienced. Therefore, I cannot distinguish myself in the eyes of others, cannot assert myself as a leader, and I will not be respected in the workplace.
Self-affirming attitude: Regardless of whether others immediately recognize my authority and competency, I am well prepared and capable of communicating my abilities and talents to others. When I find I need to strengthen my skills, I will seek the advice of a mentor as well as training opportunity to enhance my professional development, or ask directly for organizational support when needed.
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Since I'm about to be in the field, this one really struck me in particular.
I have to thank God for having been blessed with the family and friends and experiences that I have had, because as I read most these vignettes, I could see that I have never felt like this or had others treat me like this, even though I have always been successful in school. I grew up in the "ghetto", went to an all black school, but I was very smart and they were going to have me skip second grade, but that next year they started the TAG program, so I was enrolled in that. That particular class was mostly bussed in and was CRUCIALLY mixed, there was no majority. That helped me to appreciate and not be fazed by differences in culture (I was with these same people until 8th grade). And even though I was in TAG, no one from my complex treated me differently, or said anything in my hearing. Then when I went to a totally different middle school from everyone else in the complex, it was never a big deal. Some people even gave me props.
I've just never felt that I should hide my intelligence or my success. Not that I'd flaunt it, but I've always been taugh to do your best and to be yourself. I think I'll be th eonly rich person shopping at Wal-Mart, because even though I'll have money, I will never see the point of paying a lot for something whne you don't have to LOL. But, I've been lucky, I know that everyone hasn't been in the same situation, which is truly unfortunate.
Its really messed up when you get dogged for getting a Ph.D., but you get 3 baby showers for getting pregnant for the 4th time at age 15.
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