"I Just Wanna Be Average"

“I Just Wanna Be Average” by Mike Rose was a great story about the life of a young boy rising out of his circumstantial difficulties as a child. Born in Pennsylvania but raised in California, Mike Rose grew up in poverty. Having to share a room with his parents, his childhood was financially deprived. The small town in California was also impoverished and very sullen. The houses were barren, children were scarce as most of the people were older than fifty, violence was spreading and becoming an issue, the air was thick and polluted, and most of the citizens were from the working class.
The story went on to discuss how Mike Rose’s future was bleak. Mike was a student who didn’t understand much in school. Having problems with mathematics and grammar lessons, he usually zoned off and day dreamed during school lessons and lectures. He presented himself as one of those kids who you would think was not going to go far in life. Someone who would be in the working class is what I would have associated him with. School was not much of a concern for Mike Rose, and he just did not take it seriously.
In the midst of his academic troubles, his father’s health was deteriorating. His arteriosclerosis had worsened and became the cause of his death. At this time, an English teacher named Jack MacFarland came into his life during his senior year in high school. MacFarland inspired the children’s interest in literature, especially Mike’s. “The man immersed us in language,” was how Mike felt about Jack MacFarland. “He tapped my old interest in reading and creating stories. He gave me a way to feel special by using my mind. And he provided a role model that wasn’t shaped on physical prowess alone, and something inside me that I wasn’t quite aware of responded to that” (Rose, 34). Not only did MacFarland inspire Mike’s studies and interest in academics, but he aided in his admittance into college. MacFarland knew the potential in Rose, and served not only as a teacher, but a person who cared and was willing to make a difference.
After reading this story, I felt a sense of sympathy for Mike Rose. The story was one that intended to reach out to souls and hearts. However, after analyzing things and participating in an in class discussion, I came to realize that the story was not just one that started off sad and ended happily, but one that was inspirational to all. For children who are or were brought up in this environment and was offered the short end of the stick, there is still hope. Anyone can rise above their circumstances and become a significant body in society. “I Just Wanna Be Average” was Mike’s way of empathizing with others and letting the audience know that he’s just a man who overcame, and nothing is impossible. No matter how bleak the future might seem, there is hope and possibility. Also, for people who may have not experienced the same childhood as him, you can make a difference in the lives of those who are in that situation. Like MacFarland who brought academic change, instilled hope, and went out of his way to see that Rose made it into college, other people can do the same. To parents, teachers, friends, or even bystanders, when you see a need for change, be the change you wish to see. Lend a helping hand. You never know what difference you can make in somebody’s life. This is why I enjoyed the story. It is universal and everyone can read, learn, and be inspired.