The Other Wes Moore (Chapters 7-8, Epilogue & Afterword)

 Are We Really Products of Our Environments?



    Are we products of out environment or products of our expectations? This was the question asked before my reading of The Other Wes Moore. Now that I have completed my reading, it is time to revisit this question. Are we really products of our environments? I would have to answer that yes, we are. 

    I feel that we are a combination of our expectations and environment, but I think that they go hand in hand. Both Wes Moores came from similar home environments, however they both ended up with very different fates. It is hard to determine what choices, opportunities, or missed opportunities altered each boys life, but we can determine that they ended up with very different outcomes. 
    
    To quote the other Wes Moore, "If they expect us to graduate, we will graduate. If they expect us to get a job, we will get a job. If they expect us to go to jail, then that's where we will end up too. At some point you lose control." While I think the other Wes brings up some good points about others expectations and how that can become what we expect from ourselves, I disagree about his last statement. I believe that we do have control over our own lives, choices and decisions. I think we can be very influenced by our environment, and the people we surround ourselves with. To have control of your life is to have control over the way you think, speak, act, and the people we interact with. I think our environment plays as much a role in who we become as does our expectations of ourselves. 
    
    Our environment can also influence our expectations. I am fortunate to have grown up in a loving, nurturing, caring, environment. I was encouraged to work hard, continue my education, and be the best version of myself that I could possibly be. I have befriended people who are like-minded in that regard. It has been beneficial for me to be surrounded by people who have high expectations of themselves, and have high goals because it also motivates me to want that for myself. Wes Moore did not have the best environment growing up, but he had his mother and family who encouraged him to be better. The other Wes Moore had a similar environment as well, but the people he surrounded himself with did not have high aspirations. They resorted to selling drugs to make an income. It is credible that the other Wes Moore went to the Job Corps and did for a brief time, better his life with completing his GED and getting into carpentry. It is sad that his life did not stay on that track because he could have had great potential and not be currently serving a life sentence. The other Wes Moore needed money to support his children and family and while he was initially working carpentry jobs, he was not making enough money, so he turned back to his old ways.

    Our environment can influence our expectations, the same way our expectations can influence our environment. It is hard to determine which one of those factors creates the paths of which our lives follow. We have the power to lead our lives into the path of which we desire, and the power to control our own choices.



Comments

  1. NanciOvOApril 27, 2023 at 3:18 PM

    Hi Brianna,
    Your blog is very clear and concise. And yes I do agree with you that we are a combination of our expectations and our environment. The two are mutually influential, as different environments give different expectations, and expectations bring us closer to the environment we choose.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Jennifer TorresApril 30, 2023 at 9:33 PM

    Hey Brianna, thanks for sharing ! I agree with you and think that we are a combination of both expectations and environment because they give us both different expectations.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Madyson LaMannaMay 2, 2023 at 2:34 PM

    Hey Brianna!

    I totally agree with your stance, yes we are both products of our environment as well as our expectations, but in between all of that we can choose for ourselves. Human identity is more complicated than choking it up to one aspect or factor, and I think some of your post captures that idea.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anna Henriquez May 4, 2023 at 1:50 PM

    Hey Brianna!

    I like how you included that we are both products of our expectations as well as environments. Although we may live in an environment where there's less crime and more opportunities/resources for us to grow and succeed in life, without the push of having expectations to live up to we may be wasting our potential.

    ReplyDelete

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