As a citizen concerned about American focus on raw talent and "smarts" as the source of success, I find the portrayal of Mr. Alan undermining of the hard work and perseverance and support he undoubtedly needed to continue with his education. Success is a combination of hard work and cognitive ability, yet as a society we tend to focus on showering praise for cognitive ability. But this is harmful for the students who do not innately perform at a high level, leading to disillusionment and dissociation from academics. A widely distributed newspaper is the perfect venue to begin shifting the conversation. While the optics of this article have already impacted the Arizona Daily Star readership, moving forward I ask that the Editor encourage writers to tell the full story, not simply the sensational. Life is hard and beautiful and fantastic. Why not celebrate it all?
Jasmine Chan
Foothills
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
