"What's So Bad About Being So-So?"

            Lisa Wilson’s Strick’s intention in writing “So what’s So Bad about Being So-So?” is to show how our society today has many interests they would love to pursue but in actuality won’t even try for the fear of being mediocre.

             I strongly agree that children today are being denied the satisfaction of being able to play without any requirements. As I was reading, I began to have flashbacks of events in which I had once wanted to try something that brought happiness to me but was shot down by others who had already mastered it. I recall having the opportunity to try theatre arts my freshman year of high school but not being able to pursue it for the fear of looked down upon. I remember going for three days and leaving. Every other teenager who was taking the same elective had already years of practice, and as I recall they told me I was “good” but not “put into practice”.

Amy Tan’s article has many different subjects the most important being shame. Tan’s article is to learn to have pride in our culture, it makes the readers remember their youth or anytime they've ever felt ashamed of themselves.  Everyone has their own customs and beliefs and it’s what makes us who we are therefore nobody should feel ashamed of their culture.

I personally understand Tan's purpose because I faced a similar experience in which I was ashamed and hurt people around me. Know that I see life in a different angle and I am ashamed of myself and the way I reacted to certain occasions. When I was 14 years old I remember feeling ashamed of my culture and I felt I needed to hide it. My father knew how I felt before I could even explain it; he then took me on a trip to our hometown and showed me how important it is for me. I am now very proud of my culture and our customs.