A Caucasian Female In AP English

A Caucasian female in AP English 11 is what I am. But is that all I am? I think not. Sherman Alexie is a Kiowan who grew up in abject poverty. Is that all he is? Again, certainly not. And neither he nor I are our heritage, our background, or social-economic status. However, in society there are often certain implications and stereotypes meant to categorize us based on these overall insignificant factors, or at least insignificant when it pertains to who we are as individuals. This is due to the human's desire to make sense of the world and ourselves, no matter if it is incorrect or not. As humans, we crave safety, and we find it in patterns, in rhythms, in repetition. That is why most human's enjoy poetry and music, especially rhyming. Like my dear little sister once said to me, "It's no fun if it doesn't rhyme." Yet to me, it is still fun and enjoyable when the unexpected occurs. I adore uniqueness and the never before seen, just as much as the lulling serenity of the chorus of "Soul Sister"by Train.

There is still beauty, and some argue even more so, in rising against the odds, in not following society's expectations, in deviating, in breaking rules that aren't rules at all. Sherman Alexie, for instance, became more that society expected from him, more than he expected from himself. Just because not everyone from his reservation ends up as successful as he does, doesn't mean he didn't become an incredibly acclaimed author. Stereotypes are faulty, misleading, and can't be rules as long as there are exceptions. A rule implies always, and if stereotypes are only occasionally true, how can they be rules, how can people believe them at all?

For more (and frankly, extremely better) insight to this topic, check out this spectacular blog:
http://kemiogunniyi.wordpress.com/2012/07/24/stereotypes/