Karen Perez

Beth
Advisory
4/17/2015

Dear Certain Blackstone Academy Teachers,

As all of you may know, before me came my two big brothers Carlos and Julian. Both of
which have struggled here at Blackstone and both left after not graduating on time became a
possibility for them. Soon after I was accepted into this school I was put in a tiny box by the staff
labeled and expected to fail as well. Freshman year it came to my attention that many of my
teachers constantly compared me to them but not in the cute sibling ways you would expect.
You see, my brothers left you guys with a destroyed opinion on who we Perez's are and
damaged any good reputation I may have. I am aware of the difference between the way you
teachers talk about my classmates older siblings and they way you talk about mine. At times I am
spoken to in a tone where I cannot be taken seriously by you. Other times I haven't been given
some of the same attention as most of the other students do in my class.
Since them, I have been expected to make the same mistakes. You grew into the habit of
assuming that all siblings are the same. That since we look the same and share the same last
name that we are expected to act the same. There will never be a day where I deny that I share
some traits whether its our physical features or aspects of our personality but I will say I take my
school work seriously when my brothers may have not. I stand here in front of my junior class
passing all my classes and on track with my portfolio. I have yet to slack on my work even
after facing some of the obstacles Ive endured since my freshman year. Ive had my fair share of
rough patches but one simple mistake does not shape me as a person.

I write this with one specific purpose. Next year my younger sister will join our
Blackstone Academy family. Although I am excited I am also nervous. Nervous that as soon as
my sister walks through the front doors at blackstone that she will be pulled into the tiny box
along side me and have to take on the reputation that not only our brothers left but also the
reputation I will leave. I urge that you as a staff not use siblings as an excuse to categorize your
students. Do not base your opinion off the brother or sister before but off the student themselves.
As teachers you urge children to express individuality but you don't realize that in some ways
you are striping them from that when you constantly compare and expect the same from them as
you did their older siblings. I hope you take this letter into consideration and allow each student
the opportunity to create their own path and reputation.