The AP Classes

One of the biggest stereotypes I often encounter as a black male is that I am not smart. It is constantly assumed that I am either just not doing well in school, or that I am in easy classes. Walking into honors and AP classes as the only black student is sometimes intimidating, especially when you have been directly asked if your in the wrong place- thats a different story though. This experience took place at my school during summer, when I was at school trying to get my schedule changed before the school year started. I had originally signed up for 6 AP classes, AP Calculus AB, AP Physics, AP Government, AP English Language, AP French, and AP Macroeconomics. As I reflected over the summer, I realized this was too much amongst my other activities, and went to school to change my schedule to normal physics before the year started. When I asked the lady in the office, she literally replied, "No sweetheart! Don't drop out!" and I said back to her, "I think its a good idea, I am going to have a lot going on." When I said this she looked at me and went, "I'm assuming your an athlete, which I know is hard, but I also assume this is the only AP class your taking? Come on, its good to try at least one!."

I literally cringed when she said this to me. "Um, no actually, I'm in 5 other AP classes, and yes I am also playing a varsity sport but I am involved in much more then that." She was clearly embarassed by her comments but didn't apologize and quickly moved on from the subject. These sort of assumptions are made all the time, and at this point I am not even surprised. I'm just glad I get to keep proving people wrong with my work ethic, and hopefully change the narrative that black people do not do well in school.