Graduation Questions

Question: How does Angelou define academic success and achievement in "Graduation"? What evidence from the text supports this interpretation? How might you compare/contrast Angelou's depiction of academic success with your own?


          Maya Angelou defines academic success and achievements by the status that is gained by achieving something great through hard work. For example, on page fourteen, the narrator talks of all of the stars she has received. She has received stars for her perfect attendance, and her exceptionally good academic work. The narrator feels proud of these, because they are symbols of her hard work and intelligence.

An example of how important the graduating achievement is to the narrator can be found on page thirteen. Angelou writes, “….and it didn’t worry me that I was only twelve years old and merely graduating from the eighth grade. Besides, many teachers in Arkansas Negro schools had only that diploma and were licensed to impart wisdom.” Angelou is saying that academic success can be defined by our gained status, such as the status that comes with being a graduate.

I believe that the status an individual achieves from graduating from college, for example, can go a long way for them. This is just like how graduating from the eighth grade can take a person a long way in the story “Graduation”. The rewards gained from working hard in school are also of importance and can also take a person far. In high school, being an honor roll student can help that student get into a good college. In “Graduation” gaining stars for her hard work could motivate the narrator to try even harder in high school.