Talking Points 2 Aria by Richard Rodriguez

1. "That day, I moved very far away from the disadvantaged child I had been only days earlier. The belief, the calming assurance that I belonged in public, had at last taken hold."

This is the moment in Rodriguez's life when he realized that he had become part of the class. He was no longer an outsider. I think this is a meaningful statement because it points to a very specific discovery in his life and explains how, from that point forward, he would never be the same again for better and worse. He had successfully assimilated but at the cost of losing part of his previous identity that he had found a strange comfort in.

2. "The family's quiet was partly due to the fact that, as we children learned more and more English, we shared fewer and fewer words with our parents."

I think this is the sad side of Rodriguez's story. That the family shared fewer and fewer words reflects a family that is growing apart because they are becoming part of society and no longer share the isolation that once held them together. They share fewer words in the literal sense due to the kids advancing in English and they share fewer words because they aren't as close.

3. "...they do not realize that while one suffers a diminished sense of private individuality by becoming assimilated into public society, such assimilation makes possible the achievement of public individuality."

This is a heavy statement and shows that while Rodriguez understands that something was lost, much more was gained. I think he means that it is better to share with the world all that you have to offer instead of letting that potential go unrealized. He uses the word achievement to describe public individuality because it requires effort and sacrifice to put yourself out their especially when you are not part of the "culture of power". To me, Rodriguez is saying that it is better to show the world who you are, and make a positive contribution to society, instead of withdrawing out of fear.

Conclusion: I enjoyed reading "Aria" because it is a story of personal growth overcoming social obstacles. I think his story translates to more than just language barriers. To me it is not about fitting in, but more about being an individual on a larger scale. A scale on which you can do something positive and inspire others who might not have had the courage.