The Other Wes More

 Are we products of our environment or products of our expectations?

The question "Are we products of our environment or products of our expectations?" puts us under an obligation to examine how our environment and personal aspirations help to shape our identity. Indeed, it is a very deep question reaching into the very core of human development and asking us to weigh the power of circumstances against the power of vision.

In this regard, when I think about the question, it brings to my mind how both forces have played a role in my life. This is in relation to the fact that the environment family, community, and societal norms have provided a foundation. What I value, the language I speak, and even the opportunities I pursue all are deeply grounded in the environment that I grew up in. But my own expectations from myself have often pushed me to go beyond these limits, challenging what seemed possible, and forging my way. Take education, for example. Growing up, I saw both the effects of a supportive environment and those of a challenging one. Some of my peers got caught in cycles dictated by the circumstances around them, while others defied the odds through sheer determination and high expectations of their future. Their stories remind me that environment is important, but that self-expectations and expectations of others can prove to be life-altering.

This is well illustrated in "The Other Wes Moore". Two individuals with the same name and rather similar beginnings ended up in situations so dramatically different. These divergences show how environment and expectation are interwoven. Access to positive role models, community support, and belief in one's potential can mean the difference between failure and success.

I, for one, have had those moments when expectations pulled me forward despite environmental challenges. Such experiences only serve to further cement my belief that even though we can't always control the environment, we can strive to shape our expectations. By choosing to dream, persevering, and setting high standards for us, we gain agency over our future.

Lastly, I think we are formed by both. Our environment provides the foundation, and expectations give the definition of how far we can go. It is a thin line, and it requires us to recognize the limits of our situations while fostering the courage to dream beyond them.