The Depot #6

By OLAYENI OLADIPO ‘19

Hey, Team! Welcome to ‘The Depot’, a storage facility for the topics of our time: the victories and defeats, the reliefs and worries, and the mindsets in the space of Milton Academy. Let’s talk about English at Milton. I was recently in conversation with friends, discussing our Milton English careers and how our literary voices have changed or stayed constant throughout the years. Through personal reflection, I found that my voice has developed but remained true to myself and my beliefs. This was not necessarily true for those beside me. During the first month of every school year, some find themselves in a fiery race to gauge how their English teacher wants them to write. They’re willing to sacrifice their individual style for a good grade. However, my perspective on this stance was limited, so I asked students to share their thoughts. I proposed this question: “Do you feel that, each year, you change your literary voice in order to please your English teacher?”

“Absolutely. I always change my personal voice according to my teacher’s expectations and preferences; it’s the only way to get a good grade.” - Anonymous Junior

“YES SO ANNOYING every year I have to spend the first two months of school just figuring out what my teacher. I have no creative liberty.” - Anonymous Senior

“I don't tend to change my voice for my teacher, but I also don't do that well in English class. Thinking on this, the former definitely impacts the latter.” - Anonymous Junior

“My ‘normal’ voice is utilitarian and fairly bland. I get why my current English teacher doesn’t like it—my essays tend to all have the same tone—but it irks me to inject artificial enthusiasm into my writing.” - Anonymous Junior

Here’s what some upperclassmen had to say about the topic. It seems like appeasing your English teacher might be a logical way to solidify a strong grade. And, although we don’t like to admit it, Milton students care a whole lot about grades. But how much do we care? Would we subject our artistic voice to “artificial enthusiasm” and dishonest change just for a letter on a transcript? The answer obviously varies here. Yet, one would think—at Milton, a place known for producing great writers—that this problem would not exist. After all, our motto is “Dare to be True”! Yet still…

“Each year I feel like I have to learn how my teacher wants me to write. I never know if my teacher will change the guidelines from year to year.” - Anonymous Senior

This situation is a problem. Students should feel confident and comfortable presenting their unique voices; if we can’t do that, how can we be expected to take risks? Retaining our literary voice mirrors what we must do in the “real” world. So, Milton should prepare us to protect our voices and individuality despite authority figures who might expect something different. However, students should also take responsibility here. If we are willing to change our artistic voices to please our educators, then what’s stopping us from changing our mindsets and beliefs just to please our parents or friends? Sure, this might be a stretch, but think about it, Reader. At what point does this ever-changing presentation of “self” stop? At what point might we lose ourselves in the effort to be “successful”? I’ll let these questions linger. So long, until we meet again at ‘The Depot’.

Do you want a concern, opinion, or question of yours to be sorted, stored, valued, and remembered? Make a deposit to ‘The Depot’ today. Email olayeni_oladipo19@milton.edu and note whether you request anonymity. You can also drop off your letter in the TMP Office in Warren 304.