When I walked into my classroom on the first day of elementary school, all I saw was white. White walls. White desks. The whites. My caramel skin and curly hair stood out among the light-skinned students with straight, light hair. As the teacher lectured, these students enthusiastically raised their hands to answer his questions. I was amazed at how quickly I felt like a loser. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Many black students across the nation have had a similar experience. While some, like me, were able to adapt despite the difficult transition, other students were unable to reach their full potential due to a lack of support. The achievement gap is a major issue that continues to deteriorate the progress of the Black community. While many politicians and educators rush to find the ultimate solution to this epidemic, the majority of black students, despite their intelligence, are asking the question of why they feel so alienated in their school environment. The achievement gap exists for a variety of reasons. One of the main reasons is stereotype threat. This is a concept that describes how minorities unconsciously feel the harsh threat of stereotypes in the atmosphere. As a result, minorities perform worse than expected and/or decide not to test themselves to avoid ridicule. I was one of the Black students who faced stereotype threat directly. One day, when I was in eighth grade, I told my friend that I was applying to the computer science program at the Carver Center. I was hoping for a little comment of encouragement. However, his blunt response took me by surprise: “I don't think you can get into Carver.” I was completely confused. Why not? I was doing very well in my math and science classes. Initially the program would have been challenging, but far from impossible. When I asked him to explain his reasoning, he told me that he saw me more in the fashion field. This only baffled me more. Even though I tried to dress well in school, I never expressed an interest in fashion. I didn't understand until I saw my friend's reaction to another person who was applying to the same program. My friend was ecstatic and encouraged the person to apply. This person was similar to me: we were both strong in math and science. But there was one small difference between us: This person was a white male. At first I was discouraged by my friend's harsh judgment of my abilities. However, anger soon replaced disappointment and confusion. How dare he judge my abilities, especially if he himself is not a computer expert? I was determined to prove him wrong. I wanted to show that anyone had the ability to succeed in a STEM field, regardless of whether they fit the stereotype. That spring I received an acceptance letter to the Carver Center for Information Technology. There was nothing more satisfying than looking my friend in the eyes and telling him I had been accepted. It's an amazing feeling to discover hidden potential because it can lead to undefined greatness. While I am happy that I was able to experience this feeling, many Black students do not have the opportunity to experience this emotion. I want my actions in the future to inspire other Black students who all possess endless potential. Please note: this is just an example. Get a personalized document now come on.