An Outlier's Tribe by Morgan Edwards

Author:Morgan Edwards [Edwards, Morgan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781641379656
Google: yDyozQEACAAJ
Publisher: New Degree Press
Published: 2020-07-27T04:24:24+00:00

Part 3:

Reflections

Chapter 6 –

Fish in a Pond

* * *

Given my family’s background, I have always felt like an outsider in Appalachia. I wouldn’t identify as Appalachian, nor would I expect others to bestow this title upon my family. Some of the rationale is obvious—my family strayed from the norm politically, socially, and culturally. Yet, even deeper than these categories lies a fundamental difference in the lens through which I viewed my life trajectory.

Both my parents went to graduate schools, attaining terminal degrees in their fields. From a young age, the expectation was for my sister and me to do the same. They were never overly demanding or intent about forcing us onto a particular path, but they definitely pushed us to excel. My parents left it open for my sister and me to dabble in different activities. They actively exposed us to new ideas, places, and people and encouraged us to challenge ourselves (e.g. entering essay contests, free-throw shooting competitions, geography bees, and much more). My dad and I spent endless hours together on the basketball court, perfecting the daily workout we had down to a science. We spent the summers traversing US National Parks (my sister and I will have you know we are Junior Rangers in close to forty of them), taking in historic sites, and crisscrossing America’s sweaty gyms from Georgia to Vermont for my busy travel basketball schedule. At home, we were introduced to the soul of Motown and Stax Records, the protest chants of Afrobeat, and the psychedelia of the Grateful Dead—all staples of the eclectic musical education my dad passed on to us. My parents encouraged us to learn and experience everything we possibly could about the world.

My parents structured their entire lives around us. Their kids were their focal point. My dad sacrificed his previous professorship position at Dartmouth to achieve a better work-life balance, and my mom paused her professional career in social work to raise us at home. They never missed games, concerts, or ceremonies—in fact, my dad coached all of our sports teams growing up. The grand vision was for us to emerge as well-rounded, sensitive, thoughtful, and worldly individuals capable of thinking critically, caring about the common good, and tackling any challenges to which we set our sights. I internalized this mindset at a young age, something I became increasingly aware of as I got older. The fact my sister and I had the encouragement to strive for excellence academically, athletically, and in extracurricular endeavors is a testament to the admirable approach my parents took in raising us. I feel incredibly grateful to have had such backing at home. It was built into my upbringing that not only would I attend college one day, but I would be leaving the area, experiencing the world, and setting my sights high.

My sister’s and my ambitious worldview clashed with the reality of Appalachia on a number of occasions. For the majority of our peers, leaving the area was never really a thought or real possibility.

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