Being called a “Trophy Wife” isn’t so bad After All..
Cheerleader and AP student? Apparently this representation isn’t as possible as simply being only one or the other. High school is the time when you’re supposed to be encouraged by all your teachers to be a better you, to always push for graduation and have college follow right after that. For me it hasn’t always been that way, and I feel sad to say it was because of the simple fact I was a cheerleader. It’s like that uniform in high school and even college taints you as “stupid” “slut” “whore” etc. Why was it that my first year of cheer we had about 5 girls who were actually in AP or Honors courses and one way or the other we were always looked a weird when walking into class on a Friday. Junior year came and my freshman English teacher advised me to take AP courses because this would look good on a college application. I happily agreed, I was so excited to be a jr., I had just made the cheer team, and I would be in AP courses, leadership (something I never saw myself doing) so I was going to be a busy girl. One thing I NEVER expected was to be shut down by my AP English teacher who during one of our classes stated “you’re just a trophy wife so just keep acting to be smart”. I seriously did not have a clue what “being a trophy wife” meant I had never heard that before. Everyone in class started ooooing and I was confused, my friend then told me it means you’re just good for your looks not your brain. That day I made it my goal to pass the final AP exam and I did so walking to his class that day with my score was an amazing feeling. It was a moment of “here in your face”, of course I walked into class and I told him “not so bad for a trophy wife right?”. He simply smirked and that was it because during my senior year a scandal broke in which he had actually been arrested because he had molested a student from his new school. Don’t get me wrong I was in shock of the whole situation but then again a misogynistic man like him had some issues to be putting girls down like he did to me.
High school graduation came and now I was starting PCC, still fresh out of my cocoon. I’m not a genius guys, I think we all have a weak subject that no matter what we do, it doesn’t stick. MATH is that subject for me, I hate math, my frustration is too internal to be honest it would be too hard to express. Anyway, I was taking a math class, one of my early semesters and I was having a lot of difficulties, even though I went to tutoring, and asked questions. No matter what, I always found myself anxious every Friday because I knew I was going to blank out the moment I received that test. Once the semester was about to be over, I got my grade and it was not a passing grade, he then pulled me to the side and gave me a lecture on the changes I should make in my life. They included giving up on my career in psychology, going to a two year program to obtain some form of certificate to have a steady income (nothing about education there) anyways I had never EVER felt so dumbed down. I won’t lie I actually cried, but then once again this negative attitude and oppression towards me pushed me more. I accepted the “F” and walked away knowing I’d have to take the class again (more tuition fees YAY!). I retook the class and passed, I got a “B” which was the most amazing feeling ever! Once I applied to universities and about a week before our ceremony, I went back to that class and updated him on my life, this included letting him know I had passed the class, that I would be transferring over to CSULA in the psychology department and I was still pursuing my education.
