Tell Me Who You Are
My White PhD Advisor Was Determined to Keep Me Down
I figured I could work hard and get what I earned; my advisor had different plans
By Shermaine, as told to Winona Guo and Priya Vulchi
As a kid growing up in Washington D.C., I made the connection between hard work and academic achievement, and how these things can change your socioeconomic status. I told myself: “If I work hard enough, I will achieve my dreams.” Well, I later realized my mindset was toxic. There are institutionalized barriers for women and people of color so that, no matter how hard you work, the finish line always moves further and further away from you.
After doing over a year at Phillips Academy, Andover, I had an issue with my gallbladder and had to be discharged from school. I thought, “I’ll never get into a good college now because I have to go to a D.C. public school.” So I dropped out and got a job as an inventory specialist at CVS. One day, someone reminded me that if I don’t have any initials behind my name, especially because of how I look, I’m disposable.
I didn’t have the resources to know to go back to school… except for this one White Advanced Placement English teacher. When I stopped showing up to school, he would literally call my…
