But while he was on his career path, he was forced to learn the same content over and over again. Attending vocational school helped him learn about his social skills as well as those of other people. One day, during a religion class, this boy named Ken Harvey mentioned the parable of the talents in a class discussion. This quote that stuck with Mike was, “I just want to be average.” ''Average?'' Who wants to be average?''(Rose,349) The phrase Harvey said stayed with him throughout his life. What that phrase means to him is to work hard and do your best in everything you do. The phrase also means don't let anything get you down, no matter what. During the professional curriculum, Mike's biology teacher; who was like a mentor to him, helped and motivated him to enter a college preparatory program, which changed his life substantially. Mike's biology teacher encouraged him to do his best in everything and to always work his hardest. The theme conveyed in this essay is struggle because although Mike faced many hardships while pursuing a professional curriculum, it taught him to continue to do his best and not let anything or anyone get in his way. What is important to me in this essay is the phrase “I just want to be