Maestro
Introduction G
raduation caps fly in the air, and students are cheering, laughing, and crying. Emotions run high as this moment marks the end of an arduous four-year journey before they move on to their own passions and dreams. Leonardo Duarte, an average height, dark-haired Hispanic man, walks towards the return line for rented caps and gowns, talking with his friends. They talk about his plans to attend college— as most of them would be working as tradespeople straight out of college—and wish him luck.
As Duarte reaches the end of the line to return his cap and gown, he sees Ms. Crawley, his junior year history teacher. She says to him, “What’s this I hear about you going to college?” Duarte says, “Yes I’m already enrolled for summer school at Fullerton’s Junior College”. She responds, “Leonard, you’ll just never make it. Even if by some miracle you were to make it through college, no one wants to hire a Mexican band director.” Duarte knew that Ms. Crawley could see the effect that her statement had on him in