An Analysis Of Anzia Yezierkha's Essay 'Soap And Water'

In 2007, the oldest college student graduated at the age of 95 years old, with a Bachelor’s degree in general studies. Many Americans of all ages attend college, from recent high-school graduates to older adults, whom are considered to be non-traditional students. Some of these students did not receive a four year high-school degree, but did receive a GED; some have a husband or wife and kids at home, or can be a single parent, and they have a full time job while attending school. Non-traditional students have to sacrifice a great deal to achieve their goals. In Anzia Yezierkha’s essay, “Soap and Water,” she describes the terrible situations she has to go through as a Russian immigrant, working full time in a hot steamy laundry mat, while trying to obtain her college degree as a teacher. In “Soap and Water,” she recounts her difficult four years in college much the same as a non-traditional student may encounter, the struggles she had with Professors and students, while working fulltime such as a non-traditional student at any college today; with all the personal pain and working so hard, to finally achieving of her dream also known as the “American Dream.”

As a child working a sweatshop at the age of sixteen, Yezierska was given a poem called, “The Machine.” After she read this poem, it gave her inspiration to want to express herself and she thought the way of achieving this was to attend college.

Non-traditional students who attend college at an older age decide to attend school, because some students now have time, as they had children at young age and their kids are older now. Many of these non-traditional students, did not have a chance to attend because they were raised in a low income family, so they have start working to help their parents; as Yezierska lived. She finally attended college because she saved the money to pay for it herself. In her story she finds out that working and going to school is frowned upon at her new

college.
Yezierska has issues with the dean, Miss Whiteside, because of her physical appearance. There was a phrase that the dean would say to her all the time and it drove Yezierska crazy throughout the rest of her life after college. The dean Miss Whiteside said, “Soap and water cheap. Anyone can be clean” (10). This was a horrible experience for her and there were several reasons as to why she did not have to time to keep her appearance up to the dean’s standards. Several non-traditional students work part time to full time 8 to 10 hour shifts and attend college. Poor Yezierska had to work before and after class, she would say she would arrive so tired that she said, “I had only strength to drag myself home and fall down on the bed and sleep” (11). Several Non-traditional students come home from school and some may still have to cook dinner for their families and help their children with homework. One can see, that these students are genuinely tired and their appearances may not be as important as the younger students.
Yezierska never notices there is a problem with her clothes, because everyone she grew up with dressed comparable to her. In the story she describes how awkward she felt when she started college, because her fellow classmates looked down on her because of her appearance. With older non-traditional students, some may feel that way because their other classmates are younger, but they are older and may attend classes in their work clothes. There are many similarities between Yezierska attending class and a current Non-traditional student.
In the story Yezierska explains that after she graduated college, it was still hard for to obtain a teaching job due to her appearance. Obstacles much the same as this and things that happened in college made her believe her dreams were not achievable. Many non-traditional students have issues arise, such as a sick child or parent, or their full time job maybe taking time away from school. These students may feel as if they cannot complete college because of the obstacles that come up.
In the autobiographical essay Yezierska, finds a way to reach her lifetime goals, even though she is oppressed by all these different hardships in her life. Comparable to many Non-traditional students they may have issues to come up, but they continue to work hard and achieve their dream of completing college and reach their “American dream.”