[blackgirldev]

Yes that's the term "learned helplessness".

I am curious: what made you able to leverage the US education system? Was there a relative that influenced you to study? A teacher? Were you a part of a community program? What do you think got you out of the cycle?

[Karrot_Kream]

I had just the right personality traits that made me a good fit for the education system. I loved to read, was fine at sitting still for a long time, loved learning without structure, and was not constantly comparing myself against friends. My sister was not so lucky and is having a hard time trying to enter the professional world.