After reading the personal accounts of Tressie McMillan Cottom's experience in "Dying to Be Competent," I was able to recognize the key concept that the idea of competence stems from society's definitions and identification of competence, especially regarding marginalized groups like women and people of color. Cottom explains how, regardless of the facts—including education level, marital status, and possession of health insurance—these factors seemingly define what a "competent" individual is. Nonetheless, she was dismissed, ignored, and essentially blamed for the outcome of her pregnancy. In Chapter 5 of this week's textbook reading, the author states that "understanding narratives is an intrinsic part of understanding the nature of human