“ Some ask us why we act the way we act without lookin’ how long they kept us back.” The book If I Grow Up by Todd Strasser is about a boy named DeShawn that lives in the projects.The major characters are DeShawn, and Terrell. Deshawn’s problem is that is that he had the choice to do the right thing but he didn’t. Terrell’s problem is he wants to be the leader of the gang. Each boy has to make a decision good or bad.Some claim that He couldn’t afford and Education, He couldn’t get any money,and he didn’t have a good role model. However, Deshawn did have a choice in bettering his life. First, Deshawn could have listened to the positive influences in His life. Deshawn’s girlfriend, Tanisha wanted him to leave with her. In the book it says, Tanisha pressed her lips together hard. …show more content…
“You mean take a trip?” “ No I mean for good. Someplace where there are no gangs.” “ Where?” Deshawn asked. I don’t know you have any relatives anywhere?” Tanisha wants to go because she doesn’t have to worry about her brother William finding out and killing Deshawn. She also wants to go somewhere safe where theres no gangs and they can be more private. Officer Patterson offered to help Deshawn. In the book on page 181 it says, “We could work together no one has to know. You help me take down Rance Jones and his top lieutenants. Then we go after Jamar. You’d be arrested on some fake charge so it wouldn’t look like you were a snitch. When the time is right, we could move you, your gramma. sister, and those kids some place new. Someplace where you could get a fresh start.” Patterson
In this case, talent can be and is represented by what you have been given and or your socioeconomic status, and if you don’t work hard, someone else who works hard should be given opportunities regardless of their “talent” or lack thereof. The Socs have been handed a lot and were born into the higher end of the socioeconomic spectrum and choose not to work hard. Darry, on the other hand, wasn’t handed a lot and was born on the lower end of the socioeconomic spectrum, but he chose to work hard so he should have gotten a chance at a future. However, society judges promise on wealth and “talent”, neither of which Darry has. Darry works as a roofer, causing injury to himself, to ensure his own and his family’s survival. But as a Greaser, nothing he does matters, or even deserves to matter. He worked hard in school earning him a scholarship. Even more so, he balanced getting those good grades with being on the school football team. His hardwork and his balance between athletics and academia earned him a scholarship. But even with his scholarship, he couldn’t afford college. But, he didn’t give up. Then, in a fatal car crash, his parents die, removing any chance of him being able to go to college for at the very least the near future or more likely, the rest of his life. But that wasn't all. With his parents no longer around, he had to care for his
During this stage, the socialization of children and gradual separation from parents occurs; relationships with peers and school achievements are important for children during this time. During this stage, the developmental task for couples is to preserve a valuable relationship with each other (Friedman et al., 2003, p. 121). The Davis family have a diminished ability to achieve these tasks. Shakeeka’s daily living resembles more of the lifestyle of a single mother than a married woman. Not only Ben’s presence is limited, but Shakeeka cannot always count on his emotional support; both spouses have their own lives and set of problems. Long distance relationships and living separate lives undermines the prospect of building a strong marriage; especially that they have been married for only a year and they are still establishing their relationship. Isaiah’s socialization is also not on the right track and his friends do not necessarily motivate him to achieve success in school; he was already caught shoplifting with his friends and there is possibility that he may decide to join the gang. Sheera is also affected by the disturbed family situation and does not want to go to school. In all aspects, the Davis family is far from achieving the expected stage of their developmental
I feel that I made a connection through the families that were mention in the book because even though I lived in a neighborhood that had access to many resources and suitable for children, I was not able to do things that middle class children that were mention in this book did. What my capture my attention in this book is that middle class children learn “how to set priorities, manage an itinerary, shake hands with strangers, and work on a team. They do so at a cost, however” (pg. 39). As I was growing up my parents did not show me how to shake hands with strangers, how to set priorities, or how to manage an itinerary I had to learn that by myself without anyone telling me or giving me a recompense for doing what I am supposed to do. Lower class and working families usually don’t recompense their children for doing things that they are expected to do because the parents might not have the money to do so and is the children’s responsibility to do what they are supposed to
Life was difficult for blacks, as they did not have many liberties. To exaggerate the feelings of the reader, poets use different forms of literary devices in the voice of the speaker to perform great roles. In “As I Grew Older,” Langston Hughes uses a unique structure, tone, imagery, and symbols to express the feelings of the black community regarding racism and oppression.
...s that Sammy is taking a stand and that Lengel cannot change his mind about quitting. When Sammy left the store, the girls where long gone. "His face was dark gray and his back stiff, as if he's just had an injection of iron, and my stomach kind of felt how hard the world was going to be to me hereafter." This quote illustrates that Sammy knows that his parents will not like the fact that he quit, but he realizes that he has to take charge with his life, and make his own chooses without being afraid of what his parents would think. He is very happy that he had taken a stand, and he let no one change it.
One of the lessons Hope had to learn the hard way is that her parents know what is best for her. Hope learned this the hard way because she had smoked a cigarette one time. And her parents had told her to not tell her big brother Robert
The book “This Boy’s Life” by Tobias Wolff is a memoir written about the author’s childhood memories and experiences. The author shows many different characters within the book. Many of them are just minor character that does not affect the author much in his life choices and thoughts throughout his growth. But there are some that acts as the protagonist and some the antagonist. One of them is Dwight, the protagonist’s or Jack’s stepfather. This character seems to be one of the characters that inhibit Jack’s choices and decisions. This character plays a huge role in Jack’s life as it leaves a huge scar in his memory. The author here spends the majority of time in this character in the memoir to show the readers the relationship between Jack and Dwight.
Growing up is a difficult task. This is true especially Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird. Using many examples of the loss of childhood innocence, Lee shows us that a corrupted society leads to growing up faster and one’s childhood being stripped away. Through Jem, the eldest of the Finch children, and Scout, the youngest, the readers see how a trial in 1930s Alabama takes a toll on young minds. Jem and Scout grow up more than expected when their summer consists of nothing but a racist trial. In Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird, she implies that growing up leads to loss of innocence, especially in troubling times.
Life experiences are what help development. “Where are you going, where have you been” a story of a teen girl coming of age and defying her parents’ wishes, to become her own woman. In the story we find “Everything about her has two sides to it, one for home, and one for anywhere that was not home.” (Oates 200) Like in “The Things They Carried” everyone has two sides, the one side that everyone sees and the side that is real, fearful, or adventurous. The soldiers carried guns with confidence that they could defeat the enemy. Inside they were scared, unsure of what the next step will be, in short afraid to die. One wrong decision could lead to death. Connie, the young teen was ready to live life her own way. She didn’t care about rules or boundaries that her parents had set for her. She lives on the edge and it’s that edge where she found trouble. Too young to understand what she was getting herself into, but old enough to get herself in to the situation. As sated previously life decisions are always going to exist. With the situations, warnings must be understood. Time needs to be taken to understand all the possible outcomes. It’s these decisions that can affect families, friends, teams, society, and even countries. In this case it’s a fifteen year old rebellious girl who crosses over to the adult world by visiting the drive in hamburger joint across from the mall where she is
This quote also validates a significant personality change upon the protagonist, who seemed like a character that would've helped in any other circumstance. Even though the main character could've easily went and brought a rope, he didn't because his group of friends did not reciprocate any intentions of helping the man. The author wrote this to explain how one characters' personality could change for the worse based on the group's impact on the individual. Although the author could've easily made the story with one or two characters, he instead made it into a group setting, which showed how much greater the peer pressure is when the number of people increases. It is also important to realize that these type of cliques that do not have any supervision or authority, like these kids, will change their morals and ethics much more quickly due to the intellectual force of the number of people, rather than the influence of past
What could be better in a young boy's life than to have a high paying job in the big city? Ishmael, a young boy originating from the small town of Sierra Leone, South Africa, is someone who after a long hard fight, finally gets to obtain that position. Just when things in life couldn't be more perfect for young Ishmael, he is struck once again with what seems to be never ending difficulties. As a kid, Ishmael enjoyed the little things such as rap songs and doing talent shows with his friends. As time grew, he became war stricken and started to enjoy things such as drugs, war movies, and even killing. Without the rehabilitation system, life for Ishmael would have never been the same. For me as a teenage boy, it seems like everyone wants three things; good friends, a fun-filled life, and a lot of money.
Growing up happens during the magical times of freedom given to children in their early years. Wise parents discern when freedom is necessary for their children, are very clear about their expectations, and determine fitting consequences for actions out of line. Harper Lee personifies this role of a wise and caring parent in the father figure of her novel To Kill a Mockingbird. Atticus Finch, a character made to mirror the author’s own father, is a lawyer and a well-respected citizen of his Southern Alabama town. Through Atticus, Harper Lee establishes a standard of good and evil, developing the theme of morality during his interactions. Atticus establishes right from wrong in most every relationship, especially with his children, his friends and family, and his occupational ties. These relationships come to the reader filtered through the childlike lens of Scout Finch, Atticus’s young daughter, as she begins to encounter the weighty topics of the adult world.
Daisy lacks self confidence which made it harder to raise her fifteen year-old son Donny. There were many instances where Daisy pondered on what she can do better to help Donny in school, but as she put forth an effort, she always resisted. “She remembered when Amanda was born. Donny had acted lost and bewildered. Daisy had been alert to that of course, but still, a new baby keeps you busy of course….”(570) When Daisy saw this happening, she never stopped to reassure Donny that even though he had a sister, it was not going to change their relationship. Daisy should have reassured her son by correcting the problem as soon as it surfaced, then Donny should have understood. When Donny started to have problems in school, Daisy gave up without trying, and let a tutor dictate her son’s activities especially when the teacher questions Daisy about Donny’s actions, Daisy replied, “Oh I’m sorry, Miss Evans, but Donny’s tutor handles these things now…” (572) In school Donny’s behavior changed soo drastically that he started to stay out late and Daisy just sat back and let this happen. “The tutor had sat down so many rules![She] were not allowed any questions at all about school, nor were to speak with his teachers…,Only one teacher disobeyed…”(572) Because Daisy didn’t believe in herself or her word, she let others control and therefore his behavior worsened.
During my transition from childhood to adulthood, I have learned and accomplish many things within my education, community, and family. My transition from childhood to adulthood education made me come into reality that everything can’t be done for you and that you have to stay more focused and organized if you want to be somewhere five to ten years from now. My growth in the things that I do in my community such as church and basketball summer leagues made me realize that it is all right to participate and help out for the positive things in my community. In my family, my transition from childhood to adulthood help me to become a more mature and knowledgeable person.
Parents are often right, but when they are not, a child’s ability to make the right decision is put to the test. Whether they make the right or wrong choice is up to them. In the story “The Nest” by Robert Zacks, despite the expectations and demands of his parents, Jimmy overcomes these obstacles to find his true identity. Jimmy develops maturity through exploring options and taking chances, helping him discover his potential, gain independence and obtain a sense of pride.