A Hope In The Unseen Book Report

In the book A Hope in the Unseen is about a young African American young boy named Cedric Jennings, who experience many things throughout his life that not only he learns about what he didn’t know he can know, but changed him completely on his journey of high school and college years. Growing up in Washington, D.C.’s most dangerous neighborhoods, where drop rates were higher than kids that actually attended school. Cedric is a well intelligent and motivated student who keeps mostly to himself. He has one goal only and that is to attend Ivy League University and keep himself away from the drugs and violence that surrounds him on a daily basis. With the help from his mother Barbara Jennings, a few teachers and experience at a rigorous pre-college program at MIT Cedric is accepted to Brown University. Cedric is someone who people can relate to in real life situation and this story is one of the ways of sharing this story of his that people can learn things they never knew they can learn from.
Along the way of Cedric’s educational dreams there were many

obstacles in the way as in, students in high school and college, teachers, professors etc. This didn’t stop Cedric it actually did something to him, giving him more power of pushing himself more to his goals, “The more practical effect is that the kids listed here become possible targets of violence, which is why some students slated the Wall of Honor speed off to the principal’s office to plead that their names not to be listed, that they not be singled out.” (pg.7) this was just the beginning for Cedric being socially and academically develop his identity by challenging the way that he views the world around him.
Shortly after Cedric graduates and pushes himself into college with the help of his mother and teachers he finds himself at Brown University. Questioning his identity in regards of his faith, race, and the relationship in his life. Through the first year of college, Cedric faces many challenges. Decisions and sacrifices he had to make to make it through college where harder than he thought, “Five classes,” he says to himself. “Have I lost my mind?” It actually feels really good to say it. Cedric knows taking in these five classes will be a struggle, but the fact he’s taking the risk to take more courses than he should give him motivation.
Fellow classmates tell him he’s not going to be able to handle it but Cedric doesn’t pay no mind and takes the classes.

Along his journey in college he was very much intimated by other classmates for racial and he doubted himself even more about his goals and opportunities he has. For example, “You have to stay and prove to them you have what it takes . . . . We all care about and love you” (pg. 97). Cedric was at the point of wanting to run away from his problems and not look back. He had people who cared for him and wanted to make it to the top and not let no one get in his way of making it happen, This making him have second thoughts and convince himself her can do anything and show all the people who doubt him he can make it in college. Cedric is a strong minded boy he might have some worries and scares, but it does something to him, it gives him power, strength to push himself harder to prove everyone

wrong.
Growing up he didn’t have a dad figure to look up to besides the fact his dad did get a degree in college and was an actual smart guy, but messed it all up for drugs, crime, alcohol etc. Cedric grew up not knowing everything he was supposed to know and not to know. So along the way it was harder for Cedric to understand certain things and how to handle situations when it came down to it. “He was intelligent. In addition to graduating from high school, he has a bachelor’s degree in urban studies, business management, and ecological studies from the University of the District of Columbia” (pg 241) Cedric always knew his father was educational smart, but life wise as in (streets) took him in and ruined him. Therefore, this was also an effect on Cedric along the years of school, life, and his family.
Cedric learns many things and experience new things on his journey through college. Showing that he no longer needs to prove to himself or anyone that he is capable of taking a heftier course load than his colleagues, and he no longer needs to comfort regarding his academic decisions. Cedric has learned that he does not need to please everyone for once, he wants to put himself first and make himself happy for once.
Through Cedric struggle, had went downhill for him and thought he couldn’t make it, but he had family, friends, teachers sick by his side and help him pass that finish line. The far most that stuck by his side was God. Cedric and his mother has always had God on their side through thick and thin and without having hope in god there were hopeless. “Some people get down and then they must rely on their faith, which means He’ll eventually triumph over his difficulties” God’s wisdom and words helped Cedric along the way of his journey.
As the years go by Cedric has grown into a mature, fully grown, and educated strong man. The things he has learned will truly carry on forever, the book “A Hope in the Unseen” not only tells a story about a young black boy trying to turn his jacked up life and put it in a better place, but gives lessons and leans lessons along the way.