Barrio Boy Character Analysis

Isn’t starting a new path in your life kind of like having a second life? In Barrio Boy, Ernesto moved to his first american school just to help himself by getting a better education in the future. Annie Johnson on the other hand started a new path and helped raise her family by being her own boss. Finally, Monica helps by having more responsibilities when a new member comes home. All of these together is a way how they undertook missions, they either want to have a better future with a new life or they want to help others or themselves. Ernesto Galarza, Annie Johnson, and Monica all showed us how to have a better life. They are all different examples but in a way, they are all the same. “Each of us has the right and the responsibility to asses the roads which lie ahead, and those over which we have traveled, and if the future road looms ominous or unpromising, and the roads back uninviting, then we need to gather our resolve and, carrying only the necessary baggage, step off that road into another direction. If the new choice is also unpalatable, without embarrassment, we must be ready to change that as well.”

In Barrio Boy by Ernesto Galarza, Ernesto and his family migrate and Ernesto goes to his first american school, this helps him get a better future and a start to his new path in his new life.

According to the text “It was a new building, painted yellow, with a shingled roof that was not like the red tile of the school in Mazatlan.” This shows us how he moved and went to Lincoln School, it’s a way how he helped himself to get a better future in his education. “...I received private lessons from Miss Ryan in the closet…” according to the text. The text shows how he got private lessons, and he wanted to get better himself. As well as Ernesto, Annie Johnson also started a new

path.
Annie Johnson was a brave woman who succeeded at everything she was trying to do, for example, raising her family. In the text, it mentions “‘I looked up the road I was going and back the way I come, and since I wasn’t satisfied, I decided to step off the road and cut me a new path.’” This shows us at what point she decided to make a new path in the middle of her life. According to the text, “One early evening to see if she was ready, she placed stones in two five gallon pails and carried them three miles to the cotton gin.” This shows what she did to get ready and a way to start her new path. Annie Johnson started a new path and did something to help raise her family, what did Monica do?
Monica parent’s had just brought home a new member, Marcos, she realized something and ended up helping her family. According to the text, “More responsibilities? She thought to herself. I already have a lot to do!” Monica overheard her parents talking about having more responsibilities but she refused to. “‘I’m a big sister now, I should help more.’” Monica offered to have more responsibilities herself after she realized how things are going to change and her parents will need her help. Monica had a connection to the rest of the stories, they all had to do something with helping at least someone.
Ernesto makes the decision to help himself with a better education that will affect his future. Annie Johnson started a new path and to raise her family by starting to be her own boss. Monica knew life was going to change with a new baby on board so she decided to help. All of these stories together had something to do with having a better future, helping yourself or others, and starting a new path. “If the new choice is also unpalatable, without embarrassment, we must be ready to change that as well.”