Robert Billingss Flaws

“Life is to be lived, not controlled; and humanity is won by continuing to play in force of certain defeat.” –Ralph Ellison
Until the end of time, humans will have challenges, but they have to let themselves face them on their own. Yes the result may be ugly, but that is what makes all the generations so great, they learn from their mistakes.
In the beginning of the book “The Wave”, Robert Billings was a boy who was very shy, unmotivated and lazy. Yet as the book continued and he experienced more and more discipline throughout the book, he transformed into a very clean and impelled guy.
In the start, Robert Billings was the class loser, a complete nimrod in the minds of the people in his life. Robert was a punching bag for his classmates, and a disappointment to his teachers and family. “The other D was Robert Billings, the class loser… The Billings boy was a real problem.” Robert seems to be a problem to Mr. Ross. A

teacher wouldn’t call their student a “problem” unless he has had multiple infractions with the teacher.
Robert also does not seem to care at all about his appearance. “Robert Billings trudged into the room. He was a heavy boy with shirttail’s perpetually hanging out and his hair was always a mess.” In movies and books people always say to never judge a book by its cover, but how could someone not see the laziness and lack of cleanliness that Robert has shown.
As the story goes on, Robert soon realized what he was missing in his life, a leader.

Someone to treat him as an equal to him and his classmates, to actually pay attention to him. “The bathroom had emptied out and only one person was left, Robert…As David watched, the class loser straightened some of the hair on his head and stared at his reflection. Then he snapped to his attention and his lips moved silently, as if he was still answering Mr. Ross’s questions. David stood motionless as Robert practiced the move again and again.” If Robert is practicing the moves on his own in a bathroom mirror, then Robert has to care about making a good impression and doing well at something. Practice makes perfect. Not only does Robert practice by himself but he got along with other wave members too. “At first, Robert Billings seemed tentative about joining them, but when David saw him he insisted he sit at the table, telling him they were all a part of the wave now.” Robert has finally conjoined with a group of people that he can talk to and be friends

with.
By the end of “The Wave”, Robert was very crushed by how Mr. Ross spun the ending of the experiment. Although the ending made him compare himself to the German soldiers, Robert also learned that you do not have to be something that is not you, to be yourself and take control of your own situations. Robert discovered how to talk to people outside of his comfort zone, to dress nicely and feel good about it, to pay attention in class and answer questions with confidence. People today do not have the confidence that Robert does by the end of this book. Yet what people have to remember, is to take control over their own life, don’t live it in someone’s shadow or in someone’s leash, because if they do life will pass by and they will wish they would go back and change it.