George's Resilience Against Peer Pressure: A Young Journey

1) Describe the experiences that help George to resist peer pressure to participate in negative activities when he was young.

George resists participating in negative activities because of the way he was raised. People always told him positive things, and they told him what was wrong. The positive energy remained in him, and it was able to reflect all the negative energy. In the text it says, “Many guys I knew sold drugs because they felt they had no choice. And I believe that kids who grew up in less stable environments were more susceptible to peer pressure from friends that do the negative things that everyone else seemed to be doing.”

2) Describe what happened with Sam’s parents when he was eleven years old and what he does to help his

mother.
At the age of eleven Sam’s dad divorced Sam’s mother.

Sam helped his mother out by reading her mail for her, made deposits at the bank, helped writing money orders for the bills, and he kept his grades up for her.

3) What was Rameck like in high school and how does he meet George and Sam?

Rameck didn’t have his father at home, and his mother’s choices for different partners weren’t that great. During his teenage years, Rameck made many poor decisions, and ended up in juvenile jail when he was just sixteen. He was also forced to sit around while his mother became even more addicted to drugs. They didn’t have enough money to pay the bills, and they lived without electricity. Rameck prayed, but he never saw answers to those prayers. Lessons and a caring teacher paved a path for his life. Rameck meets George and Sam when he begins college at University High.

4) What money-making scheme did Sam and his friends come up with? How did it turn out?

Sam and his friends decided that robbing drug dealers would be a great way to make some quick cash. After a few successful robberies, Sam was caught and arrested by the police. He spent four weeks in juvenile detention and ever since that moment he decided he would do whatever it took to become

successful.

5) What is George’s philosophy about peer pressure?
George believed that being a part of the wrong crowd drags a person down, thus, he surrounds himself with people who held the same values he did; kids who studies and worked hard in school, and those who avoided negative behaviors.
6) Describe Rameck’s altercation in the dorm hall and the outcome. What does Rameck realize?
In the dorm Rameck had an argument with another student by the name of Michael who was asking them to quiet down. The altercation preceded them the start yelling which brought in a crowd that surrounded the two. Rameck was angry because he believed he was being stereotyped by the other student who appeared to be turning on him. He refused to go back to the initial argument, and Michael ended up going back to his room.
7) What is Rameck’s philosophy on giving back?
Rameck believes in giving back. In the text it says, “The old adage that says much is required of those to whom much is given. So I’ve always been compelled to give back.”
8) What type of things do the three miss out by not having fathers? How do they rectify the situation?
Sam, George, and Rameck relied on teacher and others to fill in for the absence of their male role model.
9) What is Sam’s philosophy on perseverance? Explain his challenges in becoming a doctor.
Sam realizes that perseverance needs three things which is determination, dedication, and discipline. He struggled to pass his state board exam, and he learned to ask for help. When his brother was hurt, his mother was struggling money wise, and his sister was diagnosed with aids, he pushed past all those hardships no matter what the situation was.
10) Explain what the three doctors decide to do with the money they amass from speaking engagements and why.
They used to money to form a scholarship for a student in need. Then later on they created an entire organization that would finance ongoing scholarships.