The Absolutely True Diary A Part-Time Indian By Sherman Alexie

Losing a basketball game is not such a big deal, but losing a grandmother, a sister, a best friend, and an entire community all in a couple of months in another story. This is what happened to Arnold “Junior” Spirit in the book The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie. In the diary, Junior tells readers about his experience in an Indian reservation. he tells the story of when he transfers from his unprivileged Indian school on the reservation to a privileged white school outside of the reservation. The white school, Reardan, puts Junior in a vulnerable situation as he is the only Indian at the school. Throughout the course of the story, Junior becomes emotional, brave, and determined.
Even in his defenseless situation, Junior always finds a way to be caring and compassionate for other around him. Even though he may

not think of himself as emotional, in reality, he is. Junior and Gordy, who is a smart student at Reardan, were growing their friendship, when Junior tells readers, “I had the sudden urge to hug Gordy” (Alexie 132). Junior wants to hug Gordy because Gordy is one of Junior’s only friends at Reardan. After Junior’s best friend Rowdy left him for transferring out of the reservation, Junior is very grateful to have a friend in such a strange environment. This is why Junior has the urge to hug Gordy. Another example of Junior showing emotion is during his away basketball game at Wellpinit, which is Junior’s old school. After entering the Wellpinit gym and getting booed by his fellow reservation members, Arnold tells readers, “And then I cried, and felt ashamed of my tears” (144). This is an example of Junior hiding his emotion, even though he is a very emotional character. Junior may not want to show weakness to Rowdy, who he will be playing during the basketball game. These examples show significance because Junior does not think of himself as emotional, but in reality, he is.
Many times during the story, Junior shows bravery, which ultimately leads to his success.

Junior is brave because he shows bravery many times during the story, in several different ways. Mr. P, Junior’s reservation teacher, told him that if he didn’t leave the reservation, he wouldn't be able to do anything with his life. After thinking for a while, Junior decides to get off the reservation. When his parents get home, Junior says, “I want to go to Reardan” (45). This shows that Junior is brave because going to Reardan will put Junior in a very vulnerable situation, as being Indian and unprivileged will make him a target to bullies. Another way Junior shows bravery is at the time of the school dance. Since Junior really likes Penelope, Junior tells readers, “In December, I took Penelope to the Winter Formal” (119). In this way, Junior shows bravery because it takes a lot of confidence and bravery to ask someone out. Both transferring to Reardan and asking Penelope out shows bravery in Junior. At the beginning of the story, Junior is a poor, weak boy. However while progressing through the story, Junior becomes strong and

brave.
If Junior wants to achieve anything in his life, he must show determination. Luckily, Junior does. Jnior is determined because once he starts for a goal, he will not stop until he reaches it. An example of this is when he is trying out for the Reardan
basketball team. For tryouts, Coach makes players play full-court one on one. Junior is exhausted as it is, but when Coach sets him up to play with Roger, a basketball prodigy, it almost becomes too much for Junior. However Junior does not give up. When Coach offers him a break, Junior says, “But I knew that if I took that break I would never make the team” (140). Junior ended up being place on the varsity team because of that decision. Another way Junior shows determination is that he does not give up on trying to get his best friend back. After Penelope’s volleyball game, Junior goes to the computer lab and tells readers, “I emailed Rowdy” (115). This shows determination because even though Rowdy is not talking to Junior, Junior will not give up on trying to win him back. In these examples, Junior is trying for something, and he won’t give up until it happens.
Even though losing the basketball game wasn’t such a big deal, Junior still lost many other things. Losing those things, though, has made Junior realize that he is emotional, brave, and determined. It has given Junior something to shoot for in his life. Because Junior has these traits, he will not end up like his father: a lonely alcoholic who spends the little money of his family on beer, drugs, and gasoline. Now that one person on the reservation has the ability to do something with his life, that is exactly what Junior will do. Ultimately, Junior won Rowdy back, got Penelope as a girlfriend, and is a valued member of the Spokane Reservation.