Theme 1: A positive mentor can impact the way someone makes life choices.
"I thought about Lieutenant Colonel Murnane, my tenth-and eleventh-grade history and social studies teacher, who lit a fire in me about the importance of public service."
Lieutenant Colonel Murnane was one of the many new men that influenced Wes's life. Wes was not used to growing up with positive male role models so this teacher really helped him become fascinated with public service. Wes was going down the wrong path and was impacted by the mentors in order to get him back on track. Many kids who grow up without positive mentors in their life have to struggle and make tough life decisions on their own and at a young age. With positive role models, children can strive to make future goals and have someone to help them if they fall.
"[Colonel Murphy] said something I will never forget. 'When it is time for you to leave this school, leave your job, or even leave this earth, you make sure you have worked hard to make sure it mattered you were ever here.'
I believe that this quote stuck with Wes because it was one of the few times in his life where someone gave him the ability to become a leader. By Murphy saying this, Wes now has the ability to believe in himself and make smart life changing choices. Wes now felt like he belonged and had a purpose to his life with the help of his mentors. A mentor in a child's life can make the child see the value that they have. Mentors can help them see that they have potential to be something great if they a persistent in order to reach their goals.
" The other people in the room looked at one another and giggled. But Wes did not flinch. His teacher smiled . " Great I look forward to seeing it '"
Even the smallest encouragement from a role model can impact someone's life. When the other Wes Moore made the decision of building a house for his daughter, people laughed at him because the idea sounded crazy. Although the idea may have been out there, Wes's teacher stood by him with an encouraging smile and told him that he was eager to see it. People in life may laugh or bring someone down because they don't know how to understand who the person is or what they are doing. With a positive role model standing by a child's side, many outstanding ideas can be created. A mentor can help children set up goals that will impact their futures.
Theme 2: The environment surrounding someone can cause them to make different life choices.
""I wanted to stay at Valley Forge and attend its junior college, which would allow me to …become a second lieutenant in the Army. I wanted to lead soldiers."
At this point, Wes had made many good life choices and was on the path to making even better ones in the future. Military school was a great environment for Wes because he did not have to worry about money, drugs, or violence. With this environment, Wes just had the ability to focus on his goals and make smart life decisions. Being in a good environment can change how someone sets up future goals and deals with conflict. The environment that someone lives in can impact the choices they make for their future.
"As the baking soda swirled in the rapidly heating pot, Wes held the plastic bag with both hands and poured in nine ounces of cocaine."
Wes had done an amazing job at the Job Corps program. By receiving his GED his was able to get a few low paying, inconsistent jobs but it wasn't enough money to pay for child support and help his mother out. The honest jobs in Wes's environment didn't make nearly as much as drug dealing. For that reason, Wes made the difficult life choice of selling cocaine again, even though he didn't want to. The environment that someone is in can force them into some difficult life decisions. If there are hardships like poverty, drugs, and crime, it may be hard to overcome those obstacles in order to make the right life choices.
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