Essay for "Diary of A Part-Time Indian" Final Draft

Essay Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Reaching your goal

     

Comparing this book to the movie “Turbo”, Theo “Turbo” [the “racing snail”] believed in something.  He believed and dreamed he will one day race.  With that came the desire to one day race against the top racer Gagne [Turbo’s inspiration and the top racer at that time].  He hoped for one day being able to do more with his life than just working in the garden and segregating tomatoes for the colony to eat.  Something happened where his hopes and dreams one day became a reality.  It was a type of reality which no one else believed in.  They believed Turbo’s potential was limited to their own ability of understanding, with biased ideas of how Turbo should be.  How easy can it be when your dreams, hopes, and ambitions goes against your family or even communities’ idea of what they think you should do.  Thinking with an open mind is exactly what's needed in order to open the simplistic minds of those around you. Unfortunately, sometimes it takes your success in order for other to except what you’re trying to accomplish.  It may even be your parent(s) family members, or close friend(s). Having a “feeling of desire and expectation towards a certain thing” is exactly what gives us a motivational drive needed to make changes in our lives, while we’re setting aside and pushing past our daily routines, which may not always be accepted in everyone’s eyes, but will be what we need to reach our desired goal(s), believing it will positively change both our lives and those affected by us; Junior experienced this same burning desire called “hope”.

The "monster pine tree" represented several things, one of which showed the true strength and backbone [which was lost and forgotten] of the families of Wellpinit behind the torments, abuses, and sorrows.  A tribe at one point in time thrived on the land and enjoyed its beauty, while each family was bonded together by the community. As the tree in itself represented the community and the branches represented each family. The base area of the branches represented the ancestors of past and the peak of the tree of the smaller branches represented the newer generation coming up.  It also represented their strength and spirit which was still alive, but had been suppressed and remained dormant. It was alive in grandma spirit and was building up and growing inside Junior. That spirit of the will and desire, the spirit of nomadicity, it was the spirit of hope.  

The base [near the foundation] of the tree had sturdy branches, [the beginning stages of its growing process], enabling it to withstand tremendous weight and pressure. The climb Junior did with Rowdy showed the several stages he had to go through to reach his current point in life.  As Junior encountered several obstacles including physically, in having to deal with continuous brain damage from water on the brain and frequent seizures.  He was mentally abuse from teachers and peers by being teased and talked down upon,  even physical abuse by his peers causing Junior to cry then beating him for crying, and by not fully accepting him for who he is. With everything that has happened to Junior over the years through the beginning of his teenage years, he continued to hold on to the burning desire of his hope and belief that there was something better. He continued to show just how strong he truly was.  By not accepting what was going on, but having the hope if he continues to not give up, there will be something better in the end. This could be why he started his climb to the top.

 The middle part of the tree although is thinner and not as strong as the base, still its branches are strong and can withstand a lot of weight without bending or cracking.  This area represents when Junior had decided to follow his desire and put it into action by going to Reardan.  Junior was at a point in his life where he wasn’t sure how to “multiply” his hope [page 43], but he knew he needed more. After realizing his math textbook was over thirty years old, with his mother’s name inside[30], he knew there had to be more than the daily routine he was accustomed to. His teacher Mr. P gave him what he needed to feed his hope and give him the motivation he’d longed for. Junior soon after told his parents he wanted to attend school outside the rez, they agreed [45].  It was just what he needed to put his burning desire of hope into overdrive.  Of course with any choice in life there will always be consequences. From this decision he faced several oppositions from his tribe at Wellpinit, his new classmates at Reardan, and his internal conflictions trying to weigh each option.  In the beginning of the new school he had to show just how strong his spirit [willingness] to push towards his desires of achievement was.  Not just for himself, but his peers also.  At a mid-point in his life he often times wanted to give up [going back down the tree], but he kept pushing ‘climbing and climbing’. Every day that he hitchhiked, walked, or got a ride to; he was taking another step [he was grabbing another limb pulling his self higher towards the top of the tree].  The more he pushed himself and the closer he got to the top; the more his hope grew.

“Ten feet from the top”, Rowdy and Junior were holding on for dear life from the harsh winds, while simultaneously being able to see the majestic scenery of their village.  To see the beauty that’s been in front of them, but forgotten over time. This represented a time when Junior was faced with an opportunity to forget everything and go back to the rez to live out his life in sorrow with the rest of the community. After experiencing three major deaths, his dad’s best friend, his grandma, finally his sister, he could have lost all hope. He continuously battled in his mind what’s worth more, giving up or pushing forward.  He realized those whom he lost also were inspired by his actions by going against everyone’s ideas of how he should be; which also fueled his hope.  They were Eugene, Juniors dad’s best friend, telling Junior “pretty cool for doing this… I couldn’t do it” (71), his sister getting married and moving to another rez [inspired by Junior going to Reardan], and his grandma who always keep Junior with a nomadic and tolerant outlook on his situations [his biggest inspiration of hope to not give up]. Junior made huge steps driven by his burning desires for something better, for himself, his family, and his community. Junior held on to his hope so strong, it kept him motivated to get through the first year at Reardan. Junior held on to his hope as his life and the life of his people depended on it.

In conclusion, the ten feet shows Junior has not yet reached (completed) his goal; he still has a ways to go before he gets there. He will make it if he doesn’t allow negativity to quench his burning desire, by surrounding himself with hope, and keep in his heart that hope will return to his people.  Again comparing to the movie, Turbo did not give up in given the opportunity to race against Gagne.  What normally would seem impossible, his hope was so strong although neither his brother Jed nor his community believed in him.  As a result they teased him and thought he was crazy. Turbo later proved even though he’s a tiny snail, his spirit was strong and his hope was stronger.  It didn’t matter what anyone thought of him and he was out to prove everyone wrong.  Junior received a lot of negative feedback especially from his long time best friend Rowdy. In the end Rowdy realized Junior’s hope “I always knew you were going to leave us behind and travel the world” [229] was the positive impact needed for the community. His eyes began to open while embracing Junior’s hope, for the prosperity of Junior and their community.

REPOSITORY

24Feb2014

Essay Assignment for Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian

Write an essay….

1250-1500

Original title

Proper citations

By Wednesday 2/26 bring a theory and what part of the novel you want to analyze

Include analysis of the some of the “deeper moments” in the book, for example Turtle Lake and he and Rowdy climbing the tree.

“Reaching your goal”

      In the movie “Turbo”, Theo “Turbo” [the “racing snail”] believed in something.  He believed and dreamed he will one day race.  With that came the desire to one day race against the top racer Gagne [Turbo’s inspiration].  He hoped for one day being able to do more with his life than just working in the garden and segregating tomatoes for the colony to eat.  Something happened where one day his hopes and dreams suddenly became a reality.  It was a type of reality which no else believed in, because they believed Turbo’s potential was limited to their own ability of understanding, while keeping their ideas of how Turbo should be in a “closed box mentality”.  Do you think it’s easy when your dreams, hopes, and ambitions goes against your family or even communities’ idea of what they think you should do.  Thinking outside the box is exactly what needs to be done in order to open the simplistic minds of those around you. Unfortunately, it will sometimes take your success in order for other to except what you’re trying to accomplish, it may even be your parent(s) siblings, cousins, or close friend(s).  (THEORY) Having a “feeling of desire and expectation towards a certain thing” [Google search] is exactly what gives us a motivational drive needed to make changes in our lives, while we’re setting aside and pushing past our daily routines, which may not always be accepted in everyone’s eyes, but will be what we need to reach our desired goal(s), believing it will positively change both our lives and those affected by us; Junior experienced this same burning desire called “hope”.

Analyzing a “deeper moment”

******   “monster pine tree... the reservation skyscraper” (page 224)

******   “Rowdy and I climbed toward the top of the tree, to the bottom of the sky.” (page 225)

I believe the "monster pine tree" represented two things, one of which showed the true strength and backbone [which was lost and forgotten] of the families of Wellpinit behind the torments, abuses, and sorrows. It also represented their strength that was growing inside, which showed through Junior.

The climb Junior did with Rowdy showed the several stages had to go through to reach his current point in life. The base [near the foundation] of the tree had strong thick branches, [representing the beginning stages of its going process], enabling it to withstand tremendous weight. As Junior encountered several obstacle both physical, having to deal with continuous brain damage from water on the brain and frequent seizures,  and mental/physical abuse from peers teasing bullying, and not fully excepting him for who he is, due to his indifference from the rest of the tribe. He continued to hold on to the strong foundation of his hope and believe there will be a better and brighter day.

The middle part of the tree although is thinner and not as strong as the base, still its branches are strong and can withstand a lot of weight without bending or cracking.  This area represents when Junior had decided to follow his desire and put it into action by going to Reardan.  From this decision he faced several oppositions from both his tribe at Wellpinit and his new classmates.  In the beginning of the near school he had to show just how strong his spirit [willingness] to push towards his desires of achievement were, not just to himself, but also to his peers. At a mid-point in his life he often times wanted to give up [going back down the tree], but he kept pushing ‘climbing and climbing’.

“Ten feet from the top”, Rowdy and Junior were holding on for dear life while at the same time being able to see “the big picture” of the whole village, to see the beauty that’s been right in front of them, but forgotten. This represented a time in Junior’s life where he made a lot of big and little steps driven by his hope for something better, for himself, his family, and his community. Junior held on to his hope so strong, it kept him motivated to get through the first year at Reardan. As the wind blew the two boys holding on for dear life, Junior held on to his hope as his life and the life of his people depended on it. The ten feet shows Junior has not yet reached (complete) his goal, but he still has a ways to go before he gets there. He will make it if he doesn’t let go and hold on to his hope, surrounding himself with hope, and keep in his heart that hope will return to his people.

-----                 --------             -----

Getting out of poverty

Not being able to afford money for dog Oscar to see doctor

Not having is inspiration to wanting to have

To have a chance at life to have some more than the Rez

They have opportunities

To have more than death and alcohol

To have more positive surrounding

To afford to eat meals daily

Mr. p's enlightening conversation

To hope-

Noun’ -a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen

Verb’- want something to happen or be the case. *Google search*

Hoping to not have another seizure (it's stopped but might return) (page 4)

Hope to become rich from his cartoons (page 7)

Hope to get his sister out of the basement (why has she secluded herself) page  84

Hope to find courage (to leave Rez)

Hope to have a better life

Hope to rekindle a friendship with rowdy (from leaving Rez)

Hope to find something better than the Rez (textbook w/mothers name)

Hope to find his life and society (in the Rez and Reardon (his tribe and Reardon classmates))

Hope to fit in as a normal kid (to be excepted in spite his class status but excepted for who he is as a person)

Hope to make to school and home each day

Hope to make a change in his life & inspire hope on the Rez

In the end he, “hoped and prayed that I would someday forgive myself for leaving them”. (page 209- 210)

Junior’s sister gave up hope and stopped writing “a bright a shining star “faded year by year”” (page 37-38)

Junior’s sister regained hope through inspiration of him going to Reardon

Mr. P build up hope for Junior, “say your deserve better” (page 38)

Mr. P give hope by encouraging to leave the Rez more hope with further distance (page 40-41)

Reardan is hope (page 42)

******   “monster pine tree... the reservation skyscraper” (page 224)

******   “Rowdy and I climbed toward the top of the tree, to the bottom of the sky.” (page 225)

“Deeper Moment”

The last one-on-one w/rowdy & whole thing about leaving res

The movie “Turbo”

Theo “Turbo” [the “racing snail”] believed in something, he believed and dreamed he will one day race; with that came the hope to one day race against the top racer Gagne. He hoped for one day being able to do more with his life than just working in the garden and segregating tomatoes for the colony to eat. Something had happened one day his hopes and dreams suddenly came a reality. It was a reality no else believed in, because they believed Turbo’s potential was limited to their own ability to understand, while keeping their idea in a “closed box mentality”. Do you think it’s easy when your dreams, hopes, and ambitions goes against your family or even communities’ idea of what they think you should do. Thinking outside the box is exactly what needs to be done in order to open the simplistic minds of those around you. Unfortunately, it will sometimes take your success in order for other to except what you’re trying to accomplish, it may even be your parent(s) siblings, or cousins.

Arnold’s grandma was nomadic

Rowdy told Arnold he is nomadic like grandma

Meaning of nomadic- always moving, always moving in search of water and food, and grazing the land