Literacy History

 The Power of Mentor: Guidance That Shapes the Journey There’s a moment in The Other Wes Moore , on page 179, where the author reflects on the pivotal role mentors played in changing the direction of his life. He doesn’t romanticize it, he says clearly that these mentors didn’t just “help” him; they demanded more from him. They didn’t settle for mediocrity, and they certainly didn’t allow him to settle for less than his best. This part of the book stayed with me because I saw myself in it. I know what it’s like to have someone believe in you enough to be honest, to push you, and to expect more, sometimes even more than you expect from yourself. While I can’t say I’ve had a single mentor who’s been with me through everything, I’ve been fortunate enough to cross paths with people who showed up at just the right moment, whether it was a teacher, a coach, a family member, or even a friend’s parent. Still, one person stands out: Umair Raza. This person didn’t just give me advice, they...

 The Power of Music in the Other Wes Moore and My Life In The Other Wes Moore , music appears as a subtle but powerful presence that reflects culture, environment, and emotional experiences. Although music isn't the central theme, it acts like a background score that helps shape both versions of Wes Moore and their worlds. In particular, for the “other” Wes Moore, who grows up in a troubled environment filled with poverty and crime, music becomes part of the street culture that surrounds him. It mirrors the reality of his life, raw, chaotic, sometimes inspiring, and other times dangerous. There’s a moment when the book describes how young men in Wes’s neighborhood gather around, blasting hip-hop or rap from speakers, letting the lyrics tell stories of struggle, survival, and toughness. These were more than just beats, they were narratives of people who sounded like them, who lived like them. This kind of music became both a source of identity and a tool for coping. But it also shap...

 One Decision, A Different Path “The chilling truth is that his story could have been mine. The tragedy is that my story could have been his.” - Wes Moore When I read these lines in The Other Wes Moore , I paused. I thought about how a single decision can change everything, how one choice can redirect the course of a life. It made me reflect on a moment in my own life when I stood at a crossroads and chose a path that, looking back now, may have saved me from a future I wouldn't have wanted. Flashback to High School I was a sophomore, and like a lot of teens, I wanted to fit in. There was this group of older students, cool, confident, always getting into something. I admired their boldness, their swagger, their freedom. They skipped classes like it was a sport, and they made it look easy. One day, one of them invited me to skip school and hang out. “Just once,” he said. “It’s not like they’ll notice. Don’t be scared.” I was tempted. I remember standing in the hallway, my fingers ...