Chapter 7

"..but my mother used it as a hook into a deeper lesson: that the written word isn't nessesarily a chore but can be a window into new worlds." (page 131)
- In this quote, which themes being tracked is the importance of education, Wes explains how reading isn't merely a punishment, it's a benefit because one is exposed to a new world. The author wants the reader to understand the impact that education had on Wes's life, because it led him to become successful and relate to other people's stories as well. People in A similar life situation as Wes, should have access to the benefit of education, for it will lead them to a better life and be more educated about the outside world. Reading can enhance a lifestyle, taking it back to the old days when slaves couldn't read but masters could it made them superior, that is still intact being that those who read are more well rounded and aware of the outside world and those who don't aren't as educated,  so reading is a also leading into a new world along with a new lifestyle.

"..but he didn't speak to my experience as well as Colin Powell did. Powell, in his pragmatic way, wanted what I wanted: A fair shot. A place to develop himself." (page 132)
- This quote is a good example of parallel biographies because Wes looks at Powells story as relating to himself and he takes into account his personal happenings to relate to his and get him through his own struggles and manage success as well. The author includes this biography to show that Wes had a successful figure to look up to, of which he also made it through his hard time which causes Wes to strive for success as well and relate to him. Most people that feel inferior would also want a fair shot, so this also relates to the minorities in this time, who only want a chance to be superior and show their strengths and abilities. It relates to a greater picture of life, of equality, and that this is all this young boy wants, is a chance.

"As I started to think seriously about how I could become the person I wanted to be, I looked around at some of the people who'd had the biggest impact on my life. Aside from family and friends, the men I most trusted all had something in common: they all wore the uniform of the United States of America." (page 132)
- As Wes goes through military school, he changes in a way that he is more reaponsible, disiplined, and shows signifigant qualities of a man. The Role Models he refer to are military officials which form him into what he is, which successfully makes him into the person he wants to be. The author wants us to conclude that he added this to show his formation of a man, and his own perspective of his changes and who he now looks up to.

"His love for her and their kids kept him from seeing the truth that now stared him in the face. Cheryl was an addict" (page 137-138) and "And it pained him to realize that the mother of his children was just like them.) (page 138)
- Drugs were always a prominent component in Wes's downfall in his life and him seeing drugs in what he loves most gives him the red flag to terminate it all, all of the drugs, the system, everything, for he desires a better life. The author wants the reader to take from this that because the drugs were effecting more than just Wes, but the mother of his kids, he realized there was a time for a change because it went too far. This is a driving force for him to Change and get his GED.

"They believed the secret to their second lives hid on the sleepy Howard County, Maryland, Campus of Job Corps."
- While Wes was looking for clarity and supervision on the streets, he realized the importance of education. Getting his education was really the answer to all of his problems in his life, for it opened doors for him and provided him with rational and steady jobs, unlike drug dealing. The author wants us to conclude in this quote that education is the key for success and not drugs, which Wes was doing all of his life.