Dear Chance,
First of all, I would like to say that I am extremely impressed with your maturity level. You seem to be almost getting your dad right back on track, and that isn't even your job. You're his son, and you are helping him get his life straight. You seem very procupied with the bills and payments lately though and I was going to say that maybe you should relax a bit. You really are stressing yourself out over all these family payments that your dad can't make, and I don't believe that is fair. You should be studying hard right now so that you can get into a good school and get a good job when your older, not begging to get a better hourly wage job now just so that you can keep bread on the table. My advice to you is to instruct your father that he needs to get a job or else you are going to look into a better place for yourself to live. He seems to have no incentive to find work right now, and I reccommend you give him that incentive. Also, I think it's very mature of you to get the food stamp application form and fill it out to make you and your father eligible. You are almost taking your family into your hands, and although that is important, it should be your fathers job, so get him back on track, and get on with your studies, because if you want to be sucessful, unlike him, you need to do well in school. I hope this helps you out, and until next time.
Sincerely,
Arman
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Runner-Post 1
Dear Chance,
I think it was really brave of you to stick up for Melissa in the classroom, even though you were terrified to death of Miller. I know and you know that he just didn't have anything to do with his life, and probobly would've ended up in prison, so he joined the army. Don't worry about it at all, the kid is a failure, and all you need to do is keep focus on your life. I have two words of advice for you Chance. The first is, try your hardest not to get into Millers way. You saw what he can do to you after that bathroom incident long ago, and believe you me, you want to avoid anything like that again. The retaliator gets blamed just as much as the person who started the fight more often than not. My second word of advice is to keep some friendships going in your life. I know your a busy kid, but its important to have a couple kids to hang out with in school and outside of school. Mellissa seems like a good friend, and I reccommed you try to hang out with her some more and become good friends. She seems to have taken a liking in you, and I can tell just from these first chapters that you two have very similar views in life (based from the classroom experience against Miller and while you were talking at the coffee shop. The first chapters I read were great and i'm looking forward to hearing more about your experiences.
Yours Truly,
Arman
I think it was really brave of you to stick up for Melissa in the classroom, even though you were terrified to death of Miller. I know and you know that he just didn't have anything to do with his life, and probobly would've ended up in prison, so he joined the army. Don't worry about it at all, the kid is a failure, and all you need to do is keep focus on your life. I have two words of advice for you Chance. The first is, try your hardest not to get into Millers way. You saw what he can do to you after that bathroom incident long ago, and believe you me, you want to avoid anything like that again. The retaliator gets blamed just as much as the person who started the fight more often than not. My second word of advice is to keep some friendships going in your life. I know your a busy kid, but its important to have a couple kids to hang out with in school and outside of school. Mellissa seems like a good friend, and I reccommed you try to hang out with her some more and become good friends. She seems to have taken a liking in you, and I can tell just from these first chapters that you two have very similar views in life (based from the classroom experience against Miller and while you were talking at the coffee shop. The first chapters I read were great and i'm looking forward to hearing more about your experiences.
Yours Truly,
Arman
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
3/26 (Week 6), Post B
Dear Arnold,
I am so sorry about your sisters tragic death, and from reading the book I could almost tell something like this was going to happen in the near future. You talk so much about how indians on the rez drink way too much and that they die at an extremely rapid rate due to alcohol. I could see a tragedy due to alcohol coming in your life. I was exremely impressed though at your recovery. You took it hard, but not hard to the extent in which you can't bear to live anymore. I know how much you loved your sister, but life doesn't slow down for you. When you think about it, your sister ran away to start her own life and be succesful, you need to do the same to cover for what she can no longer do. True she left mainly because she saw you go to Reardan and decided to take action herself, but in no way should you ever even think about putting the blame upon yourself for her leaving and death. It Was HER CHOICE and you just set an example ahead of time. Drinking was completely her decision, and i am terrily sorry for that loss. As I was saying, she left to do the same thing you have in mind, to get a decent life away from the rez and poverty. You must set your heart at going to school and getting the grades you need to go to a good college, and from there the path is paved for you. I saw your freshman report card and it was quite impressive, a couple A's, A-'s and a few B's, but its no big problem, the important thing is you keep improving every day and graduate as a confident man ready to overcome his lifestyle on the rez and live decent life with a decent or great income, all depending on how you go about everything now. Hope you do well Arnold, and all the best to you.
Sincerely, Goodbye
Arman Shahriar
I am so sorry about your sisters tragic death, and from reading the book I could almost tell something like this was going to happen in the near future. You talk so much about how indians on the rez drink way too much and that they die at an extremely rapid rate due to alcohol. I could see a tragedy due to alcohol coming in your life. I was exremely impressed though at your recovery. You took it hard, but not hard to the extent in which you can't bear to live anymore. I know how much you loved your sister, but life doesn't slow down for you. When you think about it, your sister ran away to start her own life and be succesful, you need to do the same to cover for what she can no longer do. True she left mainly because she saw you go to Reardan and decided to take action herself, but in no way should you ever even think about putting the blame upon yourself for her leaving and death. It Was HER CHOICE and you just set an example ahead of time. Drinking was completely her decision, and i am terrily sorry for that loss. As I was saying, she left to do the same thing you have in mind, to get a decent life away from the rez and poverty. You must set your heart at going to school and getting the grades you need to go to a good college, and from there the path is paved for you. I saw your freshman report card and it was quite impressive, a couple A's, A-'s and a few B's, but its no big problem, the important thing is you keep improving every day and graduate as a confident man ready to overcome his lifestyle on the rez and live decent life with a decent or great income, all depending on how you go about everything now. Hope you do well Arnold, and all the best to you.
Sincerely, Goodbye
Arman Shahriar
3/26 (Week 6), Post A
Quote and Significance:
"Don't you ever drink, my mother said to me. She slapped me. Once, twice, three times. She slapped me HARD. (pg208)" This is an extremely significant quote because when Arnolds sister died, his mother was quite upset and so was the rest of the character list in the book that knows Arnold. These last 30 pages were mainly set around mourning his sister and the rebirth of his friendship with Rowdy. This quote though stands for the characters as a whole, very upset about Mary's death.
Emerging/ Last Theme:
The last theme that I see in this book is companionship leads to success. When one has friends, one can suceed. WIthout Rowdy Arnold would really be nothing. Rowdy brightens up his day when he's down and cracks him up a bit. Rowdy deserves full credit for Arnold's recovery of his sisters death and Rowdy seems to really be letting go of his jealousy and bieng proud of Arnold for once, which is going to clear up one more roadblock for Arnold and will push him to success.
"Don't you ever drink, my mother said to me. She slapped me. Once, twice, three times. She slapped me HARD. (pg208)" This is an extremely significant quote because when Arnolds sister died, his mother was quite upset and so was the rest of the character list in the book that knows Arnold. These last 30 pages were mainly set around mourning his sister and the rebirth of his friendship with Rowdy. This quote though stands for the characters as a whole, very upset about Mary's death.
Emerging/ Last Theme:
The last theme that I see in this book is companionship leads to success. When one has friends, one can suceed. WIthout Rowdy Arnold would really be nothing. Rowdy brightens up his day when he's down and cracks him up a bit. Rowdy deserves full credit for Arnold's recovery of his sisters death and Rowdy seems to really be letting go of his jealousy and bieng proud of Arnold for once, which is going to clear up one more roadblock for Arnold and will push him to success.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
3/19 (Week 5), Post B
Dear Arnold,
I am really quite impressed with all of your newest achievements at Reardan high school ever since you transferred there. First off, id like to mention your amazig basketball achievements. I know you were never the star athelete, but really, you've come a long way at Reardan. You are starting on varsity for goodness sakes, and you are scoring 12 points a game, all as a freshman. I think your coach is right saying you might achieve all state honors in a few years. Just keep up the hard work and keep shooting from the perimeter is all i have to say. You seem to have a knack for the jump shot, so work to your advantage, keep taking it. By the way, just to comment on your performance against Rowdy in the rematch between Reardan and Wellpinit, you really pulled it off. It doesn't matter how many points you scored, you held a player who's virtually been unstoppable this year (averaging 25 points per game), to only four points. That is nothing for Rowdy, and i think you both know that. I was going to say though, and I know you noticed too, you are beginning to lose your friendship with the kid. You really have to make a move soon and try to get Rowdy back, otherwise, I'm just getting the feeling that the next 3 years in high school are going to be hell for you. You're going to be going to Reardan every day, leaving your old best bud behind, and on top of that, kicking his butt in basketball. My advice to you is (if this isn't too out of the park); try to get Rowdy to join you in your journey to the outside world (Reardan). Persuade him or his parents to let him come to Reardan so he can meet new kids and be the sport star he was meant to be, and better yet, you'll be playing ball with him for years to come. Just throwing it out there. I have about 40 pages left and i'm really looking forward to it.
Thanks, Sincerely,
Arman
I am really quite impressed with all of your newest achievements at Reardan high school ever since you transferred there. First off, id like to mention your amazig basketball achievements. I know you were never the star athelete, but really, you've come a long way at Reardan. You are starting on varsity for goodness sakes, and you are scoring 12 points a game, all as a freshman. I think your coach is right saying you might achieve all state honors in a few years. Just keep up the hard work and keep shooting from the perimeter is all i have to say. You seem to have a knack for the jump shot, so work to your advantage, keep taking it. By the way, just to comment on your performance against Rowdy in the rematch between Reardan and Wellpinit, you really pulled it off. It doesn't matter how many points you scored, you held a player who's virtually been unstoppable this year (averaging 25 points per game), to only four points. That is nothing for Rowdy, and i think you both know that. I was going to say though, and I know you noticed too, you are beginning to lose your friendship with the kid. You really have to make a move soon and try to get Rowdy back, otherwise, I'm just getting the feeling that the next 3 years in high school are going to be hell for you. You're going to be going to Reardan every day, leaving your old best bud behind, and on top of that, kicking his butt in basketball. My advice to you is (if this isn't too out of the park); try to get Rowdy to join you in your journey to the outside world (Reardan). Persuade him or his parents to let him come to Reardan so he can meet new kids and be the sport star he was meant to be, and better yet, you'll be playing ball with him for years to come. Just throwing it out there. I have about 40 pages left and i'm really looking forward to it.
Thanks, Sincerely,
Arman
3/19 (Week 5), Post A
Quote and Significance:
"Im guarding you tonight, it's my night." (pg191). This quote is very significant in this part of the book because Arnold is finally stepping up to his jerk "old best friend" in the basketball game and showing him that he is not scared of standing up to him anymore and that he has become a totally new person ever since he started attending Reardan.
Emerging Theme:
An emerging theme/existing through the chapters i just read, is toughening out the hard times in life and moving on. Arnold's grandmother just died and it is extremely sad that he has to deal with that and the new school at once, but his friends are supportive in school and help put the asshole teacher that makes fun of him in her place. He needs to learn to move on, because im sure that his grandmother wanted him to be sucessful and leave the rez just as he did, and i'll see what he is going to do with his life from here on out.
"Im guarding you tonight, it's my night." (pg191). This quote is very significant in this part of the book because Arnold is finally stepping up to his jerk "old best friend" in the basketball game and showing him that he is not scared of standing up to him anymore and that he has become a totally new person ever since he started attending Reardan.
Emerging Theme:
An emerging theme/existing through the chapters i just read, is toughening out the hard times in life and moving on. Arnold's grandmother just died and it is extremely sad that he has to deal with that and the new school at once, but his friends are supportive in school and help put the asshole teacher that makes fun of him in her place. He needs to learn to move on, because im sure that his grandmother wanted him to be sucessful and leave the rez just as he did, and i'll see what he is going to do with his life from here on out.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
3/12 (Week 4), Post B
Dear Arnold,
You are a real trooper man, stepping out onto that basketball court and taking all that crap from those people who have already messed up their lives on the rez. You even ended up with a concussion and you told coach you'd step out there and play at any minute against those guys. I thought that was very mature of you not to fight back at the indians on the rez for abusing you in that way, you simply left, got 3 stitches and came back, only to get pummeled to the floor by your old best friend. I have some advice for you Arnold, you should really try to gain Rowdy's friendship back, because if you do, he can manipulate the kids in school to like you again, and like you said, the whole rez is connected together, all those kids will tell their parents and all will be good again. The way i reccomend you do this is by doing something dangerous with Rowdy, something you know he can't resist. Something that takes alot of gut that will get him thinking more about the dangers and less about hating you. I'd say if you lived in my neighborhood time take him skydiving, but that is probobly unavailable to you, so maybe try something like rock climbing or of that risky nature. You are really going to need this kid to be on your side again, and i can tell he can be easilly manipulated. He's just under the impression right now that you don't want to be around him/look down on him, and the day he realizes that this isn't true is the day you will be buds again. I really enjoyed those last 40 pages, and until next time.
Sincerely,
Arman
You are a real trooper man, stepping out onto that basketball court and taking all that crap from those people who have already messed up their lives on the rez. You even ended up with a concussion and you told coach you'd step out there and play at any minute against those guys. I thought that was very mature of you not to fight back at the indians on the rez for abusing you in that way, you simply left, got 3 stitches and came back, only to get pummeled to the floor by your old best friend. I have some advice for you Arnold, you should really try to gain Rowdy's friendship back, because if you do, he can manipulate the kids in school to like you again, and like you said, the whole rez is connected together, all those kids will tell their parents and all will be good again. The way i reccomend you do this is by doing something dangerous with Rowdy, something you know he can't resist. Something that takes alot of gut that will get him thinking more about the dangers and less about hating you. I'd say if you lived in my neighborhood time take him skydiving, but that is probobly unavailable to you, so maybe try something like rock climbing or of that risky nature. You are really going to need this kid to be on your side again, and i can tell he can be easilly manipulated. He's just under the impression right now that you don't want to be around him/look down on him, and the day he realizes that this isn't true is the day you will be buds again. I really enjoyed those last 40 pages, and until next time.
Sincerely,
Arman
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