Emily Ferris Ms.Taylor NBE 3U June 2nd, 2023 Skating Over Obstacles Jordin Tootoo’s Experience Through Life in the Book All The Way Out of the 7623 players who have been in the NHL since it started in 1917, only 80 of those players were indigenous, which is only one percent. In the book All The Way, Jordin Tootoo provides information and writes about his experience through life as the first Inuit NHL player, encountering plenty of hurdles that threatened his path to success. He overcomes barriers, undergoes grief from the loss of his brother, alcohol addiction, and racism, and ultimately achieves success. In addition, an individual demonstrates resilience, hard work, determination, and never giving up in order to overcome stressful barriers, …show more content…
Players on opposing hockey teams would make racist comments after losing a game to him, shouting “Go back to your fucking tribe.” (Tootoo 211) and “Go back to eating your fucking beluga whale, you meat head.” (212). In addition, his classmates at school constantly pick on him and shout things like “Hey, Eskimo, go back and live in your igloo where you belong” (36), Being picked on regularly has a negative impact on his mental health and makes him feel depressed, stressed and worried. Jordin always felt different from everyone else, he grew up different, looked different and had different and more complex struggles than others around him. Being the first Inuit hockey player was tough, he played more aggressively than everyone else, everyone would always be looking at him and judging him and he felt eyes were always on him. Players on other hockey teams would always center him out and make him feel uncomfortable. Jordin deals with discrimination due to his Iniut heritage, however, he does not let what others say define him, he is proud of who he is and uses their hurtful words as motivation to show his worth on the ice and as a person. This is a consistent struggle for him, therefore in order to move beyond this, he chooses to carry on in disregards to further comments and refuses to let this undermine him and define who he …show more content…
He has always been a heavy drinker but did not think much of it because of how he was raised and grew up with alcoholic parents. Substance abuse becomes a substantial problem for him, it forms unhealthy habits and makes him act out of character while under the influence and later results in him being forcibly cut from the team if he does not choose to attend rehab. Jordin was not content with these circumstances but he recognized this as a problem and knew something had to be done. Jordin was always open and honest about his addiction, “I’m going to rehab,” Jordin exclaimed, “I’m in fucking LA, I’m going to a facility.” (151), no one seemed to believe him, people were just so surprised and caught off guard by the news. He was cut off from the rest of the world for the month he spent in the facility and when he returned he felt much better as a person. He works on maintaining his sobriety and occasionally attends support groups for a little while after his return. He “never was really tempted to start drinking again” (168) Jordin
His abuse of alcohol was blocking him from discovering who he truly is. The first step that Jordin took in the direction to find who he truly is was when he volunteered in the NHL substance abuse behavioral health program. As Jordin said, “The support I’ve gotten from my teammates, my family, the fans of Nashville, it has been unbelievable, without their support I probably couldn’t have done it.” (Jordin 161). Without the encouragement of the people who cared about Jordin, he would not have been able to come this far in finding who he truly is.
Writer said that J.C can be comfortable to speak about any issues or concerns with her and that she would not judge him. J.C seemed preoccupied with other thoughts and kept changing the subject to speak about biblical aspects but writer prompted him to stay on topic. J.C admitted that he felt that he could not resist R.S and admitted that in the past there had been a lot of instances where R.S would invite J.C to drink on property either around the forest line or in R.S 's room. Writer encouraged J.C to think about all the positives about remaining sober and asked if he would feel comfortable using those in the future when these circumstances arose. J.C said that he would and explained that sober living has positively impacted his life and feels that without alcohol he can accomplish many things such as moving out on his own and obtaining a full time job.
Crabbe felt comfort in the alcohol he consumed but he eventually realized that he didn’t need it once he no longer had any access to it. Although it was a very difficult thing for Crabbe to do, Crabbe dropped his addiction. The fact that Crabbe is able to end his addiction shows that he becomes healthier and also grows as a
After experiencing a dangerous seizure incident, Saul was sent to a hospital, where doctors recommended that he seek treatment at the New Dawn Centre. Rehabilitation helped Saul quit drinking and gain enough courage to move on and heal. Saul said, “I’ve been here a month, after six weeks in the hospital, and that’s the longest I’ve been without a drink for years, so I guess there’s some use to it. My body feels stronger. My head is clear.
The Hockey Sweater is both a short story and animated film written by Roch Carrier. Over the years, the story has only risen in popularity and has engrained itself in Canadian culture and history. The story is about a young boy who is growing up in Quebec and is a huge fan of Maurice Richard and the Montreal Canadiens. One winter, his coveted Canadians sweater is too small and his mother orders him a new one. However, when the new jersey arrives it is that of a rival team: the Toronto Maple Leaves.
Saul shows how the traumatic events he has gone through haunt his way of life and limit his chance to grow and overcome his trauma. These unfortunate events have plagued Saul, leading him down a terrible road of intoxication, depression, and violence. These traumatic experiences have ultimately changed Saul and forced him to view culture and uniqueness negatively. Therefore, Saul's horrible experiences have impacted him and limited his ability to mature and overcome the suffering he has endured from Father Leboutilier and others within the residential school system. Residential schools have harmed Indigenous culture and ways of life; they forcefully changed behaviours and had long-term negative consequences on Indigenous communities and individuals
This quote affirms Jesse's Métis background and encourages him to safeguard it, despite any difficulties. Additionally, it emphasises the determination and pride of the Métis people, who have endured marginalisation and prejudice throughout history. His grandparents often taught him the customary Métis ways of trapping, fishing, and hunting. "I loved those moments with him, just like I loved learning to make traditional food with my grandmother" (Thistle 86). Jesse was able to connect with his culture through these activities and grow to be proud of who he is.
During Jordin’s life, it was clear that he was struggling to discover who he truly was because of all the challenges that he had to face. He was able to persevere through the darkness that was
The first day home from rehab he quickly takes charge of his life. He starts to attend AA and group meetings. He also meets with a woman named Wendy who helps him set up a plan for him to keep his sobriety. He even returns to work a day after getting back. A new love interest is also introduced during a group meeting.
Making life and school tough on the rez just like the day he was born. Fighting for his life since the day he was put on this earth because of the amount of “cerebral spinal fluid inside (his) skull.”(pg 1) Making him different from the other Spokane indians because of his seizures, teeth, glasses, looks. Making him an easy target for bullying ever since he was young. Being a Spokane indian for Junior also makes school tough, because of the poor education system they have at the Wellpinit school.
(Alexie 141) after Junior made a jump shot against Roger in “full-court one-on-one.” (Alexie 139) Having approval from his peers is a first for Junior. It is a major shift from being beaten up daily and
It is indicated that he already convinced himself, and was trying to convince others that alcoholism is just a foolish habit and he can stop it anytime he wished. The analysis of those around him, the places he visits, how he relates with his family members and the people at work brought out facts about his real life. This convinced him to attend the AA program. His brothers had also given up on him, and they did not care about him so long as he was employed and was not causing trouble at home. After and involvement with the researchers of the AA program, the brothers accepted that alcoholism is a disease, and that their brother needed
Alcoholics are often used in stories as comic relief, which to a person who grew up under the shadow of alcoholism, isn’t very funny at all. This point was to illustrate that people really don’t understand alcoholism for what it really is: a disease that has devastating effects on families for generations. Instead of directly countering those misconceptions, Sanders describes his upbringing in vivid detail. He describes his father’s behavior in a way that makes the reader appreciate that there comes a point where alcoholism is not really a matter of a person having a moral weakness, a lack of self-control, or is weak-willed. It’s a disease that robs people of their lives and of themselves.
Initially, when Saul starts playing with his hockey reserve team, he experiences his first encounter with racism. While Saul is enjoying the game, he is suddenly kicked out of the team and remarks to Mr. Leboutiller the reason behind this is “‘because I am an Indian, isn’t it’ ‘yes’, he said” (Wagamese 91). At this moment, Saul is a victim of exclusion at a young age and recognises; not only in the residential school are Indians victims of discrimination due their appearance, culture and differences, but also outside of the residential school. Through his first encounter with exclusion, he slowly notices the segregation that surrounds him resulting in mental abuse because he becomes very cautious. After Saul leaves the residential school to live with the Kelly’s, he begins to play with the Moose.