Chavis Daniels: The Uncommon Man

If you 're like most people, then you most likely believe that we are products of our environment. This idea could not be better represented than the two young boys that this story is about. In “The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates,” written by Wes Moore, two fatherless young boys that grow up with the same name and that live in the same neighborhood couldn 't have taken more different paths in life. Wes Moore becomes a Rhodes Scholar, veteran and a college graduate. The “other” Wes Moore becomes deeply involved with the drug game and is mixed up with the law almost all of his life. The reason why one Wes Moore became a college graduate and the other became a drug dealer is because of the family environment that they have grew up in. Although there families had different expectations, they both exceeded them.

Stepchildren tend to have a harder time accepting the stepparent than the stepparent accepting the stepchild. They are not clean slates, they might have memories of their biological parent or other parent figures. This leaves the children in a state where they compare their real parent to their stepparent, and it is likely that they might end up not liking them. For instance, it can be something as elementary as the child’s real dad loving football and hating soccer. If the child 's new parent hates football and loves soccer, the kid may see that as a threat to his real dads character. If he indulges in the sport of soccer with his stepparent, there can be a sense of betrayal on his mind. This doesn’t, however, mean that stepchildren don’t have good relationships with a stepparent. Many times when a stepparent makes an effort to bond, the child reciprocates those actions and can spark the start of the relationship (Ganong, Coleman & Jamison, 2011). On the other hand some stepchildren recognize the efforts but reject them. A third outcome can be the complete distance of the child from the stepparent, they refuse to acknowledge them. It is still not clearly identified why different children respond the way they do towards their stepparents efforts, but there are

Some children with divorced parents could have had an easier time adjusting the change in environment and found it as a better way to grow closer to the parent they ended up living with, in most cases it being their mothers. While growing up, the child would find their own way to a content life, coping with the new adjustments. In other cases, the child found a way to look on the bright side of the situation and enjoyed having additional members to the family after one or both parents found a new spouse. Others could have found it easier to understand both of their parents individually. Due to this, the child is able to build a more focused relationship with their parents or parent. These unique relationships would help the child find a more mature aspect on how relationships should be made for future relationships or friendships that come along. According to Abalos, “who leaves and stays in the conjugal household and who takes care of the children are two important decisions that estranged couples have to contend with”, so, with a healthy relationship between the child and divorced parents, or single parent, the child will be able to understand the role that both parents should own up to when raising their own children (2011). The process of accepting the divorce might not be difficult for the child to do after understanding that the divorce was because

Where we’re from, who we know, and how our mental makeup is, is very important in our lives. It can be the deciding factor between life in prison and a life dedicated to giving back to others. In The Other Wes Moore, The lives of two young men are examined through three distinct lenses, how the role our environment, social capital (How we get ahead by helping each other) and how our mindset can dictate who we become later on in life.

Life is full of choices, choices here and choice there. some are small like what you’ll have for breakfast and others are big like whether you’ll finish high school. But are they really your choices? Are people really in charge of their life like they claim to be ? A statistic shows that 40% of children in America are raised without a father and 50% of children have experienced divorce by the age of 18. Studies also show that children who have gone through divorce are more likely to get lower grades and are considered less pleasant to be around by their peers and teens who live in a single parent or blended home are three times more likely to need psychological help within a year. These choices are already made for the children and they have

The responses of children should be considered in the aftermath process of divorce (Moon, 2011). Children worry about living arrangements and what is going to happen after their parents have divorced. When a couple is unhappy, the children will also be unhappy. The situation may change for the better when parents divorce, which in turn helps the child be in a better state of mind. The level of tension may be lifted in the household and children may feel more relaxed. Although most children become vulnerable when facing parental divorce, some develop resiliency (Fagan, Churchill, 2012). When parents share custody, children are able to see each parent individually. The child may notice that when a parent has custody of them they dedicate and focus more time on them, leaving the child with a sense of joy. When parents give children positive attention, a stronger bond with a parent is clear. Children may see their parents as a full and competent human being once the divorce has occurred. The child can learn by watching their parents delightful independence and new positive relationship. A new found relationship or single life can also be of some benefit to

“You are always only one decision away from a totally different life”(Unknown). Your destiny can be such a fragile thing, you slide between the path of success and the path of failure daily with the decisions you make. Often when you make a bad decision you are give a second chance. And these decisions and chances all lead up to your destiny. Your chances are limited and eventually you are stuck with the outcome you’ve chosen, be that good or bad, success or failure. There are two men out there who know these principles all too well. Those men’s stories are documented in the book The Other Wes Moore. Two men with the same name grow up in almost identical situations and yet one has worked in The White House, and the other

Imagine having to go through a severe test or trial that will change your life drastically. That doesn’t usually happen in our small town in Northwest Iowa. We live our daily life, go to school, go to work, go to church, eat, sleep, and repeat. That is anything but what happens to John Proctor in the book, The Crucible by Arthur Miller. He has to go through a severe test of who he is and what he stands. That test can change his whole life. This book is called The Crucible because of all the little crucibles, tests, and trials with in it. All of the trials the characters go through can also be related to the real world today.

“Nature’s first green is gold, her hardest hue to hold. Her early leaf’s a flower; but only so an hour. Then leaf subsides to leaf. So Eden sank to grief, so dawn goes down to day. Nothing gold can stay” Robert Frost. The words of many authors, poets, and songwriters can influence certain aspects of a person’s life. One may simply admire the work because of the inspiration or beauty behind the piece, but others take the words to heart and live their lives by it. A fan of many transcendentalism authors Chris McCandless wanted to live his life with the same simplicity they did. After finding the inspiration in the works of Jack London and Henry David Thoreau McCandless ventured out into a two-year-long journey to find happiness in the Alaskan Wilderness. McCandless had the bravery to follow his own dream and was willing to risk his life for true happiness. McCandless is admirable because of his generosity, positivity, and courage to follow his own dream.

Society is a limitation, often preventing many from following their dreams or beliefs. Some may forsake these dreams and ideals and forget who they are in an attempt to conform. Into the Wild, written by Jon Krakauer narrates the story of Christopher McCandless, a young man from Virginia. McCandless hitchhiked to Alaska in 1992 to follow his beliefs and managed to live off the land for four months until he met his death in the wilderness. His story gained a lot of publicity and it has led to debates about his sanity and heroic qualities. Many believe that he was naive and neglectful to himself, or that he had a death wish. However, McCandless proved that he had the bravery to discard the standards of society and live by his own ideals. He was not to be dissuaded by those

St. Francis of Assisi was a man who sought peace from the world and tried to bring

Daniel Boone was one of Americas heroes, he was a brave frontiersman. Daniel Boone was born in November 2, 1734. Sadly he died September 26,1820. He died due to natural causes in his house at the Femme Osage Creek in Missouri. Daniel Boone lived a good life and will always be remembered as one of Americas bravest frontiersman.

Robert E. Lee has always been thought by many as a god-like figure. To others he was a contradiction. Born on January 19, 1807 at Stratford, Virginia, Robert E. Lee was the fourth child of Revolutionary War hero, Henry "Light Horse Harry" Lee, and Ann Hill Carter Lee. Raised mostly by his mother, Robert learned patience, control, and discipline from her. As a young man, he was exposed to Christianity and accepted its faith. In contrast to the strong example of his mother and the church, Robert saw his father go from failed enterprise to failed enterprise. As a result, young Robert tried harder to succeed.

Here at the Saratoga Springs chapter of NHS, we place tremendous value in the efforts of individuals to not only make a difference that they wish to see but also inspire others to do the same. With this in mind, it is my pleasure to introduce our guest speaker, Mr. Dave Brown. A graduate of Le Moyne University, Mr. Brown has become one of the most respected and highly regarded members of our Saratoga Springs Community. Whether teaching about his favorite President, James K. Polk, or dauntlessly leading his girls volleyball team into a sectional match, I have never failed to see Mr. Brown give less than one hundred percent. In my experience in his United States History course, I saw Mr. Brown’s ability to connect with each of his students. Unique

That doesn’t mean they don’t care for each other. They respect one another in a way that all divorced mothers and fathers should. In the long run I have realised that divorce is not necessarily a great thing but it is not a curse either. My parents divorce has not only taught me that no family is perfect but also that even though things didn’t go to plan with the person whom you once loved, that does not mean you stop respecting them. I will admire my mother and father for the rest of my life. I can’t imagine my life with my parents together, it has been so amazing with them