Monday, May 20, 2013
Reading Five: "How did Junior make the basketball team? In what ways was this related to his conversation with his dad earlier?" - Emory
Arnold made the basketball team by hard work and determinations. His dad helped him realize that these things will help him achieve his dreams by telling him about how the first time he met Arnold's mother. It was when he was five and she was thirteen, and she helped him get a drink from the water fountain. He said "You have to dream big to get big" (Alexie 136). The next day, during tryouts, Arnold originally thought he was going to get cut and not make the team. He persisted through an intense warm-up, and then when he was up against Roger in one-on-one, he didn't give up. He dreamed big and worked hard, like his dad told him too, and made the varsity team. Arnold used his talk with his father to inspire him to work hard and make the team.
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(Molly) I totally agree that Arnold made the varsity basketball team by hard work and determination. But, Arnold's dad was just what got him to try. There was also the part where he had a face off with Roger. Since Roger is so much bigger than Arnold, Arnold has to work really hard to keep up with him. But when the coach asks Arnold if he wants to take a break, Arnold decides to keep going. "I'll take him on again," (Alexie 140). Arnold knows that the coach is trying to intimidate him, but he won't let that happen. He is determined to make the team, and he ended up accomplishing it.
ReplyDelete(Maia) I think that you have a valid point, about determination and hard work, but I also think that there is more to it than just that. When Arnold's father says "You have to dream big to get big (Alexie 136)", he is definitely saying that the success will not come to you, you have to come to success, but he is also saying that it is about commitment. He is implying that you have to want it more than anything, you have to be entirely devoted to that one goal, and Arnold is. "I'll take him on again, (Alexie 140)" is just one of the times when he will not stop, and that is the reason the coach saw a light in him. The coach admits himself that he admires Arnold's commitment: "I've never met anybody as committed as you. (Alexie 147)". These are the words of the coach as Arnold is sitting in the hospital, and the coach has been through some pretty serious players in the past.
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