Introduction
The novel “the absolute true diary of a part-time Indian” is the story of a lovable narrator, who is a fourteen-year-old kid named Arnold Spirit Junior. The novel brings the kids experience growing up at Spokane Indian Reservation in Wellpinit, WA. He was born with a physical disability that makes him be cast out and picked on by all his peers on the reservation. However, Rowdy, a hugely built and ferociously tempered guy, who is his best friend treats him differently. He has always protected Junior since their childhood.
For the purpose of this assignment, I would compare and contrast the events that Junior underwent when he began attending high school in Reardan, with a situation I underwent through being ostracized by my peers in my new school that I just joined, being the only second English speaker.
My story
After my parents relocated to a new neighborhood due to my father’s transfer to this division, the whole family had to move to this new environment, which meant I had to change to a new school in the area where my father had relocated to work. My former school had been an up country school. Most of the teachers and student were not first English speakers. Developing our grammar was not an easy task. The school that I moved into had a mix of students and teachers from different backgrounds since it was in the town setting and brought together people from different areas.
Despite having attained the top position from my former school, my grades did not match the standards of this new school. My points placed me almost at the bottom of the class, while the same points put me on top of my former class. The school director allowed me into the school pointing out that he believed I had the potential of achieving greater results. He said I did not have to undertake an interview test. After all this was a relief since I was scared, I would not impress if I had to take the test.
The first days in class were not any easy; most of the students mocked me on my grammar and pronunciation. I could not respond to questions in class since I was always afraid I would not express myself satisfactorily. The students had realized this weakness and always shouted out my name whenever the teachers raised a question. My teachers did not realize this immediately and did not realize that these students were mocking me.
Junior’s experience at Reardan School
During his suspension from the reservation for breaking his teacher’s nose, his teacher advices him to go to the school in the neighborhood Reardan town. This town is full of racism. After talking to his parents about it, they are willing to let him go, but his only friend, Rowdy, is angry with him for leaving. In his new school, he feels isolated since he is the only Native American and probably the only poor student in the school. At first, everyone treats him awfully and others even beat him up. He earned some respect after engaging in some fights, but still he is just ignored. He starts becoming friends with a popular girl after sometime and starts going out together. Back at home, he had to live through many people close to him dying; his supportive grandmother, his father’s best friend, who was like an uncle to him, and his lovely sister.
Comparison and contrast
Even though his peers despised Junior even in his neighborhood at the reservation, my friends in my former neighborhood were supportive. However, just as Rowdy never wanted him to leave, my friends from my former school were so upset that I was leaving. My mathematics teacher even offered me a place to stay so that I could remain behind, but my parents could not allow me. I also wanted to go and have a newer experience. Junior and I undergo through the same treatment in our new schools. He is perhaps the only poor student in the school; I am also the worst speaker in the school that I recently joined and probably one of the school’s poorest students. This makes learning so difficult for both of us. Getting along with other students is not easy, even though we both adjust to the situation. In the novel just as Junior starts to go out with a famous girl, I also made friends after some months.
My experience made even worse than I thought I would be. After interacting with people who hated me for my incompetence, I tried very hard to adjust. Fortunately, I managed to improve on my academics and by the end of my first year at the new school; I was top of the class. I despised those who earlier despised me even more. I was so proud and could not easily share with weaker students. Just as junior engages in a fight to earn his respect, I strive to achieve in order to earn my respect.
