ELIZABETH FECZKO

BALTIMORE TRIBUNE
OCTOBER 18, 2017 HONORS ENGLISH 9

BIG DECISIONS

Many books, poems, and each Wes makes during their culty and significance of
songs discuss the impact that childhood. Many of these making decisions, although
one decision had on a per- decisions are greatly influ- one is far shorter than the
son’s entire life. In The Oth- enced by the people in their other. “The Road Not Tak-
er Wes Moore and “The lives. This book shows how en” presents one choice in a
Road Not Taken,” characters the community affects deci- metaphoric way, while The
are faced with a decision and sion-making, and how small Other Wes Moore presents
have to choose whether to decisions impact the future. background information and
take the easy, popular deci- “The Road Not many different decisions.
sion, or take the brave, un- Taken” is a poem written by Each of these was written by
popular decision. The deci- Robert Frost about making men, and some part of the
sions a person makes during an important decision. It writing shows satisfaction
their lifetime are what makes represent this decision- with good decisions. The
them a unique person. Each making process as coming to Other Wes Moore shows
of these specific works of a split in the road and decid- how influences, community,
literature demonstrate how ing which path to choose. and schools affect people’s
decisions are important to One side is worn out, while decisions, but “The Road
every person. the other is overgrown. The Not Taken” strictly shows
The Other Wes character decided to take the the most popular decision
Moore written by Wes less used path, and ends up compared to the decision this
Moore is a novel that tells satisfied with their decision. particular character made.
Wes Watende the life story of the author The metaphor of the two They both show how it is
Omari Moore, au- and another boy with the paths is to signify that the difficult to make a unique
thor of The Other exact same name, who grew character is coming upon a decision when everyone else
Wes Moore up around the same time in big decision. The worn out is choosing the easy option.
the same place also without a path is the decision that most Every person would be the
father. This book gives a people would choose; it is same if they responded iden-
general overview of each of the easy thing to do. By tically to choices. The differ-
their lives while focusing on choosing the overgrown ent decisions they make
important events. The author path, they are making a risky create their identity as a
of the book graduated col- decision that few people unique person. These writ-
lege and became a successful have made before them. In ings have their similarities
Rhodes Scholar, while the the beginning, they are un- and differences, but they
other Wes had to experience sure about their choice, but both stress how one decision
a life sentence in prison for they soon see how beneficial can change the future.
an armed bank robbery. With their choice is and never Both of these
such similar beginnings, why look back. Sometimes it is writings show how decisions
did their paths diverge so important to be unique in- are important no matter how
much throughout their lives? stead of following the deci- small. They show that some-
It could have been because sions of others. This poem times the less popular deci-
of their mentors, their com- represents the importance of sion could be the better one.
munities, the resources of making decisions, and They show that the decision-
their families, their values, demonstrates how some- making process greatly influ-
their schools, or many other times choosing the more ences a person’s develop-
Robert Frost, author of factors. These factors influ- difficult decision is the right ment.
“The Road Not Taken” enced each Wes in their choice.
“The choices we make
decision-making for the The main theme of
about the lives we live de-
better or the worse. Through- each of these works of litera-
termine the kind of legacies
out the book, the author ture is decision-making.
we leave.” (Moore 185)
highlights specific decisions They each focus on the diffi-
 BALTIMORE TRIBUNE Page 2

OPERATION HOPE

Many less fortunate banker for all those tive impact by volun-
Works Cited youth at risk of future that are poor and teering as much as I
poverty need financial struggling. They give can. Volunteering
"The Free Automatic
Bibliography Compos- support so they can families the support brings joy to me and
er." EasyBib. Chegg, pursue education and they need by providing touches my heart in a
n.d. Web. future careers. Many them with money they special place because I
different organizations can use for anything know I am making an
"History & Mission." exist today to give they need at the mo- impact. There are so
Operation HOPE. N.p., these individuals fi- ment. Anyone can help many ways to help
n.d. Web. nancial support. Oper- these families in by people who can’t help
ation HOPE is an or- donating to Operation themselves, and Oper-
"Oxford and the ganization with the HOPE. These dona- ation HOPE is one in
Rhodes Scholarships."
The Rhodes Scholar- mission to provide tions are greatly appre- particular that gives
ships. N.p., n.d. Web. financial dignity for ciated and are put to back to the less fortu-
everyone. They do this good use. In my own nate in the community.
through their work as a community, I am plan-
nonprofit, private ning to make a posi-

RHODES SCHOLARS

The Rhodes Scholar- motion of international African American

ships are scholarships understanding and woman US Ambassa-
given to thirty-two peace. All the money dor. Many students
students from the comes out of the have greatly benefitted
United States, provid- Rhodes Trust, a British from this scholarship.
ing them with full fi- charity created to hon- It is a wonderful expe-
nancial support to pur- or the will of Rhodes. rience and honor, and
sue a degree at the The first group of it helps young students
University of Oxford. Rhodes scholars en- expand their learning
The students are cho- tered Oxford in 1904, and life experiences.
sen based on academ- and a group has been Overall, the Rhodes
ics and many character attending ever since. Scholarship program
based criteria. The The scholars are cho- has provided tremen-
scholars are named sen in October of each dous education to
after Cecil J. Rhode’s, year. Some famous many generations, and
a South African politi- scholars are Bill Clin- will hopefully contin-
Cecil J. Rhodes, founder of the cian. His will stated ton, 42nd president of ue to do so for many
Rhodes Scholar program that his estate should the United States; generations to come.
be used to bring Eng- George Stephanopou-
lish-speaking students los, Clinton’s senior
to the University of advisor and now fa-
Oxford. He believed mour host of Good
this would aid the pro- Morning America; and
Susan Rice, the first