Having a mentally challenged brother may not seem so bad, but when people are constantly bagging on him it may be. Raymond is a young boy with a younger sister nicknamed Squeaky. This name was created because she has a high and squeaky voice. Squeaky is a very good young runner but she has much more then that to realize. Beginning to end, squeaky changed as a person very much and now respects others. Also, she is realizing that there are other good runners aside from herself.
Squeaky is a changed character from cover to cover. At the beginning, she is full of herself, a bit to much. Knowing you are better then people is one thing, but showing it and saying it is another. She is overconfident and she shows it and talks about how good she is constantly. As she said herself "First of all I am the best, and that’s all it is." It proves the person she was before the race. After the race she was different. Nodding and smiling that was taking place was actually true, and real which at the beginning she says is unheard of. They did it though, and it was true. Realizing somebody else's potential may be the greatest way that Squeaky has changed within this story. As well as respect, realizing potential is an important lesson in this story.
This story is called "Raymond's Run" and not Squeaky's run for a reason. She is the one that has to figure out that the whole world does not revolve around her. Thinking back, she realizes that Raymond does run weird, but fast. Running beside her at every turn and always keeping up is something he has always done. Now realizing this potential she does not care if she had won the race, because honestly, what else does Raymond have to win? Squeaky has the opportunity to learn more and excel at other things, but Raymond does not. She does end up winning the race as does Raymond. But not only did she get to realize the potential of her brother she learned that others are good runners and she learned to respect that.
Respect is a seven letter word that can be easily defined but never truly understood. Treat people how you would like to be treated. Do not just assume people are mean because you do not truly know them if you do not try to become closer to them. In the beginning Squeaky is saying how girls never truly smile at each other and how when they do it is fake. By the end of the story though her perspective has changed. She ends up respecting people and actually smiling at them "A real smile…" They had a mile of respect between them. Smiling and nodding, which started out that no girls knew how to do. By the end they really were smiling though, that is the main thing that shows there is respect between them and it truly shows she is a changed character.
Respecting people and realizing potential was the work of Raymond. He got Squeaky to realize his potential and doing that is what hooked to her respecting others. She then was thinking about that and didn't care who won because she could help him and also she knew that there were other fast people aside from herself. Ultimately this story taught me not to assume things and to respect others and look to see the potential of others instead of just knowing you’re the best.
No comments:
Post a Comment