In The Other Moore Reflection

As I sit in the basement of the Lilly Library, surrounded by friends who have become family in a few short months, covered in calculus and EQ notes, and listening to some Duke Ellington jazz music for my Music 101 class, I can’t help but reflect on what this year has meant to me and my development as a student, athlete, brother, friend, and person. I entered Wabash College not exactly sure what to expect; I knew it was going to be different, but I also knew that with change I wanted to keep an open mind that was ready to learn and grow. Freshman tutorial and especially enduring questions are two classes that have pushed my boundaries as a person, forcing me to question core beliefs and ideas that seemed previously engrained in my mind. Throughout

The author Wes’s father demonstrated leadership, gentleness, and tranquility (The Other Wes Moore, pg. 11); while the other Wes’s father was a drug addict and wife beater who ended up on the streets and in jail. Their decisions as fathers had a direct impact on their children’s futures; where one ends up a decorated veteran and Rhodes scholar, and the other one ends up locked up in prison. This realization made me think about how blessed I am with the parents I have; who have been active role models, teachers, coaches, leaders, friends, and protectors through every step of my life. Never in my life have I questioned if my parents love me and want the best for me, something that I have probably taken for granted. It’s also forced me to question how I’m living my life today; am I setting myself up to be a good father in the future? Am I making decisions that my future children will be proud of me for? And being candid with myself, I can say that I have failed a little bit, I’ve messed up and made mistakes, but I can continue to improve and grow and become the man that my future family will be proud

In The Other Wes Moore, the other Wes’s brother Tony played a massive role in the development of his decisions and his character. While it was often destructive and led to poor decisions, the other Wes looked up to Tony for help, guidance, and fortitude. I think Brayden does the same with me, and I don’t want to lead him down the wrong path like Tony did to Wes. Moving off to college has been a difficult time of transition; we went from seeing each other daily to only seeing each other a couple times a month. However, even though we don’t get to see each other as much, I feel like the times when we are together are even more meaningful; we can discuss life’s toughest problems and questions that any 15-year-old can face. Now that he is in high school and will be faced with more difficult decisions because of peer pressure and negative influences, I want to be an influence and role model in his life that can help him through the rocky times that inevitably are thrown his way, times that I have experienced, and help him grow and flourish. Who knows, if I do a good job he might want to become a Little Giant in the future,