If I Grow Up By Todd Strasser

Have you ever had to make a choice? Was that choice life or death? Most people don’t realize people living in the projects make life or death choices everyday. In the book If I Grow Up by Todd Strasser, a boy named DeShawn had to make this choice everyday. In the beginning of the book DeShawn didn’t want to join a gang called the Disciples. Toughout the book DeShawn is thinking that he should join the gang. So, he does join the gang. Even though he joined the gang he still had the choice to make his life better. He could have gotten a job, listened to officer Patterson, and stayed in school to get a better education.

Some people may argue that DeShawn didn’t have a choice because, he didn’t have any money. Yes, by joining a gang you do get more money, as DeShawn said on page 161, “Thanks to the Disciples, I had money now. Enough to pay rent.” Though he might have money from the gang, but he could have gotten money from a job. He didn’t need to risk his life to get money.

DeShawn could have better his life by getting a job. Just like

DeShawn had always wanted to stay out of trouble and stay in school like he said to Officer Patterson on page 14, “ ‘Gonna join the Disciples someday?’ ‘No sir. Gonna stay in school and out of trouble.’ ” This is one choice DeShawn could have stuck with to better his life. Getting an education will help better any ones life if they try hard enough. With an education he could have gotten a job and that would have help with many of his problems. DeShawn at one point wanted to go to a better school to get a better education like he said on page 81, “I may even go to Hewlett Academ over in Beech Hill.” He was even offered help in school if he really wanted to come back. He was told on page 177, “If you ever decide you really want to come back to school in a serious way, I can help you.” He had the choice to better his life with education but he didn’t take that