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The Scholarship Jacket By Marta Salinas

604 Words3 Pages

Why would a school deny the earning of a precious jacket to one of their top academic students? In the short story, “The Scholarship Jacket” by Marta Salinas, an 8th grader named Marta has the dream and desire to earn the scholarship jacket. She has been the top student with straight A’s for over 8 years but is shocked to hear that she might have to give someone else her spot if she can’t pay a fee. Anybody who would be put into that kind of position would be absolutely upset, however, in order to overcome any discrimination, you must stand up for yourself. Marta has many expectations for herself to earn the jacket. Her desire for it extends all the way to the moon. When Marta says, “My oldest sister Rosie had won the jacket a few years back …show more content…

She is involved within heartbreaking conversations between the principal and her grandfather. The principal’s body language tells the reader that he disagrees with the fact Marta might not be able to receive the jacket. When Marta is called upon to his office, “He looked away and fidgeted with the papers on his desk.” In addition, he avoided making eye contact with her, which a reader can infer that he has some grief for her. In the second conversation with Marta’s grandfather, the reader learns that her grandfather refuses to pay the fee; “Then if you pay for it, Marta, it’s not a scholarship jacket, is it?”. As the reader transfers to the second conversation with the principal, the reader can tell that the principal is even more devastated and does not want to crush Marta’s dream, “The principal muttered something I couldn’t understand his breath, and walked over to the window.” With the use of the principal’s body language, the reader can determine that he is even more uncomfortable that he has to explain to Marta that her spot will be given to the next person. Between both of the conversations, the reader learns that her grandfather has a strong reason about why she can’t pay and that the principal also feels disgust for telling her about

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