When thinking about what type of books to read for my reading project this semester, I focused on what I would like my students to see in a main character. The answer to me was simple; Strength and Perserverance.
My biggest fear for my students is that they will give up when they are required to do something that is challenging, as much in school as in their life. My students do not have the easiest lives to begin with, but what I want for them is to be able to succeed in the face of anything that could beat them down. That is why I decided to choose the themes of Strength and Perseverance as the cornerstone of my book choices.
For the most part, I was quite successful. Many of my characters had to make difficult choices and deal with events that would otherwise cause them to quit, if they were not strong. One of the best examples would be the character of Sahara in the book Sahara Special. Sahara is a an introvert and has been hurt in the past, but is now just trying to be a normal student. She aches to fit in, but is so afraid to be herself in front of others that she just pushes others away. After her new teacher arrives, Sahara finds that she finally has someone that she may be able to trust. She begins to harness her strength and slowly come out of her shell. She turns from a wallflower into a normal young girl with ambitions and many dreams.
Strength and Perserverance is not just about rising to challenges, but dealing with the hardships of every day life. Sometimes it takes a lot just to make it through the day and still survive. Characters throughout history are forced to deal with events that are bound to destroy them, but they are able to find their strength and inner desires and overcome what has been put in front of them.
It is my dream to share the strongest of characters with my students, in the hopes that they will connect with at least one, and that it will help them to be brave.
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