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Coming Into Language

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Submitted By carlos12234
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A Response to “Coming into Language”
In the book “Coming into Language”, Jimmy Santiago Baca writes about how having a rough life and not making the right choices can bring tremendous results into peoples’ lives, and that despite all, there will always be a light at the end of the tunnel. Many thoughts ran through my mind while reading Baca’s life story. Compassion, inspiration, and a connection to Baca’s words were only a few. In his book, Baca writes about a portion of his amazing life story. He reveals how he had to face several challenging obstacles that ultimately shaped him into the great writer that he is now. Baca exhibits how he was capable of making life changes and accomplishing great things once his mind and heart were set on a dream.
I learned that there will be moments in life where we will have to encounter hard situations that can gives us reasons to give up hope and take the wrong path in life, but it is up to us to decide which path to life we want to take. Right away I felt that I could relate to Baca. He writes in his book that he was “Ashamed of not understanding and fearful of asking questions, [he] dropped out of school in the ninth grade.” This all sounded very familiar. His words took me back to my high school years, especially my struggles in my English and math class. I had challenges in both classes and at some points I felt like giving up. Although I understand how he felt at that time in his life, I did not agree with his decision of dropping out of school in the ninth grade.
Although Baca was going through a tough time in prison, as well as being heavily medicated, he continued to remain calm and move on. Baca writes “Yet inside me a small voice cried out, I am fine! I am hurt now but I will come back! I am fine!” With this phrase, Baca revealed who he was; he was a fighter. Earlier in “Coming into Language,” Baca stated that

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