Imagine a high schooler has everyone against them, but they haven’t done anything wrong. Deep inside they’re burning. Their best friend is now their worst enemy. Their parents don't even take time out of their day to ask them how they’re doing. All the teachers, always harassing them. The counselor tells them that they need help, but never taking the next steps of actually helping the student themselves. They have a secret sunk deep into their heart and mind. They have been raped by their ex-best friends new senior-boyfriend. Why bother even saying anything, no one will listen anyways. In the book Speak by author Laurie Halse Anderson, Melinda Sordino goes through exactly this. She experiences many turning points along her eventful 9th grade …show more content…
Melinda is definitely pessimistic about starting her high school years. Of course Melinda didn't want to go to high school. She knew everyone’s misconception had them all furious at her, she knew she had no one. Until she walked into her Social Studies Class with Mr. Neck and met Heather. “I grab a seat. Another wounded zebra turns and smiles at me. She’s packing at least five grand worth of orthodontia, but has great shoes. ‘I'm Heather from Ohio,’ she says. ‘I'm new here. Are you?’ I don't have time to answer. The lights dim and the indoctrination begins.”(5). Even the new girl could sense the outsiderness of Melinda so much that she thought she was new to the district. Despite the fact that Heather was definitely a talker, she allowed Melinda to not be lonely, which is a huge turning point in how Melinda’s beginning of high school could've gone. Besides the point of Heather eventually telling Melinda she too much of a downer for her, she sometimes was able to make Melinda smile, and her losing Heather lead Melinda to really think. She had to decide if she honestly wanted everyone to think she always looked at the glass half empty in life. I believe everyone comes into your life to each teach you a lesson or to be taught a lesson from you. In the end, yes Heather did hurt Melinda too, just like everyone else did. But, by hurting her, she actually helped her. She actually taught Melinda …show more content…
Freeman. Melinda is not only treated poorly by the students, but all her other teachers too. In Melinda’s world all of her teachers are the same, they seem robotic and only follow their written out job descriptions, to teach. None of them try to connect with their students on an emotional level, but Mr. Freeman is different. Melinda of course is judgmental, and ready to shoot down anything or anyone positive right away. From the second she walked into art class, she decided that Mr. Freeman was definitely more beautiful on the inside than the outside. “Mr Freeman is ugly. Big old grasshopper body, like a stilt-walking circus guy. Nose like a credit card sunk between his eyes. But he smiles at us as we file into class.” (10). Mr. Freeman is a turning point for Melinda because he offers emotional support for her, unlike anyone else has. Yes, Melinda does have walls built up probably taller than anyone else does, but through gentle nudges he is slowly able to break through. Mr. Freeman encourages Melinda, and helps her bring out her potential. Freeman challenges her, and makes it possible for her to fix what she thinks are mistakes. He is the one at the end, Melinda decides to share her story with, and why she had walls built up in the first place. His impact changed Melinda forever, because he gave her time. He let her talk when she felt she was ready.