Jack Gantos Three Words

You always hear about tragic stories that involve drugs, in news articles, tv shows, books, etc. You never think it could apply to you. You ask yourself why would it? You believe you’re a good individual that knows right from wrong, and it can’t happen to you. When we are young, we all believe we’re invincible, some us still do. Jack Gantos recounts his struggle as a young high school student desiring to become a writer. He plans for a college, so he can pursue his writing career, but he feels he has nothing to write about. Through his search for inspiration and absence of common sense Jack goes from a naïve teenager, casual dope user, drug trafficker, inmate, to someone who is aware of his place in the world and is grateful for it. The book
He shows that good people can easily be influenced to do bad things by others. “All I heard was the number ten thousand dollars, cash. This was the jackpot. The answer I was looking for My exit from St. Croix and my entrance into whatever school would have me.” Jack was easily influenced to smuggle drugs to New York for a profuse amount of cash, that would predict his future in his writing. Another, “Count me in.’ Those were the three words I would take back if I could. They were my words to Rik and Hamilton. ‘count me in.’ Now I was counted in my cell every day, and I was counted to be there morning, noon, and night.” Jack regretted saying those thee words. He knew he put himself in an atrocious position. “But all I did was smoke it. I never thought dope would lead me to trouble, and I certainly had no idea it would land my ass in jail.” He would frequently smoke weed, but had no idea he would end up going to jail for smuggling
As a young individual in high school, I had made some poor choices, but I always learned from it do to the consequences and plenty of lectures from my parents. Mistakes can teach us to except ourselves. Most people put themselves down when they mess up. Acknowledging their mistakes puts them in a good position to except themselves. Learning from mistakes can also teach us to inspire other. As an older sibling I can teach my younger siblings that it is ok to fail. So, when they do make mistakes it gives me the opportunity to interact with them and let them know what they could have done