Pittsburgh Post October 31, 2017

Volume 3, Issue 2

Watch out for Wes Moore

COMPARE AND CONTRAST ESSAY
THE BOOK THE OTHER WES MOORE, BY WES MOORE, AND THE POEM THE ROAD
NOT TAKEN, BY ROBERT FROST HAVE VERY SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES. BOTH DISCUSS THE
IMPORTANCE OF CHOOSING THE RIGHT PATH IN LIFE, AND HOW CHOOSING THE WRONG ONE
COULD PUT YOU IN BAD SITUATIONS. THERE ARE ALSO DIFFERENCES. THE BOOK TALKS
ABOUT FAMILY AND CRIME AS A BIG PART OF BOTH AUTHOR WES AND OTHER WES’ LIFE
AND WHAT PATH THEY CHOOSE, WHILE THE POEM DOESN’T MENTION CRIME OR FAMILY AT
ALL. THE TWO ARE VERY ALIKE BUT HAVE SOME DIFFERENCES AS WELL.

THE OTHER WES MOORE DISCUSSES HOW MAKING THE WRONG DECISIONS IN LIFE
CAN END YOU UP IN A BAD SITUATION THAT IS OFTEN DIFFICULT TO ESCAPE FROM. THIS
SHOWS FOR BOTH OTHER WES AND AUTHOR WES. ALTHOUGH BOTH WES’ STARTED OUT AS
TROUBLE MAKERS AND BAD KIDS, AUTHOR WES WAS ABLE TO HAVE THE CHANCE TO TURN
HIS LIFE AROUND AT MILITARY SCHOOL. AUTHOR WES HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO TURN HIS
LIFE AROUND BY ATTENDING MILITARY SCHOOL, WHICH SET HIM ON THE RIGHT PATH LEAD-
ING HIM TO COLLEGE AND A HAPPY, PROSPEROUS LIFE. HOWEVER, OTHER WES WAS NOT SO
FORTUNATE. HE TRIED TO TURN HIS LIFE AROUND BY GETTING A JOB AND STOP SELLING
DRUGS, BUT HE WAS TOO FAR IN THE HABIT AND EASY LIFE OF DRUG DEALING THAT HE JUST
WENT BACK TO IT. OTHER WES ALSO DID NOT HAVE GOOD ROLE MODELS IN HIS LIFE TO
SHOW HIM WHAT TO DO. HE HAD TONY WHO ALSO SOLD DRUGS AND GOT INTO FIGHTS, SO
HE LOOKED UP TO HIM AND FOLLOWED IN HIS FOOTSTEPS. AUTHOR WES HAD THE AD-
VANTAGE OF A GOOD SUPPORT SYSTEM OF HIS MOTHER, GRANDPARENTS, AND SISTERS,
ALTHOUGH HE DID NOT HAVE HIS DAD HE HAD MANY OTHERS TRYING TO SUPPORT HIM. BUT
OTHER WES DID NOT HAVE THIS SAME SUPPORT SYSTEM WHAT SO EVER. HIS MOTHER LET
HIM GO ON HIS OWN AFTER MANY TIMES OF GETTING INTO TROUBLE, HIS BROTHER TONY
ALTHOUGH HE TRIED TO STOP WES GAVE UP ON HIM TOO AFTER HE GOT INTO THE FIGHT
WITH HIM. ALL OF THIS SHOWS WHAT WE DO WHEN WE WERE YOUNG AND WHAT PATH YOU
CHOSE IN LIFE WILL IMPACT YOUR LIFE GREATLY.

THE ROAD NOT TAKEN IS MORE OF A SUBTLE BUT STILL PRONOUNCED WAY OF
EXPLAINING THAT THE ROAD WE CHOSE TO TAKE IN LIFE WILL AFFECT US IMMENSELY. IT
SHOWS THAT EVERY DECISION WE MAKE IN LIFE HAS AND IMPACT. WHETHER IT IS A GOOD
OR BAD IMPACT, IT WILL HAPPEN. ROBERT FROST IN THE POEM DECIDES BETWEEN TWO
ROADS EITHER THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED OR THE ROAD THAT HAS BEEN TAKEN MANY,
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
MANY TIMES. HE ENDS UP CHOOSING THE ROAD LESS TAKEN BECAUSE IT IS THE PATH NO
ONE REALLY TAKES SO HE DOESN’T KNOW WHAT HIS DOWN THE PATH AND WANTS TO Compare and Contrast .. 1
KNOW. HE ALSO KNOWS THAT THIS PATH IS NOT THE EASY PATH, BUT COULD LEAD TO
SOMEWHERE FAR BETTER THAT THE OTHER PATH. ALTHOUGH HE DOESN’T KNOW WHAT IS Other Wes Moore Book
DOWN THIS PATH IF HE TAKES IT HE COULD FIND SOMETHING AMAZING. ANYTHING HARDER Review ............................ 2
IN LIFE USUALLY HAS A BETTER OUT COME IN LIFE.
Rhodes Research ........... 3
THE BOOK THE OTHER WES MOORE AND THE POEM THE ROAD NOT TAKEN CAN BE
COMPARED IN MANY WAYS. BOTH ARE SIMILAR BECAUSE THEY BOTH SHOW THAT MAKING
THE WRONG DECISIONS IN LIFE CAN IMPACT YOUR LIFE FOREVER, AND MAKING THE RIGHT SPECIAL POINTS OF
DECISIONS CAN MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE. IN THE POEM THE AUTHOR MUST CHOOSE BE- INTEREST
TWEEN TWO PATHS, IN THE BOOK THE OTHER WES MOORE, AUTHOR WES ALSO SOMEWHAT
MUST CHOOSE BETWEEN TWO PATHS THE EASY PATH OF GETTING OUT OF MILITARY SCHOOL • The Book the Other Wes
AND GOING BACK TO THE LIFE OF DRUGS AND CRIME, OR TAKING THE HARD PATH OF GRAD- Moore and The Road Not
UATING MILITARY SCHOOL, GOING TO COLLEGE, GETTING A JOB, AND LIVING A SUCCESSFUL
LIFE. AUTHOR WES ENDS UP CHOOSING THE HARD PATH BECAUSE HE TRULY WANTED TO
Taken have a similar
TURN HIS LIFE AROUND. OTHER WES TOOK THE EASY WAY AND WENT BACK TO CRIME AND theme. (pg 1)
DRUGS. THE POEM AND BOOK ARE ALSO VERY DIFFERENT. THE ROAD NOT TAKEN DOES NOT
DISCUSS CRIME OR FAMILY WHILE IT IS A HUGE ROLE IN THE OTHER WES MOORE. BOTH THE • The book review on page 2
BOOK AND POEM ARE VERY SIMILAR AND DIFFERENT. is a good review and will
give you information about
IN CONCLUSION, THE OTHER WES MOORE AND THE ROAD NOT TAKEN ARE VERY
the book.
SIMILAR BECAUSE THEY DISCUSS THE SAME THEME OF THE PATH YOU CHOSE IN LIFE HAS A
BIG IMPACT. THE TWO ARE ALSO DIFFERENT IN THE FACT THAT THE POEM DOES NOT DIS- • Want to know more about
CUSS FAMILY AND CRIME, BUT IT IS A BIG PART OF THE OTHER WES MOORE. BOTH THE OTH- The Rhodes Scholarship?
ER WES MOORE AND THE ROAD NOT TAKEN HAVE SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES BE- Then go to page 3 and read
TWEEN EACH OTHER. all about it!

PAGE 1
 RHODES SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION
The Rhodes Scholarship is a program
that gives intelligent and well character-
ized students a scholarship for college at
The University of Oxford. Cecil Rhodes
the creator of this scholarship was con-
sidered a hero to some and also a villain
who was a bad person. The Rhodes
Scholarship along with many others,
gives the scholarship away to 32 schol-
ars from the United States per year with
over 1,000 applicants; there are 80
Rhodes Scholars worldwide each year.
Rhodes Scholar is selected from an in-
stitution which has not formerly sup-
Bill Clinton Former U.S plied a successful applicant as well. The
president and Rhodes Rhodes Scholarship is a very popular
Scholar.
scholarship program that is an honor to
win.
Cecil Rhodes the founder of the Rhodes
Scholarship once said, “I have found out
one thing and that is, if you have an
idea, and it is a good idea, if you only
Bill Clinton, stick to it you will come out all right.”
former Rhodes
Scholar and The Rhodes scholarship was created by
President of the Cecil J. Rhodes. Cecil Rhodes was a
U.S once said, British businessman, mining magnate
“If you live long and politician in South Africa, who
enough, you'll served as Prime Minister of the Cape
make mistakes.
Colony from 1890 to 1896. He was ar-
But if you learn
dent believer in British imperialism,
from them,
Rhodes and his British South Africa
you'll be a bet-
Company founded the southern African
ter person. It's territory of Rhodesia, which the compa-
how you handle ny named after him. This was all before
adversity, not
the Rhodes Scholarship came to be.
how it affects
Cecil Rhodes provided 52 scholarships
you. The main
thing is never per year. Rhodes appointed trustees to
quit, never quit, oversee their implantation. The Rhodes
never quit.” Scholarships aim is to educate young
leaders who are committed to public
service at the University of Oxford. Peo-
ple were not only chosen for academics
but character as well. The Rhodes
Scholarship was first founded in Brittan
by Cecil Rhodes, and only men could
receive it. The scholarship was estab-
lished in 1902, first Americans entered
Oxford under the Rhodes Scholarship in
1904. The Rhodes Scholarship was cre-
ated to give further education to aca-
demic and characteristically strong stu-
dents. Some past scholars are former
U.S President, Bill Clinton, former sena-
tor and NBA star Bill Bradley, Myron
Rolle, defensive back and 6th round
draft pick in the 2010 NFL draft, Louisi-
ana Governor, Bobby Jindal, and actor,
Kris Keistofferson.
There are other popular scholarships
other than the Rhodes. For example,
The Coca-Cola Scholars Program Schol-
arship. It is an achievement-based
scholarship awarded to graduating high
school seniors each year. Financial need
is not a factor. Students are recognized
for their capacity to lead and serve, and
their commitment to making a signifi-
cant impact on their schools and com-
munities, the maximum award is
$20,000. Another scholarship is The
American Legion National Oratorical
Contest. This is where high school sen-
iors must speak on some aspect of the
U.S. Constitution, with some emphasis
on the duties and obligations of citizens
to our government. Speeches are eight
to ten minutes long; three- to five-
minute speeches on an assigned topic
also are part of the contest, the maxi-
mum award is $18,000. There are many
other scholarships to win besides the
Rhodes Scholarship.
PAGE 2
 Other Wes Moore Book
Review
The book The Other Wes Moore was a very interesting
and indulging book. The Author Wes Moore was born in 1978
and was three years old when his father, a respected radio and
television host, died in front of him. His mother, Joy, hoping
for a better future for her family, made a great deal of sacrific-
es to send Wes and his sisters to private school. Wes was a
trouble maker in his teens doing things like selling drugs, graf-
fitiing walls, and bad grades. As a result of this his mother sent
him to Valley Forge Military School, where he at first hated it
but learned to love it as the years went by. He went on after
this to graduate military school and go to college at John Hop-
kins University, and become a Rhodes Scholar. He now has a
family and is very successful. The book The Other Wes Moore
is about two boys with the same name of Wes Moore that lived The Book The Other Wes Moore
in the same decaying city of Baltimore, Maryland. One went on
to be a Rhodes Scholar, decorated combat veteran, White
House Fellow, and business leader. The other is serving a life
sentence in prison. SOME OTHER
I personally really enjoyed reading this book. I thought REVIEWS
it was entertaining and kept me engaged in the storyline. I
would suggest this book to someone else because it isn’t very
long so it isn’t hard to stay interested, along with that it is also “Startling and reve-
a fairly easy read. The book to me, was very well written. The latory… a rocketing
author used a variety of sentence lengths and a wide vocabu- real-life narrative.”
lary. The book was an interesting read, and kept me wanting to
-Baltimore Sun
read another chapter. I particularly liked Other Wes’ chapters
better because they were more exciting. Other Wes had one
brother, Tony, who drastically influenced his life. He also had
“ A moving book… a
a difficult life growing up because of the absence of a father,
call to arms.”
who abandoned him before he was even born. He stayed in the
streets and sold drugs. He robbed a jewelry store and assisted
in the death of a police officer. He has been then sent to life in
prison. Although I liked reading about Other Wes more, I still
enjoyed reading about Author Wes. Author Wes’ parents were
Westly and Joy, and his sisters were Nikki and Shani. He had a
difficult time growing up because of the death of his father but
after being sent to military school his behavior and grades im-
proved. He visits the other Wes Moore in prison to talk about
the past. I thought that this book was very interesting, enjoya-
ble, and well written, and would suggest to everyone to read it.

PAGE 3
 Sources

Deaton, Jamie Page. “How Rhodes Scholarships Work.” Rhodes

Scholarships History - Rhodes Scholarships History |
HowStuffWorks, HowStuffWorks, 18 May 2010, mon-
ey.howstuffworks.com/personal-finance/college-planning/
financial-aid/rhodes-scholarship1.htm.

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