“One needs to persevere in facing life challenges”

How can you relate the statement to the novel you have studies. Support your answer with
evidences from the novel.

In the novel Dear Mr Kilmer by Anne Schraff, the novel is about a boy Richard Knight who
has a passion in poetry but keeps it as a secret to the people around him. He is different from his
family members and also his friends. He is inspired by a famous poet Mr Joyce Kilmer who he
corresponds through letters. Through Mr Kilmer, Richard learns valuable lessons and the theme
perseverance in facing life challenges can be seen clearly portrayed by Richard and also other
characters.

First and foremost, Richard shows perseverance in pursuing his dream as a poet. All this
while, Richard pens his thoughts, feelings and emotions in poem. However he keeps it lock in a
drawer away from the eyes of his family members. Things changed when Richard is inspired to share
his love for poetry with his family. Richard finds the courage after he reads what Mr Kilmer wrote to
him. In the letter, Mr Kilmer says that ‘fear is part of life and we need to overcome it to be who we
really are’. Armed with those words, Richard decided to tell his family during dinner. Unfortunately,
the response he receives is far from what he expected. His father dismisses his interest in poetry by
claiming that it is just a phase and he will eventually get over it. Gus added that poetry is for ‘sissy’
and he even warns Richard not to share his interest at school. Angie his sister tells him that she
wouldn’t understand any of it and not much of a reader. All these sentiments are a challenge to
Richard in his effort to share with his family something that he really love and they do not
understand any of it. Despite all these, Richard perseveres and does not stop writing. It does not
lessen his love towards poetry. The second evidence is when he faces the challenge of losing a
mentor he looks up to and the thought of quitting poetry as he grieves the death of Mr Kilmer. He is
saddened and devastated by the shock news that Mr Kilmer has died in war. He feels that he has lost
the strength to continue writing poetry. However, he then realizes that Mr Kilmer would not want
him to stop. He perseveres and overcomes his grief by pouring his emotions and feelings in a poem
written in tribute to Mr Kilmer and all the fallen heroes that had lost their lives in the war. I believe
that we should not give up in achieving our dreams even when people around us do not support us.
We need to find the strength to persevere and overcome the challenges even if at times we feel like
throwing in the towel.

The theme perseverance can also be seen in the character of Hannah Schemer. Hannah
perseveres in fighting for what she believes in. This can be seen when her family’s tavern is
vandalised by irresponsible residents of Turtle Lake. A place where they call home and feel like they
are part of the American society. Hannah’s family tavern is being scribbled with hateful word like
‘Dirty Huns’ and ‘Traitors’ referring to them being Germans. Hannah is also being taunted at school
by her own classmates where they call her hateful names spearheaded by Harry, Abner, Peggy and
Blance. All these challenges are being faced by Hannah with quiet inner strength as she does not
retaliate or fights back. Moreover, Hannah shows perseverance when she wins the role of ‘Lady
Liberty’ with her excellent essay entitled ‘Peace’. All of her classmates including their parents
protested saying that it is a disgrace to let a German plays the role of Lady Liberty. Hannah not
wanting to start another war at school, willingly let go of the role. She explains to Richard that her
father words motivates her to do so. ‘There are times to fight and times not to’ and Hannah believes
that by not fighting she is not causing more pains as everyone is going through a difficult time. In my
opinion, at times we need to persevere and stand firmly to what we believe is right. We need to
know when to let go what we really want in order to not create more conflicts and thus the decision
makes us a better person.

Last but not least, the theme perseverance also can be seen through Mrs. Hansen's
character. She perseveres in correcting the strong false belief between her students and Schemers'
family. After America has declared war on Germany, majority of Turtle Lake residents become
prejudice towards Hannah and her family. They receive dicriminating treatment throughout the war
just because of they are German-Americans. The same goes to Hannah in the classroom with her
classmates. When the Schemers's tavern is vandalised with painted "Dirty Huns" all over the wall,
Mrs. Hansen brings a sympathy card to be signed by her students as a symbolic of support and
sympathy. Unfortunately, none of her students do sign the card but they question the reason why
they must to sign it. Mrs. Hansen really surprised with the all the responds her obtain from her vocal
students that criticize Hannah and her family. She encourages her students by believing that all the
rumours is only misunderstandings but nothing change because of the bullies in the class scared out
of them. So the sympathy card can't be given to represent the class as there's only a sign from
Richard. Second event portrays perseverance theme is when Mrs. Hansen choose Hannah for the
role of Lady of Liberty in a patriotic play. Although desicion is hard to be accepted by the students
and also receive a lot of disapproval from parents but Mrs. Hansen doesn't give up and still with her
choice until Hannah turn down the role herself. In my opinion, how difficult the way that we must
face in reaching our goals, we must not give up and keep on trying as much as we can as it's always
seem impossible until it's done.