McHaleResponse7

The first //This I Believe// is about an inner- city schoolteacher who also practices martial arts. He trains in martial arts as a passion, but not as a career. He describes the traits he cannot use with martial arts, which are also the traits that his students cannot use. To me he comes off as sympathetic towards his students. I believe he trains as a way to cope with the battle he faces everyday, trying to teach “at-risk” students. He can’t do anything about the way the government tells him to teach, but he can go to the gym and punch a 300-pound bag.

The second //This I Believe// is sort of like an under dog story. He used to hang out on the street with drug dealers or go to strip clubs, but now he plans to be standing up in a classroom as a professor. He did a good job of getting from one place to another very successful place. He knows what he wants and has learned how to get that for himself.

The last one is about a woman’s “Nona”. Her Nona had a difficult life that included being mostly illiterate and being dis-owned by her family. However, now she spends her days counting money and is able to speak five different languages. The Nona has taught her granddaughter how to count as well and deal with fabric. Although this story is sweet, I feel like have hear it a hundred other times. It is the typical story of an immigrant making the best of where she moved.

My favorite story was the first one about martial arts. It was the most original and interesting. I have read books and watched movies about the other two, but I have yet to see anything about a teacher who also trains in martial arts.