August vs. Megan

“MR. BROWNE'S SEPTEMBER PRECEPT:

WHEN GIVEN THE CHOICE BETWEEN BEING
RIGHT OR BEING KIND, CHOOSE KIND.”  

Page 47-48

 

I can't say that I relate to August Pullman completely, because he has definitely been through more than I can ever imagine.  But I can relate to one thing, and that are his feelings.

 

August Pullman is about to enter the fifth grade.  Exciting, right?  Then why is he feeling so nervous?

 

Here's the thing about August, he's never gone to a real school.  August has been homeschooled ever since starting school, and that's because August is different.

August has a facial deformity.

 

Elementary school is where I struggled with myself a lot.  I was bullied, but even with being bullied I tried to stay positive.  I made friends who mattered, who cared for me, and I kept them close.  I never let the bullies fully get to me, but it was hard trying to block them out.

I overcame the bullies, kind of like August Pullman did.

 

If there's one thing that I can say about August, it's that he should be a role model for everyone who has read the book.  Even though August felt insecure about his face, he eventually opened up and made the best of it.  August knew that he couldn't change the way he looked, so he started joking around with a couple of his friends about it.

 

Here's a couple of questions I want everyone who is reading this to think about:

1. If August Pullman would have shown up in your fifth grade class, how would you have reacted?
2. If August Pullman tried to befriend you, would you welcome him?
3. What would make it hard for you to become friends with someone like August Pullman?

August struggled with a lot of things when entering the fifth grade.  He encountered daily stares, fake friends, and not to mention Julian.  He was beat up at his schools weekend getaway, and he was called many horrible names that I couldn't even begin to think to call someone.

 

August is my own personal hero after reading this book, and one of the things that I would do if I were to meet him is to just hug him.  No one should ever be afraid of anything, especially not school, just because of the way they look.

 

I was told to pretend that I was August's teacher as I read this story, so I did.  It saddens me to know that this is the truth, that I am going to have to deal with the different kids bullying other kids just because of looks, the way the dress, or from where the come from.

Because of Wonder by R.J. Palacio, I've already started planning out how to handle these different things.

 

Auggie Pullman has changed my life.