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  “The chilling truth is that his story could have been mine. The tragedy is that my story could have been his.” — Wes Moore This single line encapsulates the central tension of the book: how two boys, born in similar circumstances, can diverge so drastically. To understand this divergence, we must look at how luck and choice intertwine throughout their lives. Wes Moore (the author) had a strong support system, despite facing adversity. After his father's early death, his mother worked tirelessly to keep the family together, eventually moving them to a safer neighborhood and enrolling Wes in private school. These weren’t easy moves, but they were made possible in part by luck-access to family support, guidance, and a relentless mother who had the means (and insight) to make tough decisions. In contrast, the other Wes Moore didn’t have those same advantages. His father was absent. His mother, Mary, tried her best but was constantly thwarted by circumstances, like losing a Pell Grant...

  Luck vs. Choice: Who Really Shapes Our Lives? We’ve all heard phrases like “You make your own luck” or “Right place, right time.” These sayings reflect two powerful forces that shape our lives:  luck  and  choice . But how much of our path is written by chance, and how much is carved by the decisions we make? Let’s face it, some things are out of our control. The family we’re born into, the country we grow up in, the time period we live through-these are foundational circumstances shaped entirely by luck. Even meeting a key mentor, catching a job opening at the perfect moment, or avoiding an accident can hinge on chance. For the most part, I believe that chance is what sets up our lives. I mean even the odds of being born are about 1 in 400trillion, so that's something to be grateful about. Luck is what brings us into this world and determines our livelihood until consciousness clicks in, and then it is up to us to determine the path we choose to take.  Choice...

      At the heart of  The Other Wes Moore  is a powerful and unsettling question: how can two individuals with the same name, born in similar environments, end up leading such drastically different lives? One Wes Moore becomes a decorated veteran, author, and Rhodes Scholar; the other is sentenced to life in prison for his role in a robbery that ends in the death of a police officer. This parallel invites readers to consider what determines a person’s fate—choices, luck, or a combination of both? Rather than drawing a firm conclusion, the author presents both life stories side by side, allowing readers to see how a blend of decisions and circumstances shapes each man’s journey. Moore uses his own experiences to show moments where he veered away from potential disaster, choices that may have seemed small at the time, but ultimately altered the course of his life. His eventual success is shown to be the product of key turning points, like his reluctant but u...

 Sophie Cucco Mentors are incredible sources of guidance, strength, and comfort. They often step into our lives when we need them most, offering wisdom and encouragement that help us become the best version of ourselves. I’m incredibly grateful to have one of my own. My mentor is my former dance teacher, someone who has played an essential role in my personal and professional growth. For five years, she taught me, guided me, and pushed me in ways that helped shape who I am today. Our relationship began when I joined her dance class, but over time, it grew into something much deeper. I wasn’t just a student and often, I would assist her with younger classes, or we would spend one-on-one time together in private lessons. I spent so many hours at the studio that it started to feel like a second home, and she became like a second mom to me. Her support didn’t stop when I graduated. When it was time for me to audition for college dance programs, she welcomed me back into the studio and ...

Sophie Cucco      At times, music gives Wes a way to process his feelings, especially during tough moments like when he’s dealing with his father’s death or struggling with his identity. Music is part of how Wes and his friends connect and express themselves. It shapes their worldview and is often linked to the themes of masculinity, power, and survival. In the early chapters, Wes mentions being surrounded by the rise of  hip-hop culture  in the Bronx. Songs by artists like  Run-D.M.C.  and  Big Daddy Kane  were playing in the background of his daily life. This music didn’t just entertain—it captured the realities of the streets, the struggles of young Black men, and themes like power, poverty, and resistance. Wes recalls how these lyrics shaped how boys saw manhood—often equating it with toughness and dominance, which influenced some of his early behavior. I am a very avid music listener. More so than the average person I would say. I listen...

 How can our decisions alter our life paths?   There is one instance that I know without a doubt altered my life path, and that was my decision to move from Michigan to New York. I was a Junior in high school and it wasn't a decision that came easily to me. At the time, A lot of my friends from dance were graduating and I felt unsatisfied with my life in a small town. Watching my friends make plans for college gave me an itch to move onto a new chapter myself. I was accepted to Joffrey Ballet School to join their trainee program and it was exactly what I was looking for, but there were many factors to consider. To start, I would have to give up my senior year of high school. Prom, graduation, my peers who I had been with since kindergarten. It wasn't that I felt necessarily attached to school, but the sentimental value of all of those big moments that you look forward to growing up were hard to let go of. There was also the fact that I would be leaving my family. I would have ...