Make Lemonade Essay
Malcolm X, a human rights activist once said, “Education is our passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today.” This quote describes the character LaVaughn’s feelings toward education in the novel Make Lemonade written by Virginia Euwer Wolff. The book is about a 14 year old girl named LaVaughn, who decides to get a job babysitting for a 17 year old named Jolly. Jolly has two kids named Jeremy and Jilly, who LaVaughn spends a lot of time with and begins to care deeply about. After Jolly loses her job, LaVaughn worries about the kids she has been caring for, and will not let their mother end up in a worse place than she already is. LaVaughn searches for ways to help get Jolly back onto …show more content…
After Jolly loses her job, her and Lavaughn begin to brainstorm jobs for Jolly. After thinking for about it, LaVaughn comes up with an idea: “‘You want to know my idea,’ I said. / She nods her head. / ‘My idea is you go back to school. / When you last went to a class, Jolly?’” (Wolff 66). LaVaughn suggests this idea to Jolly, because she believes it is the best way for her to get back onto her feet. LaVaughn believes having an education is the only way to have a successful life and job. She believes Jolly can change her life around by going to school, and getting the proper education she needs. LaVaughn believes Jolly has the potential to be successful if she gets an education. After Jolly turns down LaVaughn’s idea of Jolly going back to school, LaVaughn doesn’t give up. She still believes that going back to school is what is best for Jolly. Since Jolly will not try to get back into school herself, LaVaughn goes behind her back and tries to see if she can help. LaVaughn goes to school the next day and talks to one of the teachers about Jolly’s situation: “I quick ask, in my regular voice, ‘Jolly gets back in school, she gets Day Care free? / How does she get back in school?’ / She gives me a phone number from her memory and says, / ‘Ask for Barbara’” (Wolff 102). In this quote, LaVaughn is seeking for help for Jolly. She’s hoping there is someone that can help her get Jolly back into school, and help convince Jolly that this is the best thing for her to do. LaVaughn believes Jolly has the potential to be successful if she gets an education. Throughout the next few days, LaVaughn becomes in contact with the woman that is supposed to help her. When she brings this woman up to Jolly, LaVaughn says, “‘You remember that Barbara I kept calling? / The one where moms go back to school? / You know what it’s called? / It’s called Moms Up Program. / Up, Jolly, Up. You know?’ / She’s looking
Malcolm X, a human rights activist once said, “Education is our passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today.” This quote describes the character LaVaughn’s feelings toward education in the novel Make Lemonade written by Virginia Euwer Wolff. The book is about a 14 year old girl named LaVaughn, who decides to get a job babysitting for a 17 year old named Jolly. Jolly has two kids named Jeremy and Jilly, who LaVaughn spends a lot of time with and begins to care deeply about. After Jolly loses her job, LaVaughn worries about the kids she has been caring for, and will not let their mother end up in a worse place than she already is. LaVaughn searches for ways to help get Jolly back onto …show more content…
After Jolly loses her job, her and Lavaughn begin to brainstorm jobs for Jolly. After thinking for about it, LaVaughn comes up with an idea: “‘You want to know my idea,’ I said. / She nods her head. / ‘My idea is you go back to school. / When you last went to a class, Jolly?’” (Wolff 66). LaVaughn suggests this idea to Jolly, because she believes it is the best way for her to get back onto her feet. LaVaughn believes having an education is the only way to have a successful life and job. She believes Jolly can change her life around by going to school, and getting the proper education she needs. LaVaughn believes Jolly has the potential to be successful if she gets an education. After Jolly turns down LaVaughn’s idea of Jolly going back to school, LaVaughn doesn’t give up. She still believes that going back to school is what is best for Jolly. Since Jolly will not try to get back into school herself, LaVaughn goes behind her back and tries to see if she can help. LaVaughn goes to school the next day and talks to one of the teachers about Jolly’s situation: “I quick ask, in my regular voice, ‘Jolly gets back in school, she gets Day Care free? / How does she get back in school?’ / She gives me a phone number from her memory and says, / ‘Ask for Barbara’” (Wolff 102). In this quote, LaVaughn is seeking for help for Jolly. She’s hoping there is someone that can help her get Jolly back into school, and help convince Jolly that this is the best thing for her to do. LaVaughn believes Jolly has the potential to be successful if she gets an education. Throughout the next few days, LaVaughn becomes in contact with the woman that is supposed to help her. When she brings this woman up to Jolly, LaVaughn says, “‘You remember that Barbara I kept calling? / The one where moms go back to school? / You know what it’s called? / It’s called Moms Up Program. / Up, Jolly, Up. You know?’ / She’s looking