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Brianna Lavagnino
K. Mount
English 11
3 March 2016
The Pact Essay
Non-fiction is defined as prose writing based on facts, such as a biography or
history. People who write non-fiction are writing about something that really happened.
Some types of non-fiction would include essays, diaries, journals, documentaries,
histories, scientific papers, photographs, biographies, text books, travel books, blueprints,
user manuals, and diagrams and so on. The Pact is a non-fiction piece of writing because
the book is their true story; the authors are three black men from a tough and dangerous
neighborhood in Newark, NJ, who in high school promised each other to make it through
medical school. The tone of this book is mostly reflective. But it is also hopeful and
positive. They proved that people can accomplish amazing things with nothing to build
on. This book gives hope to kids that share the same hopelessness as the three doctors
once felt. The audience of this book is obviously anyone who reads it. And the purpose is
to inspire people to dream big, and accomplish even the most seemingly impossible goal.
The Pact is about three black kids, who were raised in city of Newark. Growing
up, they faced many problems that would push any other person to the edge. Severe
family problems, little to no money, watching people die; drug dealers on every corner,
and constant peer pressure were at every turn. But eventually they found themselves all in
the same school and instantly became friends. As they reached high school they still had
no support or anyone to help them go to college – until one day when George convinced
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his two friends to go to a meeting about a free plan to go to a medical/dental health
college. After that meeting, they promised each other they would all become doctors, and
stick it out together through the long, difficult journey needed to achieve that dream. In
the end, they made it through college and graduated together and found jobs for all three
of them back in there home town.
These men changed tremendously throughout The Pact. As young teens they
faced jail, drugs, death, and life changing decisions. But as they matured they realized
they needed to change where their life was headed if they wanted to become successful
and help their rotting home town in the future. They let go of bad influencing friends,
they stopped selling and consuming drugs, and they made right choices. Of course they
messed up here and there but overall they made a huge accomplishment before they even
became doctors. And once they did, people saw that as the biggest change of all. Most
boys growing up in the projects wouldn’t even dream of becoming a doctor.
I believe the authors of this book have learned many valuable life lessons. An
example of one could be join trustworthy friends who share the same goal. George, Sam,
and Rameck all wanted to be doctors, which is how they stayed together after High
School and pulled each other through the tough times. Another would be find strengths in
your differences. People aren’t always going to be exactly the same, so you should draw
from one another’s strengths and use them to make your bond more interesting and
stronger. Compete in a healthy way. Healthy competition between you and your friends is
a powerful way to be at the top of your game all the time. Rameck, Sam, and George all
know this from experience. It’s how they got through college with outstanding grades.
They constantly competed to see who the best was. And lastly, communicating openly,
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honestly, and often. Don’t keep everything bottled in, let it out sometimes and talk to
your friends. It’ll keep you sane and relaxed through the toughest of times. I’m sure there
are many more but those are a few I’m sure the author’s would lecture you on if you ever
met them.
What I liked about this book was the fact that we got to read about their lives
from them, what actually happened and everything they went through from their eyes.
What I didn’t like about this book was the fact that it didn’t really apply to me. I will
never understand the hardships they faced or the immense relief it felt to reach their goal
after everything that was pulling them down. I would recommend this book to people I
see that need it; who could look at it a get that sense of understanding and hope.