Personal Choices Lead to Consequences

Life is full of decision making! Life is also a reflection of choices, actions, thoughts and habits that are made. Indeed, we as humans are constantly making choices that will forever shape our lives, aspirations, values, and lifestyle. However, the choices that are made can either positively or negatively impact one’s future. As Anon once said, “You are free to make whatever choice you want, but you are not free from the consequences of the choice.” In the novel, “The Other Wes Moore,” the author, Wes Moore, describes his and the other Wes Moore’s life story, and the effects of the choices made by their parents. Through their parent’s actions, thoughts, notions and habits, both men’s character, values, thoughts and lifestyle were significantly impacted. Similarly, the decisions made by my own parents, particularly my father, has also played a significant role in my life, molding me into the person that I am today.

In the Dominican Republic, it is common to get married at very young age, particularly for men. For this reason, at the age of 21, my father decided to get married with his first wife, Aracelis. After three years of marriage, both Aracelis and my father believed it was time to have kids. By the age of 26, my father had three kids, and hoped for more. Unfortunately, during this time period, the Dominican Republic was experiencing a mild economic crisis, affecting the flow of jobs, money and production. As a result of this, a great majority of individuals fled the country in hopes to escape poverty and live a more prosperous life. In having a similar mindset, Aracelis decided to immigrate to the United States with her three kids while leaving my father behind. This decision truly altered my father’s lifelong goal of becoming an Engineer. At the time, my father attended a prestigious university, majoring in Chemical Engineering. However, in his last year of college, he decided to move to the United States, leaving behind his family and his anticipated career. Due to the choices made prior to my existence, my father currently works as a machine operator, working long dreadful hours in a cardboard factory. Instead of working doing what he loves, he spends hours doing the same routine over and over again. An intelligent man like my father with tremendous skills comes home every day destroyed. Sometimes, I find my dad unable to move his arms due to his work. Having to see my father like this brings great pain in my heart. For this reason, I wish to pursue my father’s dreams of becoming a chemical engineer. Overall, my interest in chemical engineering has inspired me to be part of the bigger solution by contributing to society.

In a like manner, both Wes Moore’s were significantly impacted by the choices made by their parents. In the beginning of the novel, the author illustrates his mother’s life when she attended American University in Washington D.C. Through this university, Joy became deeply involved with OASATAU, an organization that dealt with national, international, and campus situations. In involving herself with this organization, Joy was able to connect with various individual’s that had similar interest as her. One individual caught Joy’s attention, Bill, the treasurer of OASATAU. Despite not knowing the guy very well, Joy still got married with Bill two years after meeting him. However, little did Joy know that Bill’s “rebellious spirit,” and use of drugs and alcohol would make him an unreliable husband. Gradually, Bill’s abusive side revealed itself. He would frequently beat Joy. Eventually, Joy got tired of being abused, and decided to leave Bill despite having a child with him. She made it her obligation to never let another man put a hand on her again. Through her rough experience, and choice to get marry at such a young age, Joy became a serious woman, later affecting her relationship with her son. Also, the values Joy would teach Wes would later shape him into the person he is today.

 As for the other Wes Moore, his mother, Mary, also made a huge decision that would forever alter her and Tony’s life significantly. At the age of sixteen, Mary got pregnant, and had her first child, Tony. Indeed, it was extremely difficult for Mary since she was only “three years past the start of puberty.” Likewise, Tony’s father was a neighborhood boy who had no interest in helping her with the child. In her choice of getting pregnant and affiliating with an irresponsible man, her and her sons lives completely changed. Unfortunately, in not having a fatherly figure, Tony becomes a drug dealer. On the other hand, Wes Moore longs for that fatherly figure, and solely looks up to the only man in his life, his brother. Due to this, Wes Moore eventually becomes a similar image of his brother: aggressive, violent, and destructive.

Furthermore, personal decisions lead to personal consequences. Likewise, personal decisions can also affect those around you. In the novel, “The Other Wes Moore,” the choices made by both Wes Moore’s parents, especially their mothers, significantly shaped their notions, habits, lifestyles and aspirations. The decision made by Joy has taught Wes various values. On the other hand, Mary’s decision to get pregnant at an early age made both her sons become criminals and drug dealers. As for me, the decision of my father to come to this country and leave behind his anticipated career made me want to continue what he couldn’t finish.