The path of one's life can lead to fulfilled or unfulfilled expectations, depending on the type of path that was taken. In the third part of The Other Wes Moore, entitled "Paths Taken and Expectations Fulfilled," the paths of both Wes Moores arrive at their defining moments. The author Wes attends paratrooper training while in the army, and he becomes a regimental commander, one of the highest-ranking officers at Valley Forge. He had fulfilled expectations that the school had demanded of him. Wes 2 had gone to Job Corps and received his GED and vocational training, but after holding down a few jobs back home, he resorted to his old ways. He and his brother robbed a jewelry store, and shot a police officer, leading to a life sentence in prison. The title of the collection of chapters is appropriate with the author's purpose because the purpose is to encourage young people to make a positive impact with their life, and the section shows the rewards and opportunities that come with going in the right direction and fulfilling expectations.
The author demonstrates the rewards for making a positive impact in this section. One such reward was that "Valley Forge had selected me to be the regimental commander for the 70th Corps of Cadets. This meant that I would be the highest-ranking cadet in the entire corps of over seven hundred people." (Page 134) From the time that Wes had arrived at Valley Forge to the time he was about to enter junior college, he had changed. The adjustments that he made to his attitude and demeanor were instrumental in changing his life. He rose up through the ranks, gaining more respect with each promotion. The series of promotions cumulated with him being the highest-ranking officer in the corps. This shows that his elders at Valley Forge believed in him. As someone gains more respect, their outlook on life also changes. They realize that their elders believed in them and their ability to be a positive contribution to society, and they start to believe it, too. This leads to them becoming officers in the military (in Wes's case), police officers, doctors, or any other career where they make a difference. The reward ends up being the satisfaction of helping others. Also, when Wes went to talk to the mayor of Baltimore, Kurt Schmoke, he received a golden opportunity because of the direction his life was going in: "The words 'law school' escaped from my mouth, the fallback answer for students who have no idea what they want to do with their lives. Mayor Schmoke waved his hand at the idea. 'Have you ever heard of the Rhodes Scholarship?'"(Page 161) Wes had just finished completing an internship with the Mayor, and they were having a discussion about the experience and Wes's future plans. Mayor Schmoke thought highly of Wes, justifying the reason that he encouraged Wes to apply for the Rhodes Scholarship. Many times, when a young person is viewed as exemplary, they are recruited to engage in prestigious programs or apply for scholarships. For example, a student with straight A's is often encouraged to apply to the National Honor Society. The more people that think highly of the person, the more opportunities are available to that person, and the more options they have for pursuing interests that they have.
The author shows how going down the right path can lead to several doors of opportunity opening. It can lead to important leadership positions such as army officer, politician, or any other profession like that. It can also lead to other opportunities arising that have the potential to help a student discover their true calling in life. Hopefully, a teen heading down the wrong path will read that section and be inspired to change the direction they are heading.
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