personality and character
From the Introduction, what do we learn about Luma’s personality and character? What words and/or passages in the Introduction give information about her values and philosophy?
From this text, several things can be learned from the personality and character of Luma. The introduction of the text presents Luma as a young woman from Jordan and in her early 30s who moved to the U.S by herself. From the initial events of the text, we learn that Luma is tough and independent.
Luma’s personality trait shows how tough she is as a result of how she grew up. Being the leader among her siblings, she was authoritative and demanded that everything is done diligently. For example, the text reveals that Luma could lead her siblings and cousins at the family farm to carry out chores that required a lot of energy. Moreover, her personality trait of being tough was the motivating factor that held her back in the U.S herself. Towards the end of her junior year, Luma was motivated to continue her college education in the U.S. Her parents wanted her to go back to Jordan, but Luma stayed back and graduated. Her parents became angry, and this led to Luma standing by her decision and losing her family.
Luma’s personality trait also reveals to the audience that she is an independent woman. This is as a result of how she thrives alone in the U.S and decides to live by herself. She thrives alone to develop herself into an active coach who motivated her players. While in the U.S, it is her coaching job and other casual tasks that keep her going. Some of the words in the text that give information about Luma’s values and philosophy can be found in excepts, where she conversed with her players. For instance, Luma is quoted telling her player not to relent until they make the opponent coach sit. She wanted her team to win so that the opponent coach could stay calm.
What American qualities and/or characteristics of life is Luma attracted to even though staying in America means making a serious break with her family?
There several American ways of life that Luma is attracted to, even though staying back would lead to separation from her family. When she went to the U.S, her primary purpose was to attend college. She got attracted to the American qualities of life because oconservative Muslim society that tied her to several social norms. In the U.S, she enjoyed the freedom and embraced thef he society she was welcomed into. This freedom allowed her to get the purpose and meaning of life far from home. She enjoyed finding a livelihood by herself by working in restaurants in Atlanta. While dwelling in the suburbs of Atlanta, Luma was attracted by way of life in the U.S by discovering a group of young and talented refugee boys splaying soccer. This inspired her to help out by buying them a ball and supporting their efforts. This pushed her to become a coach and establish an institution that supported refugee kids. From her perspective, the challenges witnessed by the kids she started rsupporting were not new.
Luma was also attracted to the American way of life because people in her neighborhood appreciated her and helped her open a school for refugees. Despite being a Muslim, she was able to thrive well in American society. Headlines and immigration policies were harsh on Muslims, but the society was welcoming. She liked the fact that the community in America accepted her not for being an alienated Muslim, but for her personality and the contributions she was making in the society.