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One of the toughest things for anybody to do in life is adapt through change. Even though Ishmael's life before the rebels started to take over Beahs life wasn't butterflies, and rainbows. The biggest change was yet to come and when he did he took the challenge upon himself and kept thriving throughout. Beah knew what he had to do and persevered through every obstacle and used what he had to protect himself.

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“My squad is my family, my gun is my provider, and protector, and my rule is to kill or be killed.”

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Even though Ishmael Beah suffered through so much he still grew as a person throughout. Beah never gave up and would always focus on one thing that would give him enough hope to hold onto throughout his days. By the end he was running out until he traveled to the states to find the one person who would give enough hope to keep fighting through the rest of his days.

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“But what was more violent than making people disbelieve in the worth of their own lives? What was more violent than making them believe they deserved less and less every day?

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Throughout the whole book Ishmael Beah went through obstacle after obstacle. Each obstacle he went through came with more and more of a downfall, but he went in with a positive mindset knowing that each day going by could be the last. Never giving up, and always fighting.

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“My childhood had gone by without my knowing, and it seemed as if my heart had frozen.”

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Ishmael Beah went through many obstacles ranging from the separation of his family in the beginning to watching the village where is family was located burned to the ground. Ishmael still looked forward in hopes to find a better ending staying optimistic throughout the book. If Ishmael Beah didn't keep a positive mindset he wouldn't have been able to proceed in the hectic lifestyle he was brought up in.

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“I was still hesitant to let myself let go, because I still believed in the fragility of happiness.”

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For Ishmael Beah the thought of not knowing if or when anything good will happen to you has the ability to block your mindset, and thought process on what he needs to do to survive long enough for any good to come his way. This showing Strength mentally, physically, and emotionally.

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"One of the most unsettling things about my journey, Mentally, Physically, and Emotionally, I wasn't sure when or where it was going to end"

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Throughout the book, A long way gone Ishmael Beah goes through many obstacles. Also questioning many aspects of life, such as what does it mean to be human? This question is a huge part to the story due to all of the things Ishmael had to go through just to survive. It is unlike anything anybody has to go through. For Ishmael Beah what it means to be human is: Strong, Optimistic, Courageous , Resilient, and the ability to adapt.