Raymond’s Run is a touching story about a talented young sprinter, who works hard every day so she can win races. She takes a jog every day with her brother Raymond keeping up and following behind, and avoids certain activities such as dressing up as a strawberry or a fairy because that would show that she’s not independent, and that she’s a prissy little girl like how she thinks of most of the other girls. When the big day comes, she wins her race, but she sees her brother Raymond and realizes that he’s pretty fast. Squeaky realizes that she shouldn’t be only thinking of her own desire to win, because she’s got talents for many things and lots of trophies and medals, but Raymond has nothing to call his own. She decides to train him, and maybe enlist the help of Gretchen, a fast girl who Squeaky sort of dislikes, but still respects. This story has many important lessons, such as how we should accept those who are different, we should know who we are and not try to change it, that competition is a useless way of proving ourselves to others, and once we have become mature we will know who we are and be proud of it.
Acceptance is always wise, because just because someone is different doesn’t mean that they are inferior. Our differences are our gifts, and we should help hone and train them to the best of our ability. Everybody has their own differences, and we should try to accept them, instead of lashing out and bullying them. In Raymond’s Run, Squeaky was a very fast and fit girl. But her brother Raymond was mentally disabled, and many people bullied him because of it. Since Hazel could take care of herself, she also defended Raymond. People like Cynthia Proctor and her friends were the embodiment of jealousy and anger, trying to obtain the impossible standard of perfection. Hazel also felt this way for a while, until she understood that she was already good enough, and she should spend her time helping others. Trying to help others who need it is an honor that we should all try to do, so that one day we can be helped in a great way. By accepting the differences in someone else, we can be kinder and help others reach their full potential.
Accepting others is important, but we also have to accept ourselves first before we can help others out. Many people often believe that they are inferior, but everyone is strong in their own special way, and we should try to help others learn this. In Raymond’s Run, Hazel had to use a mask of confidence and swagger to hide her true, fairly insecure self. Cynthia pretended not to be working hard at all at all the things she was good at. Mary Louis had to obey Cynthia’s every command just to have a small group of friends. They all had secret insecurities in themselves, but Hazel managed to overcome her doubt and realize that she was already good with how she was, as a champion runner and a kind sister. She realized that Raymond didn’t have anything to call his own, so she decided that since she had come to terms with who she was, she would help Raymond do the same. The only way to improve is to realize that you are already good enough, and that there is no need to improve. Accepting ourselves allows us to bypass obstacles and try helping out everyone else.
Competitions may be fun, but it is ultimately just a useless way that many people think of as a way to “prove” themselves. The wisest people already know that they are good enough, and they will not participate in competition just to prove to everyone that they are skilled and talented. You don’t need someone else’s approval to know that you’re good enough. In Raymond’s Run, Hazel was always running, because she knew that she didn’t need everyone else’s admiration but she still desired it, which is why she tries to show off and complete the race every year, but also tries to show everyone she works hard for it. Many of the other characters simply want everyone else’s adoration, but not for them to know how much they have to try for it, such as Cynthia, who is very talented, but pretends that she’s doing it effortlessly. Competitions are pointless, because they simply use lots of resources just to make people feel like they are proving something, but the only person people have to prove that they have skills to are to themselves. Doing an activity such as sports is only good for the fun and the exercise, but the competition itself can be detrimental.
Maturity comes when we have grown up, and mastery of self and mind means that we have come to terms with who we are, and that you understand that you are already good enough and don’t need anyone else’s approval. Once we have grown up and matured, we will be less affected by other people’s opinions, and we can be free to choose our own ideas and be more competent. In Raymond’s Run, most of the characters at the start were immature and felt like they needed to participate in what everyone else was doing to fit in, but once Hazel ran a race, and saw Raymond running to his very own beat, she understood that differences are what make us unique, and that it doesn’t make us inferior. She realized she was already good enough, and that she could help others attain this level of understanding, starting with Raymond. Being mature allows us to transcend to a better version of ourselves, and we should all start helping others reach their full potential once we have. We should all strive to grow up and help others, because it prevents us from being childish and allows us to have better self-control.
Raymond’s Run is a powerful and moving story that teaches the crucial lessons of how we should accept those who are different from us because it makes us unique, we should know who we are and help others understand the same, that competition is a useless way of to do something no one needs it to do, and once we have become mature we will know who we are and be proud of it. It shows these themes by showing how the main character, Hazel, also known as Squeaky, changes throughout the story. It allows the reader to see how Hazel changes by showing her change in opinion on her brother Raymond. As the story progresses, Hazel learns the same lessons we are meant to learn. This story is amazing because of its knowledgeable lessons and its advanced storyline. I recommend it for readers of all ages because it has the ability to teach lessons in an unforgettable manner.
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