Madeline

SALT
Persepolis and True Notebooks have certain similarities one being that most of the characters in each book are fighting against something. For True Notebooks, the prisoners seem to be fighting their inner demons. For example, Francisco, one of the inmates at the juvenile hall, writes a poem titled "collision" which describes an angel and devil colliding into one and becoming Francisco. I think his thought process behind this was really interesting, he feels like he constantly needs to hold back from the negative aspects of his life and himself. In some ways I can relate to this because I've made a lot of mistakes, and struggle with making good choices. I think it's easy to be bad because then you are'nt really committing yourself to anything, and you tend to get what you want. It's harder to do the right thing, it doesn't always work out in your benefit at the end.
I also think that after they started going to the writing class the inmates began fighting for their self confidents and the potential that they had to offer. They started believing in themselves and wanted to prove to everyone else that they could go far, and to believe in them too.
CJ
There are many preconceptions in True Notebooks that the prisoners have about the people around them, mostly based off they're past. They judge things before going into them, like the writing class. The inmates think it is'nt important at first, what would be the point of taking some stupid writing class if your in prison and it seems pointless. I think they judge themselves too, since so many people have put them down and made them feel worthless they started really believing they were. Most of these kids don't think they have the potential to write well and do good in the class, but after they begin and Mark gives them praise for their work you see their attitudes start to change.
I have had many preconsived notions about things, including this bridge program. I was excited going into it, but something in the back of my head kept telling me I suck at math and I'm gonna fail, I expected it to be way too hard for me to ever understand. Now that i'm here though, I'm not struggling as much, and I feel more confident in myself. It's taught me to always go into things with an open mind, and believe in yourself.