English: Freedom Writers, Ava

Freedom Writers

Ava’s Childhood

Ava had a loving and caring family, especially her father. But on her first day of school she was waiting for
her dad to take her to the bus, but a car drove past a man got shot right there on the street right in front of
her. When her dad run out it was too late he was dead. The police took her father for retaliation, he was
innocent but they took him because he was respected by her people, they called her people a gang
because they fight for their America. When she got her initiation into the gang life she was beaten so she
wouldn't break. They are her family.

Court

In court Ava was asked what happened in the shop when someone was shot dead. She wanted to lie and
say someone else did to protect her people and family, but she couldn’t send an innocent person to prison
just like her father was, because she seen his family, she knew that she had been in that position before
except her father didn’t even get a chance. So she risked it and told the truth. After that people were after
her they wanted her dead because she betrayed them, but the only reason they didn’t kill her was because
who her father was.

For Ava being in that English class had a big influence on her decision in court. It was important learning
about holocaust because it related back to Ava and her situation. Before Ms G came along her world was
all about her gang and her family. But being in that class helped her understand there is so much more to
this world. When Miep Gies came and talked to the class, she talked about everyone being a hero in
their own way, she said she wasn’t and that she was just doing what was right when she was protecting
Anne Frank. Ava knew couldn’t lie she had to do the right thing. She did what she believed was right.
Her values changed, that’s what made her tell the truth in that courtroom.