He is an advocate with a cause in his school to help others. shows that,like his parents, he looks after the people and things that are not as capable of standing up for themselves.

proves to be a true leader who stands up for people and goes against the flow of everyone else. He also helps the helpless outcasts in his school not only gain letter jackets, but respect and companions as well. is saying in this quote that he got so much more out of swim team than he ever thought he would. 'Part of me doesn't want it (swim team) to end because it's so much more than what I had in mind in the beginning, and I don't know if what we got from it can ever be re-created' (Crutcher 167). shows that he would rather help others then himself and that he is not like all the other kids in Spokane. is naturally athletic, he could be immensely popular by joining a school sport but he instead decides to help the 'downtrodden'. decides to help them letter by starting a swim team. Where most people would not want to be seen with the teased kids in the school, T.J. In my opinion, this shows that he is a brave leader willing to do anything to help others. He is a caring boy who has the courage to take in his enemy's child and wife so that they can live better lives.

is again helping someone who could not help themselves. 'As I walk towards my car from Georgia's house, what I know is this: the feeling I had inside when Heidi and I were scrubbing ourselves 'clean' will keep Rich Marshall in my life long after I would have normally had him surgically removed like a giant hemorrhoid' (Crutcher 74). gives her and her mom a home while things with Rich are being figured out. Heidi is regularly trying to get rid of her black skin so T.J. meets her at Georgia, his counselor's, house they are instant companions. She is Rich Marshall's stepdaughter and is constantly abused by him for being black. Heidi is a four or five year old girl who is, like T.J., an African American. shows that he is caring again when he agrees to provide a safe, loving environment for Heidi and her mother.

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