“The son of a servant getting a scholarship to a place like Ghaib? It would open up my world in ways I could only begin to imagine.”

Omar wants more for himself than a life of servitude and knows that achieving his goals depends on getting an education, for doing so helps one rise above poverty.Omar’s comment shows how difficult and important it is to get an education inPakistan, where the education rate is low, quality education is hard to find orafford, and many children do not receive a basic education.

“You carry all of our pride with you, Omar. Carry it well.”

Malik Uncle voices his and the village’s support for Omar. Omar, though proud,also feels burdened by what he thinks is the village’s pressure on him to succeed.Omar internalizes this pressure and worries about disappointing others. Hisconcern shows that he lacks confidence in himself, and it will take all of his determination to eventually overcome these insecurities.

“Both of us are at the exact same school, but we see it so differently.”

While Malik Uncle and Omar think his room at Ghalib is spacious and comfortable,Aiden sees it as a “prison.” To Omar, Ghalib and its grounds are beautiful, but toAiden, the place is a “dump.” The difference in the boys’ viewpoints highlightstheir different socioeconomic backgrounds. Coming from poverty, Omar seesGhalib as physically stunning and as an important opportunity. Aiden, comingfrom wealth, sees Ghalib as an inferior school and does not care about his bad grades or his education, as they will likely not affect his future.