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Tom Brennan Speech

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Tom Brennan Speech
In life, everybody faces obstacles that have to be encountered. Sometimes they are good, and other times they are bad. I think it’s the individual coping with these new experiences that leads to significant rewards and life skills that help make growing up and transitioning into society easier.

This is shown in the text we studied in class; ‘The Story of Tom Brennon’ by JC Bourke which is a story told through the eyes of 17 year old Tom Brennon. He has to encounter new experiences due to a horrific car accident his brother Daniel caused, killing two and paralyzing his cousin. The whole family suffers as they are forced from their hometown of Mumbilly due to society’s reaction to the death of their loved ones.

This is hard on the whole family as they were so loving and devoted to their home town, especially Tom who was exceptionally close to his brother Daniel. Tom finds it quite hard to come to terms with all the new changes: a new town, no brother, living with his Nan. These are all things Tom finds difficult to adapt to. It makes it not just hard on himself, but also to the other people trying to help him. Tom learns to cope with his misery, adapt and fit in to a new school and make new friends. His involvement in rugby makes it easier to start to transition into a new town.

Tom starts to build a strong relationship with his uncle Brendan who helps the family make their transition into their new town Coghill. Tom feels as though his Uncle is finally someone he can talk to about his emotions. Brendan encourages Tom to go for runs and the ‘ascent’ becomes a metaphor for his mental and emotional progress. As the runs get easier, Tom begins to become more flexible to the idea of new experiences.

Towards the end of the story you get to see the old Tom Brennon again, happy and full of life. This is shown through his relationship with Chrissie a girl who Tom falls in love with. Old Tom never used to speak to girls as that was always Daniels talent, but

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