Victor not being able to read made him fear going to school because his teacher would require students to read aloud. Victor says having to read aloud was not his only fear but many other things as well. She was also very afraid of facing the world without her mother. This is another reason why Victor hated staying in school because his mother couldn't stay with him. After a while, Victor quickly learned to adapt to life without his mother, realizing that everything would be fine. He also started making friends at school, which helped him feel a little more comfortable at school. One of the guys she hung out with the most was her friend Ramón. This boy, Ramon, inspired and motivated Victor to become brave like him. In chapter four we see an example of this where Victor states “I stopped crying, just like that. My God, I couldn't believe it, this boy Ramon had to be the bravest boy I had ever seen” (Villaseñor 64). Victor makes it clear how he admires Ramon for his courage and also refers to Ramon's personality as his motivation for courage. I learned how Victor transforms in this book from a fearful young boy to a courageous and feisty young man who is proud of his Mexican roots. Fear is a great motivator.