Comfort Zones-The Modern Day Security Blanket
In the Francisco Stork novel, Marcelo in the Real World, the main character Marcelo is forced to work at his father's law firm and while there Marcelo is thrown into a routine that he isn't used to. Being pushed out of his comfort zone helps Marcelo recognize what a real friendship is and how to become more independent.
Marcelo’s first few days at the firm were challenging for him. Working at the firm meant that he had to associate with people who weren’t accustomed to dealing with someone who had autism. Most of the people at the firm just assumed that he was retarded which wasn’t true.While working at the firm Marcelo meets Wendell Holmes. Wendell takes an interest in Marcelo for the sole purpose…show more content… While it is true that while speaking to his mom she often calls him childish, working at the law firm makes Marcelo more independent. Francisco Stork agrees when he writes, “I make more and more progress each day I work at the firm… as in being able to complete the assignments giver to me” (Stork 85). When Marcelo first starts working at the firm he is unable to complete tasks in a timely manner but as he spends more time there he becomes more independent and he relies less on people. Not only is he able to function without other people’s assistance at the firm but he is also able to use his new independence out in the streets. Part of having to work in the real world meant that Marcelo had to learn how to travel from one place to another without needing another person’s assistance. Marcelo’s autism makes it difficult for him to block out excess noise and other distractions that are thrown at him. A big distraction for him is that when he walks in the streets he stops to take in all the words surrounding him. After spending some time walking the streets around the firm Marcelo thinks to himself, “ I can walk the streets if I stick to a memorized route and follow a computer printed map and if I don’t focus on the words around the city”(Stork 85). Marcelo may argue that he doesn’t like being pushed out of comfort zone but it is helping turn into a more mature and independent
