In “On a Wave” by Thad Ziolkowski there is some life changing/shaping lessons in his life. Thad realized at a young age that he loves to surf. At 11 years old Thad looks older than most 11 years old, which allows him to hang out with the “cool” kids after a surf session and smoke pot. Thad learns early on that pot and surfing would eventually grow on him as he became more induced into the surfer lifestyle. In Thad’s life he is always going through change. So it is no surprise for him to move from Alabama to Florida. Thad is very interested in reptiles but that all changes after his gets his first board. There is an example of this when he has the chameleon die, which he got for his birthday. There represents the change from him going…show more content… Thad is once again moving but to a place where there is no water or surf, Wichita Kansas. The most important lesson Thad learns from phil matters is that education is more important than surfing. Thad’s life up to this moment is all about surfing so to hear Phil Mata say education is more important is not what Thad wants to hear. This is exactly what Thad needed to hear thought because he need to pursue college and an education instead of being a beach bums. Another lesson that Thad learns is that drugs like pot will end up drain a person to nothing. Thad sees from his own experiences and others that they have bad experiences. Such as when Thad smoked over 8 blunts and thought he was dieing. The only thing that saved him was surfing it calmed him down and his heart stop pumping fast. This experience lead to to stop smoking pot at the new school in kansas. It like everyone that hurts themselves doing drugs ends up quitting it. Thad gets news about his brother hanging himself and having a heroin syringe in his arm, and also his father figure Pat who has been there for Thad. Thad has learned a lot from all the different experiences that he has endured throughout his life. Thad had realized that he wouldn't he were he his today if it wasn't for phil matas advice. Thad has been shaped therought all of these lessons to form himself to the man he is
