When Rudy was emitted into the hospital he could practically be considered as good as dead already because of how bad his condition was. As Rudy was spending his days in the hospital, he started talking about how only “jerks” lived and how the good people are always the ones to go first. Rudy believes that during the time he was sick, he turned into a jerk and that is part of the reason why he lived. This near-death experience taught him that everything should not be taken for granted and that what you do everyday should be enjoyed and done with happiness. He also learned that sometimes being a jerk can save you from death, although it was most likely his strong desire to live and that he kept fighting. During Rudy’s life, he has experienced many things in his life from his culture and just in general from living, that has helped shape the way he views things and understands certain things as well. Rudy went through many complicated parts in his life that he overcame with his strength and that he learned very much from. He learned many lessons from the horrible boat, from the bullying, and the near death experience from his deadly illness. All of these were life changing moments for him that impacted him greatly and influenced him to stand up for himself when