Zebra's life changed after being hit by a car and developing a friendship with John Wilson through their shared love of art and injuries. Judge Greg Mathis turned his life around after being a gang member and criminal as a teen, motivated by his mother's request before her death for him to get a college degree and help others through becoming a lawyer and judge. Ernie's life changed after his mother's death, when he was placed in a group home and showed his care for Dolores by giving her flowers, representing his love for mothers.

1. Changing Your Life
October 29, 2012

2.  Zebra had a messed
up arm. He was hit
by a car and he was
thrown several feet in
the air. The fact that
Zebra got hit by a car
it stopped him from
running. Before the
accident, he loved to
run (Potok, p. 186).

3.  Zebra became close
to John Wilson
because they both
experienced injuries.
They became closer
because they both
had a love for art.
The friendship and
love of art helped
Zebra overcome his
pain (Potok, p. 186,
187).

4.  Judge Greg Mathis
was a criminal in his
teen years. He was in
and out of jail. He was
a former gang
member along with
his dad
(http://www.netglim
se.com/celebs/pages
/judge_greg_mathis/i
ndex.shtml).

5.  Judge Greg Mathis’
mother told him she
had one year to live.
She wanted him to turn
his life around. He
decided to change his
life by getting his
college degree. He
became a lawyer and
judge to help other
people
(http://www.netglimse
.com/celebs/pages/jud
ge_greg_mathis/index.s
html).

6.  Ernie was never put in
school. His mother
taught him at home, but
he learned very slowly.
He was not able to go
outside because his
mom did not want him
to see the world. After
his mother died, he was
placed in a group home
(Rylant, p. 367, 368).

7.  Ernie gives flowers to
Dolores. These
flowers represent love
for his mother and
Dolores. The flowers
show Dolores that
someone cares for her
(Rylant, 368).

8.  Zebra changed his life with the help of John
Wilson and love of art they both had.
 I feel that Judge Mathis overcame his adversity
when he decided to change his life for his
mother.
 Ernie wanted another female’s love after the
death of his mother. He gave Dolores flowers
as a symbol of love.

9.  Judge Greg Mathis – Biography
http://www.netglimse.com/celebs/pages/judge_greg_mathis/index.sht
ml
 Picture of ball and chain - http://www.canstockphoto.com/images-
photos/prisoner.html
 Picture of bus - http://upstarthr.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/hit-
by-bus.jpg
 Picture of death of a mother - http://dr-is-
in.com/2009/07/23/complicated-grief/
 Picture of flowers -
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ldoritan/3151402574/
 Picture of Judge Mathis - http://www.michigansclc.org/Events.html
 Picture of Zebra Cover - http://www.swap.com/books/author/chaim-
potok/86168/
 Potok, C. Zebra.
 Rylant, C. A Crush.