Janine Marill Comments 1 and 2

I agree with Phillip’s idea about the correlation of the hike and Katz’s self-esteem. While I was reading, I didn’t think about the impact that the hike could have on Katz’s self-esteem. Katz clearly has low self-esteem, his history of drug abuse, addiction to junk food, and his mannerisms are evidence. After reading Phillip’s post, I realized that the hike could significantly help Katz gain self-esteem. If Katz is able to complete the hike successfully, then it would give him a renewed confidence in himself.

I agree with Peter about Katz’s desire to do something meaningful in his life. I think that this idea goes hand-in-hand with the issue of Katz’s self-esteem. It’s Katz’s lack of self-esteem stems from the choices he made in his life, or perhaps Katz’s drug abuse was a symptom of his lack of self-esteem. Either way, Katz has an opportunity to add meaning to his life through exploring nature, and reestablishing a friendship that has fallen by the wayside.