In the book Nightjohn by Gary Paulsen, Sarny is a young slave at the Waller Plantation. Sarny risked her won safety to learn how to read and write. Nightjohn was a slave who, although aware of the consequences, taught Sarny. Nightjohn and Sarny knew that education is powerful, and well-educated people have more control. Sarny also trusted that Nightjohn had good reasons for wanting her to learn. Many of the reasons that Sarny wanted to learn, are identical to the reasons I come to school every day.

Education is very powerful and could raise someone's social status. This would be advantageous to slaves, but the following quote explains how the slave owners felt about it: "Cause to know things, for us to know things is bad for them. . . They thinks we want what they got." People with a good education, like the slave owners, had more control and a higher social status. This was one of the key elements that made literacy so desirable to Sarny.

Sarny also wanted to learn to read because she trusted Nightjohn. Sarny trusted that if Nightjohn went to such extremes to teach, education must be very valuable. The following quote exemplifies why Nightjohn wanted to teach: "They have to read and write. We all have to read and write so we can write about this - what they are doing to us." Sarny didn not like being called stupid, so she set a goal for herself to become literate. Sarny devoted herself to learning so she would pursue and achieve her goal, and people would look up to her for being intelligent.

Many of the reasons Sarny wanted to learn are similar to my reasons for going to school The two main reasons I go to school are trust, and for my ego. I trust my parents when they tell me how valuable school is. I also trust that my teachers are teaching me well, and the information will be beneficial to me. I also go to school because of my ego. I know that without an education I will be looked down upon, a social outcast.

In learning, I have both differences and similarities with Sarny. Sarny put her safety in danger to learn, whereas I just have to go to school every day. However, both Sarny and I want to be well educated for our egos. We both want to acquire a higher social status. Also, neither of us wants to be looked down upon as being stupid. Both Sarny and I go to school because of trust. I trust my parents and teachersk just asa Sarny trusts Nightjohn. We trust that education is both powerful and valuable.