Gertrude Simmons Bonnin was born on the Yankton Sioux Reservation in South Dakota as a native Yankton Sioux (nrcprograms.org). When she was eight, she was sent to White's Manual Labor Institute, a Quaker missionary school in Wabash, Indiana (britannica.com). Their Gertrude went through many difficult trials to learn the ways of the pale-faced people (white people). Gertrude was not given the proper respect she deserved as a Native American Indian girl. The pale faces ignored the Native American way of life and because of this they had taken away the spirits of many Indians (Bonnin, 400, p.5). Gertrude's spirit was taken away when the pale face cut off her long tresses (Bonnin, 400, p.5). I believe that Gertrude decided at that moment not to give up and to demonstrate to the pale faces that she was capable of going beyond her pain. Which leads to the theme of the story in "An Indian Girl's School Days" (Bonnin, 397). Furthermore, that message is that no matter how many obstacles come your way, don't give up, and it can be understood by the way the author used the setting, the author's tone style, and the author's character traits to show how she wasI learned that if you believe in yourself you can do anything. Gertrude Simmons Bonnin was able to overcome many difficult obstacles only because she did not give up. I want to have his strength and courage to overcome all my problems in life that I have right now, so that I can be successful in life. I'm glad I read this story so I can get a better perspective on how hope and perseverance help you become a stronger person. I know I will see life in a different way now. I will see all my problems as a way to make myself stronger by finding a way to overcome them. If you believe in yourself and don't give up you will be like a diamond made of coal under good pressure (unknown