It is typical for humans to have doubts about the culture in which they are raised. However many people have trouble facing these doubts and just accept life for what it is. Nevertheless, some individuals possess a certain spirit within themselves that allows them to see things through different views and question the beliefs of their family and friends no matter how difficult it is to do so. As a result, they are able to become their own independent person and are ultimately happier. A good example of this can be found by looking Annie Iserhoff's essay. Throughout Iserhoff's life, her many experiences and strong-willed personality help to shape her into the independent woman she is today. .
In the very beginning of Iserhoff's essay, she talks about her relationships with her mother and father. She says, "Although my mother had a fighting spirit, in the end she would succumb to his wishes" (p 85). Her mother always tried to stand up to her father, yet in the end always let him win. From a very early age we can tell Annie Iserhoff possess this same fighting spirit. She is always pushing the boundaries, which ultimately gets her into trouble. For example, on page 86 she discusses the tradition the young boys had of running around in the nude and chanting in hopes of bringing the north wind in hopes that the men would have a successful hunt. One day, Annie and one of her friends thought that this activity looked like fun and before the boys had a chance, they stripped off their clothes and ran around chanting. Little did the two of them know that this was just an activity for the boys and the result was that the girls were harshly reprimanded. They felt confused and did not understand why they got in so much trouble. Yet another instance in which Iserhoff defies her parents and the rest of the tribe is on page 89 when Annie and her brother decide to tip over all the pails of firewater.
