A Little Taste of Victory

“The School Days of an Indian Girl”, a story by Zitkala-Sa, is a memoir of Zitkala-Sa’s experiences growing up on an Indian Reservation and then transitioning into the “white man’s world”. The story focusses on her obstacles and being able to overcome them in order to reach her dream. She grows up on the reservation and then is sent to learn to speak English and become educated. Although all of these experiences are happening for her, she is not happy and fears she will not succeed in life. After she decides to go to college, her mother essentially throws her out. Though this happens, I feel that deep down, her mother was truly proud of her.

I do not believe that she achieved the American Dream. Yes, she did go to college and learned how to speak English and received a diploma but at what cost? Though she did accomplish part of the American dream, she was without anyone to celebrate it with. “The little taste of victory did not satisfy a hunger in my heart. In my mind I saw my mother far away on the Western plains, and she was holding a charge against me.” (438) Zitkala-Sa always had a hope that she would overcome great obstacles in her life and although she did, she didn’t reach the American Dream because she lacked what was most important, friends and family to share in her triumph.