Hillbilly Elegy Lesson Plan

Why was going to the Marines important to JD? Why do you think he emphasizes the role the Marines had in his life?

Enlisting in the Marines helped JD's finances, health, and self-esteem. JD initially went to the Marines because he wanted money to pay for college. But the biggest influence that the Marines had on JD's life was teaching him self-discipline as well as the basics of responsible financial management. In the Marines JD learned how to take on challenges and overcome them. He learned how to eat healthfully, balance a checkbook, open a bank account, and buy a car. For JD, the Marines were a critical transition point from his feelings of helplessness as a child to...