Impedimenta (Symbolizes inability to talk smoothly and fluently)
While a high school student, Joe Biden is nicknamed 'Impedimenta' by his schoolmates, a term which symbolically represents his inability to communicate fluently. In simple terms, 'Impedimenta' means stutter, an individual who stammers when speaking. Biden writes, “Joe Impedimenta. My classmates hung that nickname on me our first semester of high school when we were doing two periods of Latin a day.”
Sports (Symbolizes Biden’s confidence and acceptance)
Despite being a stutter, Biden was a talented boy in sports. Everyone respected Biden's prowess in sports, especially athletics. Through sports, Biden felt accepted and appreciated by the very people who joked about his speech in class. Biden writes, “As much as I lacked confidence in my ability to communicate verbally, I always had confidence in my athletic ability. Sports was natural to me as speaking was unnatural. And sports turned out to be my ticket to acceptance...”
Biden's Mother (symbol of hope and encouragement)
As a young man, Biden encountered bullying from his classmates because of his stuttering. However, all was not lost because his mother played a significant role in encouraging him to soldier his own. Consequently, Biden's mother is a symbol of encouragement and hope for a better future. Biden's mother told him, "Joey, you are so handsome. Joey, you’re such a good athlete. Joey, you have got such a high IQ. You have got so much to say, honey, that your brain gets ahead of you.” This statement meant a lot to Joe because it gave him the confidence to exploit his potential.
The Nuns (Represents Biden’s religious bridge)
In the entire book, Biden attributes his success to his strong catholic faith. Joe recalls that his faith was nurtured by the catholic nuns who represent his strict adherence to the church's doctrines to date. Biden writes, “The nuns are one of the reasons I am still a practicing Catholic.” Biden hints that observing his Catholic religion is a culture well cultivated in his life by the nuns who taught him while young. Consequently, Biden appreciates the efforts of the nuns in both his career and personal life.
The Holy Rosary (A symbol of Catholic Faith)
The holy rosary is widely mentioned in the book to symbolize the Catholic faith. Biden attended a school called 'The Holy Rosary, ' an indication that the school was founded on the Catholic faith and believes. Through the Holy Rosary, Biden learned the Catholic culture, and he practices it to date.
