My whole life I’ve been a fraud. I’m not exaggerating.
-- Neal (N/A)

Importance: These are the first two sentences of the story. They are fairly brief and blunt compared to the story's overall prose style. They quickly and emphatically establish the central struggle that Neal faced in his life, which was his inability to be be genuine.

I did well in school, but deep down the whole thing’s motive wasn’t to learn or improve myself but just to do well, to get good grades and make sports teams and perform well…I didn’t enjoy it much because I was always scared I wouldn't do well enough.
-- Neal (N/A)

Importance: These sentences help to elaborate upon Neal's central struggle, as well as to illuminate the ways in which this struggle restricted his personal happiness. Instead of genuinely enjoying things or try to grow as a person, he was motivated only by the...