Childhood is a time when the mind is most formative. The experiences that take place in childhood are indelible. It is proved in the life of Zitkala-Sa, a Red Indian student who was enrolled in a boarding school run by Yankees. When Zitkala entered the school, she felt distinctly out of place and uncomfortable. Her shawl was pulled away and she was made to wear clinging short dresses and shoes instead of her usual moccasins.
When the bells started ringing, she misinterpreted the signal and did all the things in a wrong way. She felt that the teacher's eyes were always on her. What angered her most was when she was warned by Judewin that her long hair was going to be cut. Her long hair was her identity and in their community, only mourners and cowards had their hair shingled.
Being an independent student, she decided to rebel against the system. She went to a large room and tried to hide under a large bed. However, she was pulled out, tied to a chair and her hair was cut. She felt that her individuality had not been respected and she was just a puppet in the hands of the Yankees.
However, through sheer determination and perseverance she worked hard. She became an eminent writer who championed the cause of her fellowmen.