Read the excerpt from Pat Mora’s essay "The Leader in the Mirror." The final gift of the evening, a mirror, was for serious gazi
ng. I asked the students if they saw a leader when they looked into their mirrors. My guess is that too many of our young people do not see themselves as leaders because they don’t look, dress or sound like the images of leaders presented to us. But leaders come in all colors, shapes and sizes. Some are talkative while others are quiet, but they all share a determination to contribute to the society of the future. I urged the students to look often in their mirrors and to ask themselves these questions: "Am I satisfied with this world? If not, what will I do to improve it?” For if we are shaped by our surroundings, we in turn shape them. We deceive ourselves if we believe that we can live neutral lives. What is the author’s purpose in using a mirror as a symbol? The author’s purpose is to demonstrate how the mirror symbolizes power. The author’s purpose is to demonstrate how the mirror symbolizes beauty. The author uses the mirror as a symbol of self-reflection and encourages students to see themselves as leaders. The author uses the mirror as a symbol of contentment and encourages students to be more satisfied with the world.
Answer: The author uses the mirror as a symbol of self-reflection and encourages students to see themselves as leaders.
In this excerpt, the author wants the students to see themselves as leaders in their community. She tells us that many students do not see themselves as leaders because the leaders they are shown do not look like them. Therefore, she asks them to look at themselves in the mirror and try to ask themselves some questions. The mirror is used as a device to help them in their self-reflection. It also allows students to see themselves as leaders in their communities.
