In the novel Flight Sherman Alexie employs anecdotes and juxtaposition in order to draw attention to Zit’s experience through the polar opposite lens of each life he encounters, ultimately illustrating that putting oneself in others shoes creates a change in one's perspective to feel empathy.

Alexie has Junior take on big life choices for a potential greater return in the future. For instance, Junior has the choice of leaving the reservation where all of his family and friends are currently living on in order to get away from all the hopelessness he currently lives with. Because Junior makes the decision to leave the reservation he must give up all his relationships for now to pursue something bigger and potentially better. Consequently, Junior leaving the reservation is very unique and indifferent most promptly because many people do not take such risk. Therefore, giving up home is difficult and is widely seen as not worth the exchange for something better, but no one knows if it will be worse or better without trying. Moreover, Alexie continues to show some of Junior's sacrifices and consequences of the idea of leaving the reserve. Now, with Junior making the choice to leave the reserve is quite brave, but that braveness raises new problems of where he is going and that is an all white school. Because, Junior does make that big step of leaving home it introduces the next problem on his path to a better future. Consequently, this environment is very rough for him due to the massive amounts of discrimination during the novel's time period which makes the choice of leaving quite symbolic. Therefore, Junior’s tradeoff of sticking with the bad life now in exchange for something better all comes with a cost that must be taken to achieve improvement in lifestyle. Not only does Junior go through life changing decisions but the effects of them are critical.

Alexie puts Junior in a position of questionable safety after the choice to leave his life.  For example, with Junior leaving the reserve he has to think that no one will back him up like they did on the reserve because on the reserve everyone knew everybody. Because of the little help in life outside the reservation Junior must take on his new challenges smart and ethically. Consequently, these challenges may become very tough for Junior, but there is a chance of everything working out in the end and he’s determined for that. Therefore, the decision that Junior makes brings a large amount of cons, but they must be taken to have something better. Junior continues to battle the effects of life outside the reserve and the safety of his well-being. To continue, Junior is leaving the reservation which is viewed as betrayal by his community, yet he continues to leave because he knows what he must do for a better life. Because, Junior is now viewed as a betrayer it raises another problem that he gains from the cause of his choices. Consequently, the issue is noteworthy because his own people dislike him for his choice of leaving to gain a better life. Therefore, the aftermath of life changing decisions may become tough but one can push through them with determination. 

A character in “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” that Sherman Alexie creates that takes many sacrifices would be Junior. He takes on leaving his life and safety in hopes for something better in return for his life. Ultimately illustrating that life provides chances for something that could be better and one must seize that moment.