In flashbacks, pathos is first shown with the discrimination Tony faced during high school. The pre-set thought process in adults, according to tony is that skateboarding is " a kids' fad, a waste of time, a dangerous pursuit, a crime.". Narrow-minded slander, at the age of 17, is delivered by Hawk's career teacher exclaiming that Tony would never make it as a skateboarder. Tony then adds, "So it seems to him that my future is bleak.". Pathos are demonstrated when tony follows up with "Even during those dark times, I never stopped riding my skateboard and never stopped progressing as a skater.". Although Tony has experienced a lot of discouragement; determination and passion for skateboarding are genuinely expressed and inspiring to the reader.
