In this conversation, Turner presents himself as a staunch individualist, claiming that it’s best to stick to oneself while at Nickel Academy. While Elwood believes that he and his peers ought to stand up for themselves in the face of adversity, Turner maintains that this will only lead to trouble. When Elwood suggests that Turner only thinks this because he doesn’t have anybody supporting him, Turner agrees. Through this conversation, Whitehead implies that people are more likely to give up hope when they feel isolated and alone. Accordingly, Turner commits himself to the idea that each student ought to concentrate on his own problems rather than trying to band together with his peers to address the school’s injustice.