# Chapter XVII explained — The Story of My Life > Chapter companion for The Story of My Life by Helen Keller. ## What happens In the summer of 1894, Helen Keller attends the Chautauqua meeting of the American Association to Promote the Teaching of Speech to the Deaf, leading to her enrollment at the Wright-Humason School for the Deaf in New York City. She studies lipreading, vocal culture, arithmetic, physical geography, French, and German, making notable progress in German but facing challenges in French and speech. The chapter recounts her joy in learning physical geography, her walks in Central Park, and excursions to places like West Point and Sleepy Hollow. It ends with the sorrowful death of Mr. John P. Spaulding, a dear friend. ## Themes in this chapter ### Education and Knowledge Helen's studies in German, French, arithmetic, and physical geography highlight her pursuit of academic knowledge despite challenges. ### Overcoming Adversity Helen faces disappointment in her speech and lipreading progress but continues her other studies with determination and joy. ### Nature and the Senses Helen delights in learning the secrets of nature through physical geography and enjoys the beauty of Central Park and the Hudson River. ## Character check-ins ### Helen Keller Attends the Wright-Humason School, studies various subjects, and experiences both progress and disappointment in speech and lipreading. ### Anne Sullivan Accompanies Helen to New York and supports her studies at the Wright-Humason School. ### John P. Spaulding His death in February 1896 is described as a great sorrow for Helen and Miss Sullivan. ## Key lines > I still regarded arithmetic as a system of pitfalls. I hung about the dangerous frontier of 'guess,' avoiding with infinite trouble to myself and others the broad valley of reason. Helen found arithmetic to be full of traps, often relying on guessing rather than logical reasoning, which caused her and others great difficulty. _Illustrates Helen's struggle with arithmetic and her tendency to guess instead of reason._ > It was a joy to learn the secrets of nature: how—in the picturesque language of the Old Testament—the winds are made to blow from the four corners of the heavens, how the vapours ascend from the ends of the earth, how rivers are cut out among the rocks, and mountains overturned by the roots, and in what ways man may overcome many forces mightier than himself. Helen found great pleasure in studying physical geography, learning about natural phenomena like wind, evaporation, erosion, and human ingenuity in overcoming nature's forces. _Shows Helen's enthusiasm for physical geography and her appreciation of nature's wonders._ > His going away left a vacancy in our lives that has never been filled. The death of Mr. John P. Spaulding created an irreplaceable void in Helen and Miss Sullivan's lives. _Expresses the deep impact of Mr. Spaulding's friendship and loss._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_story_of_my_life_se/chapters/xvii - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_story_of_my_life_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_story_of_my_life_se/chapters