I do not believe in predetermination. I believe people are what we make of ourselves. And a lot of it has to do with circumstances and our upbringing. I do not think anyone on earth could have expected the Big Death to almost wipe out humanity. I do not believe it was predetermined that I would be leader of Thunder Mountain. When the virus broke our lock down in the shelter, and all the adults died, I was the oldest person left alive. And since all the kids knew I was a gifted student (I had special classes on my own so that I could work at my own intense rate), they accepted it willingly when I stepped up and started organizing the removal and burning of the bodies.