Quiet Courage by Amanda

Quiet Courage by Amanda - April 2014 Scholarship Essay

One fictional character that has had a big influence on me is Princess Adelina, or Addie, the heroine of Gail Carson Levine's novel "The Two Princesses of Bamarre" (copyright Gail Carson Levine, 2001). I admire her because she is courageous, but in a quiet way, and inspires me to be the same way. I feel a connection to Addie because she is similar in personality to me.

I see many of Addie's character traits in myself. Like me, Addie is content to stay at home, having no desire for adventure. She worries about losing the ones she loves most; in her case, mostly her sister Meryl. She fears facing danger, but perseveres through it and successfully fights through her fear for the sake of love, when she is trying to save Meryl. Addie believes herself to be timid, but her loving nature makes her into a hero.

The only reason that Addie leaves home for an adventure is that her sister's life depends on her. Her love for Meryl leads her to be courageous. She goes into danger because she feels that she has to, not because she enjoys adventure, and rejoices over her successes as she discovers that she may be quiet, but that doesn't stop her from being strong. Addie influences me to be my soft-spoken self and find strength in my love for my family and friends.

Reading Addie's story lets me see that even quiet people can be heroes. Looking at her, I can see myself, and I realize that I can be strong too. Addie's quiet courage has always influenced me to find my own courage.