I Am Holden Caulfield by Amy

I Am Holden Caulfield by Amy - February 2015 Scholarship Essay

Growing up my main source of entertainment was the library. My parents would drop me off at the public library and I would stay there until my parents come pick me up. The library offered something that watching television and other activities did not have which was the experience of traveling to different fictional worlds and entering the minds of literature geniuses. When I entered high school, reading became the time for me to escape from my personal struggles and an opportunity to learn and grow with the characters. One character I developed a deep connection with is Holden Caulfield from The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger. Even though Holden was created by someone’s imagination, his personality highlights characteristics and his life events illustrate experiences that all high school students can personally relate to. All high school students need to read The Catcher in the Rye because Holden Caulfield is one of the few characters that understands and experiences the complexity of living as a young adult.

Being a young adult is all about finding one’s own identity but it is very difficult for high school students whose identity is often found in different places. For instance, the protagonist Holden Caulfield struggles to find motivation to do well in school since he feels that he does not belong in the social settings of private schools and believing that his classmates are not genuine individuals and have bad intentions. During the times when Holden is alone, he tries to find comfort by dating multiple girls or consuming large amounts of alcohol; however, time goes on, Holden finds comfort and joy in spending time with his litter sister Phoebe. Holden realizes that his true identity rests in Phoebe because he does not have to be someone else other than himself. Throughout the story, Holden grew from a high school student who wanted to give up to a young man who discovered joy in something that is close to his heart.

If I did not come across The Catcher in the Rye during my freshman year of high school, I would not have developed the significance of discovering my identity in something that I truly care about. Like Holden, I felt misunderstood by everyone around me even by the people that were close to me. I found comfort in participating activities that brought some joy but it always led me to feeling more lonely than before. Towards my end of my freshman year, I found joy in something that I never paid more attention to which were my little brothers. As I started to spend time with them, I became more comfortable about who I am as an individual and I found constant joy just being with them. I developed a meaningful connection with Holden because I felt that I was growing with him and it was amazing to share the same experience with someone else even though Holden is a fictional character. But this was something that I needed in high school and I enjoyed every moment I spent with Holden.

Reading is like going on a journey with the main character of the story. I had the opportunity to view life from Holden’s perspective and finally found someone who understands what it is like to be misunderstood by others and who also struggles to find comfort and joy in life. I believe that all high school students should take the special opportunity to read The Catcher in the Rye because it is not just any classic novel. The book portrays a raw, genuine character which is something that most literature cannot provide to the population of young adolescents.