Lennie's Lesson: The Ugly Truth by Andrea

Lennie's Lesson: The Ugly Truth by Andrea - October 2021 Scholarship Essay

Although I do not consider myself a huge fan of reading, one lesson that has stuck with me ever since middle school came from Lennie’s character in John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men. As my teacher read us the story, I was eager to get to the part where Lennie’s dream of owning a barn with many rabbits came true. However, I soon realized that I would never get to hear this version of the story. Constantly being assigned books with happy endings, Lennie’s death taught me that some things in life will end in disaster. While this may seem like a negative lesson, it is a realistic reminder that not everything will go the way we want it to. At such a young age, it is important to accept this unpleasant possibility to be prepared for future disappointment.

As I made my way into high school, I remembered Lennie’s lesson and told myself that I had to work hard to get what I wanted. What was once a sad ending in a novel became my motivation to do better in school and stay out of trouble. For instance, if I had a difficult test coming up in one of my classes (probably a math class), I made it my mission to get a good score. Watching useful YouTube videos and asking questions about the lesson became my daily routine.

In addition to making me a hard worker, Lennie’s tragic ending gave me a more optimistic attitude during stressful situations. A prime example of this is when I did not make my high school’s swim district team in 10th grade. At first, I was crushed because I had worked all season for a spot on the team, even going to weekend practices to better my chances. However, I soon began to think of this unfortunate event as a lifesaver. With the swim season ending early for me, I realized that I no longer had to attend rigorous practices after school, giving me more time to focus on my schoolwork and catching up on my sleep schedule.

After my teacher read the last chapter of Of Mice and Men, I remember the feeling of utter disappointment fill my body. However, this exact moment is what led me to become a more responsible and diligent person. In fact, his lesson continues to play a key role in my life, serving as a wake-up call to practice for the SAT and figure out how to apply for colleges. In short, I would have struggled more with accepting my failures if I had not read the realistic ending to Lennie’s long aspired dream.