The Americanah Experience by Brianna

The Americanah Experience by Brianna - February 2015 Scholarship Essay

A fear many young adults have before graduating high school is the big question of "What's next?" No matter how prepared you are for your next step; whether it be college, the army, or the work force, you can never be completely prepared for the different people and the new situations you'll encounter. Experiences like these can't necessarily be taught in a classroom, which is why it is incredibly important for students to gain knowledge of diversity before they find themselves in a situation where they do not know what to do.

Chimamanda Adichie's Americanah depicts the struggle of a young girl who leaves her home in Nigeria and travels to America for the first time during her college years, hoping to continue her education without interruption. Though the main character’s situation is one I’ve never personally experienced, I found reading about it both interesting and enlightening. I think going into the real world, there are certain skills that make finding your place in society easier, having the ability to empathize with someone else’s experiences is one of those things.

Throughout this novel, Adichie touches on important issues such as race, individuality, and feminism; just a few things that many young adults may not be, but should be aware of.