Worthy by Brienne
Brienne's entry into Varsity Tutor's October 2020 scholarship contest
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Worthy by Brienne - October 2020 Scholarship Essay
The best book I've read in 2020 is “Just Mercy”. What started off as required reading for an AP language class quickly became a book that will stick with me for years. The novel, based on a heart-rending true story, follows the life of a lawyer, Bryan Stevenson, who focuses on clients that are on death row. One client, who becomes a very prominent person in Stevenson’s life, is Walter McMillian. Charged with a crime that he did not commit, McMillian faces injustice and bigotry in the judicial system. Not only does “Just Mercy” challenge the reader to open their eyes to racial profiling but it also requires them to question whether or not the death penalty is morally sound. However, the overarching universal truth of the novel, that everyone is deserving of grace and compassion, is the biggest thing I took away from reading this book.
“Just Mercy” forced me to face the “hard” and unavoidable conversations. In the midst of all that is taking place in 2020, it opened up the chance to better understand my peers and others in my life, seeing life from a different angle. The theme of mercy that this novel is formed around is one that I believe everyone should open their eyes to. The idea that anybody and everybody is worthy of love and second chances is something that I think resonates with a lot of people. Reading “Just Mercy” this year has allowed me to change my entire perspective on the world around me.