The Wonderful Wonder's of Auggie by Cameron

The Wonderful Wonder's of Auggie by Cameron - June 2022 Scholarship Essay

Auggie (August) Pullman from the incredible heart-touching #1 New York Times Best-selling book "Wonder", by the great and talented author R.J Palacio. August is an inspiration to many people including myself. August is a young 10-year-old boy who suffers from a condition known as Mandibulofacial Dysostosis. It is a genetic disorder in which some of the face's bones and tissues do not fully develop. Auggie is insecure about his condition and is extremely afraid of what people think of him. Auggie tries to wear his Astronaut helmet when he has to go out in public. This helmet is a force field for Auggie, when he’s in it his self-confidence is boosted and he feels unstoppable.

August attends Beecher Prep Elementary School and is extremely worried on the first day. His parents photograph him and Via (his older sister), and they all decide to walk August to school. August reveals that Beecher Prep Elementary School is only a few blocks away from his home, but he's never gone there. Since he is terrified of what other kids will think of him, he prefers areas with fewer children. His mother, Isabel Pullman, forces Auggie to take off his Astronaut helmet. As he reveals his face at the school’s entrance, he realizes that all the children start to stare at him. This majorly decreases Auggie's self-confidence.

The story follows August as he builds up the courage to go to school even though many of his classmates are terrified of him and bully him because of his disability. In the story, there is a character named Julian who constantly bullies August and always gives him a hard time. Julian even refers to August as a freak to society. He bullies him due to him having a Cleft Palate, but Julian has no idea that August has an even more serious condition called Mandibulofacial Dysostosis. Julian's consciousness takes over once he discovers this information and begins to suffer terrifying nightmares about August.

August has taught me the lesson to never bully others since you never know what people are going through. Just because some people look different doesn’t mean they aren’t human. All humans can feel emotions and what you say can cause a huge change in their feelings. To make the world a better place, people should always distribute compassion. With so much hatred in the world, it's critical to be kind to others because one kind phrase can make a huge difference in someone's life.