A Better World by Chaz

A Better World by Chaz - February 2015 Scholarship Essay

Disdainful,incorrigible and utterly appalling are all adjectives that give credence to the racial oppression of African Americans in the nineteen fifties and sixties. It is immensely critical that one be educated on such matters to ensure that the mindset of that time is not a recursive one. That being said, one novel that every high school student should read before graduation is Kathryn Stockett's "The Help." Stockett masterfully utilizes human ideals that are not only directly applicable to our lives, but ultimately show that all mankind is created equal regardless of trivial matters such as ethnicity. These ideals are that of trust, integrity and love.

First off, is the concept of trust. Trust is a monumental aspect of our daily lives whether it be in the workplace, in the household or with your neighbor. Stockett places great emphasis on trust by demonstrating that it is absolutely crucial in order to foster positive relationships among people. For example, Aibileen has no choice but to trust Skeeter with her wicked recounts of what it is like to be an African American maid to a Caucasian family. An action that could have resulted in ample consequences for both parties considering it was illegal for them to conspire in society at the time. However, despite the dangers of conviction, Skeeter published Aibileen's stories through a prominent newspaper which ultimately led to increased racial tolerance in the region. This is significant because it portrays to kids in high school that not all situations are under their personal control. Often times, one must relinquish the reigns and trust that others will make a proper judgement.

Furthermore, Stockett illustrates the importance of personal integrity in the story. Skeeter realized that the way African Americans were being treated was unjust. So, instead of feeding into the prolific bigotry of the era, she decided to flout society in hopes to inspire drastic change. Even though the process was rather treacherous, Skeeter stuck to her guns because she knew in her heart that it was the ethical thing to do. This is another vital message for a kid to comprehend before they graduate high school. Chances are when they go out into the real world they will be faced with a situation where society tells them to do something they don't necessarily see as virtuous. Thus, it is absolutely essential to have the courage to stand up for what one sees as right irregardless of the perceptions of others.

Moreover, perhaps the most salient takeaway from Stockett's novel is that of love and acceptance. Even though Skeeter and Aibileen have different ethnic backgrounds, it doesn't change the way that they care for each other. This message of Stockett's serves as the principal lesson for high school students because it has the power to liberate or condemn the felicity of one's life. People must break the shackles of archaic thinking and realize that being of a different ethnicity than someone doesn't alter the fact that they are human too. And with that, comes the idea that everyone deserves equality, acceptance, love and understanding.

All in all, Kathryn Stockett's, "The Help" contains many important lessons. Among those lessons are ones of trust, integrity, and love which one could argue are among the few foundational ideals of human society. Thus, making it absolutely crucial that they are understood and practiced all of the time. There is no doubt that these ideals have the power to enrich a person's life and create a better sense of fulfillment going forward. That being said, what better time to start apply them than in high school?