Thought to Action by Elizabeth

Thought to Action by Elizabeth - June 2022 Scholarship Essay

“Sometimes people use thought to not participate in life.” - Stephen Chobosky, "The Perks of Being a Wallflower"

I have spent days watching the sun go away as I sit in my room and the moon rise as I force away sleep. I have spent my whole life like this - thinking. I go out, I make new friends and hang out with old ones and yet, I don’t engage. I sit drowning out their conversations and I think. I think about how much I love them or how much one of them gets on my nerves or how much I would like their help. In this way I feel very connected to Charlie from the book: The Perks of Being a Wallflower. I am the friend that everyone goes to with their problems because they know I will not interrupt them with my own. I am not one to advocate for myself, nor to be pushy. I try not to do “too much” in fear of being rejected. But I have learned from Charlie that it is okay to participate.

"The Perks of Being a Wallflower" is a coming-of-age book written by Stephen Chobosky. It details the Freshman year of the main character, Charlie. The book takes place months after his best friend’s death and shows his progression from shy and troubled boy; to one who is not afraid to reach out to his friends. He learns to have fun and trust in the people around him and he showed me how crucial this is.

I’ve always been a wallflower, never reaching out, never pushing others. I sit and I listen because it is what makes me feel comfortable, safe. Like Charlie, I never want to burden people with my problems, I am just happy to be included. In addition, just like Charlie, I have my own traumas. Ones that I should have gotten help for but instead just let myself think and not act. In the end of the book, Charlie does eventually get help and he is not criticized or put down for it. Rather, he becomes surrounded with the people he loves wishing him the best and being there for him. It really shows that help is not something to be ashamed of, and it can be critical for people.

This character inspired me to finally try and live my life. I stray from staying in my bedroom or the corner of a room and now I allow myself to have fun. Thinking isn’t going to get me anywhere if I don’t do anything with it. Charlie has taught me that I am not a burden, and my problems aren’t something to hide. If people love you, they will embrace you - traumas and all. And Charlie has inspired me to live as if I was “infinite.”