The Girl on Fire by Erin

The Girl on Fire by Erin - April 2014 Scholarship Essay

In 2008 a book came out. It did not take long for this book and the sequels to become one of the most talked about books out there. I was never the type of person that followed the trend, so unlike everyone else I did not go out and get the books. By 2012 the movie had come out, but I was not that excited to see it since I was not up to speed on the books. Now the question may be forming as to how I could be influenced by a book I have never read. It is coming though.

When I came to school I met my roommate and it did not take long for me to see that we were alike in almost every way. She loved the movie that had become so popular; she had also read all three books which she loved even more than the movie. I finally watched the movie and of course with us being so similar I liked it as well. Seeing the movie sparked an interest in me not to just read the next two books, but also the first. I wanted to see if there was any more I could get from the book that the movie could not offer me.

The book was very well written and was a very good read. The film did a great job of adapting the book, but that is not the important thing here. As soon as I finished the first I had to get the next one. I couldn’t put the book down; it was so intriguing. After finishing the series I could have started all over and been just as interested the second time around. If the books I am speaking of are not obvious yet, then I will tell. I am speaking of the Hunger Games series.

The character that has influenced me is Katniss Everdeen. She had me on her side from page one and if I she was a real person I would be willing to lay my life on the line for her. I want people to be able to say that about me. Katniss was a selfless and caring young woman; I say young here on purpose. When Katniss entered into the hunger games for the first time she was only sixteen. The amount of pressure that was on her shoulders should have been unbearable for someone of her age. On top of that she had already been taking care of her family for years before then. I look up to her strength and love for her family. She would do anything for them, including risking her life to save her sister’s.

People could count on Katniss to do the right thing even if it was the hardest thing to do. She was brave when she did not what to be and was the strongest when someone weaker was counting on her. All Katniss wanted to do was survive to take care of her family; she never wanted to kill anyone. She did only what she had to do to survive. I want to be the person that others can count on. All I want to do is protect my family and anyone else that is too weak or scared to protect them self.

I like the fact that that it bothers her so much to kill or even hurt another person; it is not something that comes easy to her which is a noble thing. I do not want to hurt people or cause pain to anyone. I do not think that I am as strong, brave or selfless as Katniss Everdeen, but it is something that I strive for now. She has made me believe in myself and my abilities. I want to join the military, always have, and I hope that while I am serving I will be able to see what the right thing to do is even if it is covered by blankets of fog and be able to do it no matter how difficult it may seem.

For Katniss it did not matter what it was she had to do as long as the innocent were safe and guilty had to answer for their actions. That is all I want as well and I do not think just going out and ridding the world of all the bad people is not the correct answer either. Katniss saw this; she did not want to start a war, but rather protect the people that a war would hurt. Katniss has influenced me by showing me that what I want out of life is obtainable. I know that my dreams are reachable and that selflessness and standing up for what you believe and who you love can make a person stronger and braver than strength and bravery can alone. I might not be very strong or brave, but I know what I believe in and who I love.

The strongest person is person is not always the smartest, but the smartest will be the strongest.