The Namesake by Jessica

The Namesake by Jessica - July 2013 Scholarship Essay

The best book I have ever read for school would have to be Jhumpa Lahiri's "The Namesake." This book really tied all of my educational experiences to my experiences in the world in a way that connected me to the rest of my class. While reading this book there were many discussions on differences in cultures, the hardships of adjusting to new cultures, and even the emphasis one may place on a name. These are all important to me because I travel often with my husband for his work, teaching EFL in foreign countries, and for my own schooling. Sometimes when I come back to the USA I feel like I don't fit in or that too much time has passed me by. This book really opened up the gates for other students to ask me about my experiences while allowing me to share those cultures I have experienced with them. This allowed me to see that I do fit in somewhere in this big world. This is one of the greatest gifts that I could have been given and it has resulted in a strong drive to finish my International Studies degree because I know no-matter where I go in the world I will be able to find a place, find happiness, and live up to the me that is embodied by my name.