Following My Dreams By Lawrence Lee Wallace by Lawrence

Following My Dreams By Lawrence Lee Wallace by Lawrence - April 2014 Scholarship Essay

As a law clerk aspiring to climb the corporate ladder, Harper Lee’s character Atticus Finch had been my inspiration since I first became familiar with To Kill a Mockingbird at the tender age of thirteen. Finch was everything I hoped to be: powerful, intelligent, and steadfast in his beliefs, always standing by his convictions. As a young adolescent, I believe my admiration for Atticus stemmed from his ability to command a courtroom with an understated dominance. However, with maturity and age, I realized that Atticus deserves respect not because of his career but because of his values.

Atticus inspired me to follow my own principles. Though the career of acting, writing, and directing does not necessarily carry with it the same consistent pay of a lucrative career in law, I recognized a moral obligation to follow my passions and vocation. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus serves as the town of Maycomb’s moral backbone, as he is prepared to defend a black man, despite the ingrained and pervasive racial prejudice in the society. Atticus’ willingness to go against the grain in this fundamental way has encouraged me to forego my law career in favor of something I passionately believe contributes to society in a significant way. Though Atticus’ decision was not popular by the town, as my decision may not have been supported by all of my family and friends, there is an undeniable importance in pursuing one’s beliefs.

Finally, Atticus admires others despite their flaws; he recognizes that people have both good and bad qualities and is determined to admire the good. In this field, I encounter people every day: some loud, some reserved, some self-important, some insecure. There are all types but it is pivotal to the success of my career that I learn to harness the good in others in order to cultivate healthy functioning work environments. Atticus is a man of his word and a man of values; I intend to follow his lead, continuing to follow my passions and commitment to respectable and honest choices.