Things Fall Together by Michaela

Things Fall Together by Michaela - February 2015 Scholarship Essay

Most of my high school English curriculum, though certainly academically challenging, was the poster child of homogeneity. Each piece stemmed from different periods of time in Europe and America, filled with cultures that echoed my own. Coaxing symbolism out of nearly every word or concept I came across was losing its appeal. I wanted the chance to immerse myself in something entirely unfamiliar, something that would force me out of my comfort zone. My silent pleas were answered during my junior year in the pages of Chinua Achebe’s "Things Fall Apart."

Achebe’s Eurocentric upbringing allowed him to start a dialogue with his novel. He expertly utilized some aspects of European literary techniques such as biblical allusions and animal imagery to build a foundation upon which he introduced the reader to his Igbo culture. In order to fully grasp the meaning behind the events of the novel, my classmates and I dove headfirst into research about the tribe’s history, language, and traditions. This research sparked discussion of the fact that too often, people collectively dismiss cultures that are different from their own as uneducated or even barbaric. Differences are rejected rather than explored and respected. When we graduate high school and move on to the next phase of our lives, we are stepping into a world of differences. The key to a productive society is cooperation, which cannot be achieved without mutual respect.

High school students need to be able to grasp that “different” is not synonymous with “weird” or “wrong.” Fully understanding this one fact will lead them to facilitate open discussions that are inclusive and considerate of all perspectives. Personally, I believe that this will lead to innovation in every field, as those who deviate from the norm in any number of ways will finally feel comfortable enough to contribute their thoughts and ideas. "Things Fall Apart" changed my perspective, and I feel that if all students read this novel before graduating, they would face the world with open minds and hearts, ready to make a difference.