A Book to Create Courageous Youth by Michaela

A Book to Create Courageous Youth by Michaela - February 2015 Scholarship Essay

If we're being honest, most high schoolers don't care about the novels they're assigned to read in English class. Simply speaking titles such as "Lord of the Flies," "The Odyssey," or almost anything by Shakespeare will make most teens cringe at the memories of summarizing and devouring words and stories that aren't relevant to what their next adventure is, whether it's working or studying in college. While classics are naturally embedded with valuable morals, life lessons, and drama, the average adolescent most likely will not ever have to create a new society on an island of middle school boys, slaughter a house of abusive suitors, or seek revenge on the man who stole the royal throne.

I consider "To Kill A Mockingbird” by Harper Lee to be an exception due to its realistic conflicts, subjects of controversy that are relevant today, and morals of honesty, avoiding prejudice, and standing up for what you believe in. The majority of Americans don't live in a small Southern town full of corrupted politics and majorly supported racism, but the storyline offers up scenarios where characters could choose to give up and follow the crowd, or pursue their beliefs that defy what most people agree with. While most books that high schoolers are required to read in school do have similar moral crises and life lessons that can be applied to life today, "To Kill A Mockingbird" can give confidence to youth to stand up for what they believe in no matter what the time era is or where they are, which is exactly what this world needs.

Critical thinkers and brave minds are key to bringing about change in any modern situation, from environmental issues to social stigmas. If our generation isn’t taught to see things with open-minded perspectives and to have the courage to be different, nothing will ever change. “To Kill A Mockingbird” may be set in an American society that functioned differently than it does today, but the morals stand strong through both current and previous issues in our world.