Unorthodox Inspiration by Paige

Unorthodox Inspiration by Paige - April 2014 Scholarship Essay

From her all black wardrobe to her camo boots, Samantha Madison may not seem like an everyday hero, but one day her teenage world gets turned upside down. As the stereotypical middle child, Samantha has no special talents. Her older sister is popular and gorgeous while Samantha’s younger sister is considered a genius. When she decides to skip her after-school art class in Washington, D.C., she ends up saving the President’s life. This results in her transformation from invisibility to fame overnight. Samantha tries to deal with this new reality as well as her rocky relationship with the President’s son.

The novel, All American Girl, is about being yourself and adolescent love which really spoke to me because Samantha remains true to herself even after gaining fame. She deals with tough situations with humor which shows me a way to handle the same thing. Although her tough situation may be different in the sense that she saves the President’s life, I am also going through hard times like the next chapter of my life of going to college. She stays true to who she is no matter the pressure she receives from the outside world to be different. I find her as an inspiration because I also want to live my life this way. I want to be myself no matter the circumstances. She shows me how being a little different from others like through her wardrobe and interests does not necessarily have to be a bad thing. She feels like the odd one out just like I do and it comforts me knowing that I have someone to relate to. My favorite attribute of Samantha proves to be her humor which always manages to make me laugh. Even though I have read this book numerous times, I always find a different attribute of Samantha that I can relate to.

All American Girl shows me that I can be a hero in any situation and that being different from others is one of the best things about me. Samantha Madison has been such an inspiration for me as I try to live my life with the same type of outlook and way she does. Although I might not be wearing camo boots and black like her, I hope that I am as original.