My Mars by Robert

My Mars by Robert - May 2017 Scholarship Essay

I consider myself to be intellectually curious; I love mathematics, computer programming, and the social sciences. But when confronted with electromagnetic fields or chemical reactions, my love for learning begins to peter out. So, my inability to put down Andy Weir’s "The Martian" last spring break took me by surprise.
"The Martian" chronicles the fictional account of astronaut Mark Watney, who survives alone on the moon after a mission gone awry thanks to his mastery of physics, biology, chemistry, and humor. When I began the novel, I only really grasped the last of these. With Watney’s dry humor in the face of adversity, "The Martian" hooked me, and with its scientific explanations for Watney’s survival, it challenged and fascinated me. Weir’s presentation of science did not hold the reader’s hand; I had to tackle the novel with engaged focus to understand Watney’s actions. While Watney was facing the challenge of making water out of rocket fuel, I faced the challenge of rereading and re-rereading paragraphs and pages to piece together Watney’s plan. Watney’s glee upon cracking the chemical code was matched by my excitement at comprehending how he had done it. Faced with Watney’s decreasing food reserves, both of our minds raced to understand how this obstacle could be overcome.
When Watney determined how to contact Mission Control, the characters on Earth couldn’t understand how he had survived so long. But by that point in the novel, I could; I had wrestled with science and emerged the victor. As Mars was to Watney, "The Martian" was to me; a challenge, but one that could be overcome. I challenged myself to think differently and came out of "The Martian" with the ability to do so. Indeed, "The Martian" left me smiling not just because of its humor, but also because it reminded me of the growth and rewards that come from taking on challenges outside my comfort zone.