What kind of person do YOU want to be? by Sarah

What kind of person do YOU want to be? by Sarah - July 2013 Scholarship Essay

Picking the best book I've ever read is a very difficult choice. But if had to pick, I would chose To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. I was in 7th grade at the time and wasn't too ecstatic about being forced to read a book for class. At first I was slow to get into the book. But the more I read, the more and I found it hard to stop. The tale of a lawyer, Attic Finch, assigned to represent a black man accused of raping a white woman told from the perspective of his young daughter, Scout Finch, captured my young mind. I had never before read a book like To Kill a Mockingbird before. I had never read a book that dealt with issues like prejudice, violence, racism, and hypocrisy. I grew attached to the characters as I kept reading. I love how Atticus Finch stuck by his beliefs and never let his ideals and integrity waver. I love how mystified the children were with the elusive Boo Radley. And never did I cry more while reading a book than I did when Tom Robinson was shot trying to escape from jail. More books like To Kill a Mockingbird should be required reading for children in school. Middle and high school are times when children are not at their kindest and are still learning who they want to be. This book illustrates compassion, empathy, and and to not judge others. These are traits that should be instilled in young children. To follow what you believe and do what you think is right. Not enough people do this. Many children follow the crowd and set their own beliefs aside. To Kill a Mockingbird is the best book I've ever read because it changed my life. It helped me become the person I am today because it helped me realize the person I wanted to be.