Beautiful Books by Sydney

Beautiful Books by Sydney - May 2017 Scholarship Essay

Books are a beautiful thing. As the cliche says, books can take you all around the world while you’re still in one spot, but books do much more than provide you with an adventure. They give you insight and new perspectives. As childish as it may seem, the Percy Jackson series has tremendously impacted my life. I started reading these books when I was in fifth grade, and haven’t stopped since then. I even managed to convince my little bother, a reluctant reader, to start the series himself this year.
I connected with these books as soon as I picked the first one up. The main character was my age, in the same grade as me, and he was most certainly unique in his own way. I’ve never been one to give in to the worldly society, but one to stand out and always stand up for what I believe in. This book reinforced that drive in me. As Percy goes from one adventure to the next, he faces countless difficult decisions and situations that he has to step up and be in charge of. As a leader in my church and on my gymnastics team, I have to step up and be a leader even when I don’t feel like it. I have to push through the hard days in the gym while making sure the little girls know that the hard days are an important part of becoming a better gymnasts and a better person.
Furthermore, Percy has shown me that it is not only important to be a leader for those around you, but it is also very important to be their friend. Growing up, my mom always told me to be a friend to someone who needs a friend. She meant that I needed to reach out to those who needed help instead of go on my way and not pay attention to those in need. Percy does just that. He has such a diverse group of friends, that it encourages me to step out of my comfort zone and make more friends myself. Throughout this series, Percy and his friends are always there for each other. That coincides with my favorite Bible verse: “A friend loves at all times and a brother is born for adversity.” Proverbs 17:17 holds a special place in my heart, and I often refer back to it in order to keep my perspective on life where it needs to be. Life is not about trying to be a hero by accomplishing great deeds, but about living your life for God’s glory. As a constant friend, I am able to let His light shine through me on a daily basis.
Percy’s great determination to overcome the challenges that life throws his way has always impressed me. I constantly try to overcome the challenges this fallen world throws my way, but I have to lean on my friends to help me through them. Percy’s close and personal relationships with his friends has become a part of who I am today. His determination to stick by his friends, overcome adversity, and stand by what he believes in opened my eyes to see the world as a daily challenge that I am called to overcome. However, I am only able to overcome these challenges with the help of my friends and the constant guidance God provides for me.