Learning to Move My Own Cheese by Andie
Andie's entry into Varsity Tutor's October 2025 scholarship contest
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Learning to Move My Own Cheese by Andie - October 2025 Scholarship Essay
The book Who Moved My Cheese? by Spencer Johnson might be a short story, but it hit me with one of the biggest lessons I’ve ever learned from a story. It’s about two mice and two “littlepeople” who live in a maze, spending their days looking for cheese, which really stands for success, happiness, or whatever we’re chasing in life. When the cheese suddenly disappears, everyone reacts differently. Some panic, some adapt, and one of them, named Haw, has to face his fear of change head-on.
The quote that stuck with me most from the story is, “If you do not change, you can become extinct.” That line really hit home. It’s simple, but powerful. To me, it’s not just about cheese, it’s about life constantly moving, whether you’re ready for it or not. And if you don’t move with it, you will get left behind.
I think I connected with this story so much because I grew up in a military family. That means change wasn’t just something that happened once in a while, it was our lifestyle. Just when I’d get used to a place or start making close friends, it’d be time to pack up and move again. There were times I wanted everything to just stop changing for a while. But the truth is, life doesn’t wait for anyone. Reading about Haw made me realize that adapting doesn’t mean forgetting what you had before; it means being brave enough to look for what comes next.
In the book Haw started off afraid, too. He didn’t want to go back into the maze because he was scared of what he would find or if he’d find anything at all. Yet when he finally took that step forward, towards the maze, his entire life had changed. He didn’t find the same cheese that he once had, he found something new, and more importantly, he found the confidence to keep going. That’s what I want for myself. Every time life changes, a move or a new school, I try to remember that quote: “If you do not change, you can become extinct.” It reminds me that change isn’t the enemy; staying stuck is.
What I love most about Haw’s story is how real it feels. He didn’t magically stop being scared, he just learned to keep going anyway. And that’s something I think everyone can relate to. Change will always happen, but how you handle change shows what kind of person you are. Change doesn’t just happen to people, it reveals people. So now, whenever life “moves my cheese,” I try not to overthink. I take a deep breath, look around, and start walking to find something new.