Finding Strength in My Own Voice: What Celie Taught Me by Brooklyn

Brooklyn's entry into Varsity Tutor's October 2025 scholarship contest

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Finding Strength in My Own Voice: What Celie Taught Me by Brooklyn - October 2025 Scholarship Essay

In The Color Purple by Alice Walker, Celie's journey from silence to self-expression is one of the most deeply moving illustrations of emotional strength I've ever read. When I first learned about Celie, I was heartbroken by the cruelty she faced — the abuse, the loneliness, and the painful reality that her voice didn’t seem to matter. Yet, what stayed with me wasn’t just her pain, but the deep connection I felt to her hardships and the power of her transformation.

Celie learns to define her worth through her self-belief, not through the approval of others. Reading her story reminded me of my struggle to step out of the shadows and find my confidence. It taught me that no matter what you face in life, your value doesn’t come from how others see you; it comes from recognizing your own worth.

At the start of the novel, Celie is silenced by pain and fear. She writes letters to God because she has no one else to turn to. Her letters, written even when she believed no one would listen, reminded me that expression itself is an act of courage. She wrote her truth and did not wait for permission to be heard.

As the story progresses, she comes to understand that love, respect, and happiness aren't things granted by others, but rights she deserves because she is a human being and worthy. This realization stuck with me deeply because, like Celie, I’ve faced countless times where I doubted myself or felt overlooked. Seeing her rise above her circumstances reminded me that strength grows quietly within us and that self-worth isn’t given — it is built from the inside out.

For a long time, I hesitated to speak up or share my thoughts, worried I would sound silly or that my ideas weren't good enough. Since then, I’ve tried to live by Celie's example. Celie's journey isn't about perfection; it's about progress. She doesn’t suddenly become confident; she learns, piece by piece, how to believe in herself. That mirrors real life.

Celie’s growth showed me that healing and empowerment come when we refuse to let the world define our limits. Instead, I define what happens in my life. Strength isn’t always loud. Sometimes it’s the quiet decision to keep standing tall despite what's being thrown at you. That lesson has shaped who I am today: someone who values authenticity, resilience, and the courage to be heard.

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