To Feel & To Live by Jada

To Feel & To Live by Jada - October 2025 Scholarship Essay

One of the most important lessons I have learned from a fictional character comes from Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. Atticus teaches the value of empathy and integrity even in the face of hatred and injustice. Throughout the novel, he stands as a moral compass not only for his children Scout and Jem but also for the entire town of Maycomb. When he tells Scout that you never really understand a person until you “climb into his skin and walk around in it,” he is teaching one of life’s most valuable lessons about perspective and compassion. This lesson has stayed with me because it reminds me that understanding others requires more than judgment, it requires patience, listening, and the willingness to see the world through someone else’s eyes.
Atticus’s decision to defend Tom Robinson, an innocent Black man falsely accused of assaulting a white woman, shows how powerful doing the right thing can be, even when everyone around you disagrees. He knows that taking the case will bring criticism and danger to his family, but he still does it because his conscience will not let him do otherwise. His courage in standing by his principles, despite the prejudice of his community, shows what real strength looks like. It is easy to stand for what is right when everyone agrees, but Atticus shows that true character is proven when you stand alone. From him, I learned that integrity is not about being popular or comfortable, but about being honest and fair no matter the cost.

Another lesson I took from Atticus is the importance of teaching by example. He does not preach morals to his children in long speeches. Instead, he lives them every day through his words and actions. Scout and Jem learn empathy not because he tells them to be kind, but because they see how he treats others with respect, even those who insult him. When Bob Ewell spits in his face, Atticus stays calm and simply wipes his glasses. That moment shows the power of restraint and dignity in the face of cruelty. It made me realize that maturity is not about fighting back, but about knowing when silence says more than anger ever could. It is a lesson about self-control and grace under pressure that applies to so many parts of life.

The empathy that Atticus shows also extends to understanding the limits of others. He knows that people act out of fear and ignorance, and instead of hating them, he tries to understand why. This does not mean he excuses their actions, but he recognizes that hatred often comes from misunderstanding. That idea made me think differently about how people behave in real life. It is easy to judge someone for being rude or unfair, but Atticus’s perspective encourages looking deeper at what might cause their behavior. It is not about letting people off the hook, it is about realizing that everyone carries their own struggles and pain, even if they hide it behind anger.
What makes Atticus’s lesson so powerful is that it is timeless. Even though To Kill a Mockingbird was written decades ago, the message of standing for justice and showing compassion is still relevant today. We live in a world that often rewards quick judgment and harsh opinions, but Atticus reminds us to pause and look at others with understanding. His lessons have shaped how I try to treat people in my own life. When I feel tempted to assume the worst about someone, I remember Atticus’s words and try to imagine what they might be going through. When I face moments where it is easier to stay quiet than to speak up for what is right, I think of how he chose courage over comfort.

Atticus Finch may be a fictional character, but his wisdom feels real. Through him, Harper Lee created a model of kindness, strength, and fairness that anyone can learn from. The lesson I have learned from him is that empathy is not weakness, it is strength. Understanding others does not make you naive, it makes you human. Standing up for what is right may be lonely, but it is always worth it. Because of Atticus Finch, I have learned that doing the right thing and seeing the world through another person’s eyes are two of the most powerful ways to create real change, both in yourself and in the world around you.