Through the Peach by Kandace

Through the Peach by Kandace - October 2025 Scholarship Essay

Reading James and the Giant Peach hit me in a way that stuck with me long after I closed the book. James’s life was full of loss and fear losing his parents so young, living with his cruel aunts, being bullied constantly. I couldn’t help but see parts of myself in him, in the ways fear can sneak into your life and keep you small. For James, fear controlled him for a long time, shaped how he saw the world, shaped how he saw himself. I realized that sometimes I do the same thing letting fear and doubt hold me back from things I want or from the person I want to become.

What really spoke to me was how James eventually stepped out of his tiny, painful world and into something bigger the giant peach, the magic, the adventure. I could feel the courage it took, even in a fictional story. That leap into the unknown, leaving behind the people and the fears that kept him trapped, reminded me that so much of life is about stepping beyond the walls we let fear build around us. I’ve had moments when I stayed small, when I listened to the doubts of others or the quiet voice inside me telling me I couldn’t. And I’ve seen how staying small just makes fear louder, anxiety stronger.

James taught me that growth comes from taking that first step, even when it terrifies you. It’s scary to leave your comfort zone, to do something new, to trust yourself when everyone or even just your own mind says you can’t. But I’ve realized that those steps are the ones that change everything. That first step opens the door to possibilities I wouldn’t have imagined otherwise.

Now, whenever I feel fear creeping in about trying something new, about putting myself out there I think about how this will help me grow more courageous. I remind myself that fear is part of being human, but it doesn’t have to control me. I can shut out the noise, trust myself, and take the leap. Life is bigger than fear, bigger than the doubts of people around me, bigger than the past I might be carrying. The world is full of possibilities, and if I let fear stop me, I’ll never see them.

James’s story didn’t just entertain me, it inspired me. It made me think about the kind of courage I want to practice in my own life, the risks I want to take, and the ways I want to experience the world fully. It’s a reminder that sometimes, all it takes is one brave step to discover who I really can be.