Junie B. Jones Makes Mistakes and She Is Just Fine by Lauryn

Junie B. Jones Makes Mistakes and She Is Just Fine by Lauryn - October 2025 Scholarship Essay

An important lesson I've learned from a fictional character in a book was that it's okay to make mistakes; I learned this from the Junie B. Jones series written by Barbara Park.

I started reading Junie B. Jones when I was kindergarten. I remember walking into the classroom, putting my backpack in my cubby, and my teacher handing me the book. The exact book was "Junie B. Jones Is a Party Animal". I was fascinated with the cover because I really liked the colors and the whimsicalness of Junie's style. From that day on, Junie B. and I were braided together forever. As soon as I finished that book I was on to about 4 others.

I remember being a second grader at my new school and walking all through the library to find just one Junie B. book. I was elated to find "Junie B. Jones has a Peep in Her Pocket". I remember when the books had transitioned from her kindergarten days to first grade. I was so excited because I remember that I was going into third grade and I felt that we were living the same life.

Something I've always admired about Junie B. was her willingness to be herself. She never chained herself down because of anything. She remained the spunky, outspoken, silly girl from the first book to the last. She made mistakes, but she continued on. She never let that define her. There were even times when she would make huge mistakes that impacted the closest people around her, for example when Junie B. spilled ice cream on Lucille's dress in "Junie B. Jones and That Meanie Jim's Birthday". Over time, throughout the book, she does forgive herself.

All of her mistakes serve as a learning moment, a stepping stone in her life. Junie B. accepts her mistakes; she realizes them, learns from them, and does not let the guilt define her. Junie B. Jones taught me from a very young age to be okay with making mistakes. No one is perfect and no ever will be.