Learning from the Wild Things by Olivia

Learning from the Wild Things by Olivia - October 2025 Scholarship Essay

In Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak, Max teaches an important lesson about emotions and the importance of home. At the beginning of the story, Max gets angry after being sent to his room and imagines sailing away to a faraway island full of wild creatures. At first, he enjoys being in charge and doing whatever he wants, but soon he starts to feel lonely and misses the people who love him. This moment shows that even though it can feel good to escape when we’re upset, running away from our problems doesn’t make them go away.

Max’s journey helps me understand that everyone feels angry or misunderstood sometimes, but those feelings don’t last forever. What matters is learning to calm down and remember the people who care about us. When Max decides to go home, it shows maturity, he realizes that love and comfort are more important than being in control.

The story reminds me that it’s okay to have big emotions, but we should always find our way back to kindness and connection. Max’s adventure teaches that home isn’t just a place, it’s the people who love and forgive us no matter what.