The Courage to Choose Kind by Owen
Owen's entry into Varsity Tutor's October 2025 scholarship contest
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The Courage to Choose Kind by Owen - October 2025 Scholarship Essay
Growing up, I always thought heroes were the guys in movies with superpowers, the ones who save the world in some epic final battle. That was my idea of courage, anyway. It was all about the big, flashy moments. But then I read R.J. Palacio’s Wonder and met Auggie Pullman, a ten-year-old kid who completely changed how I see things. Auggie was born with a severe facial difference, and he taught me that real courage isn’t about not being scared. It's about making the choice to be kind and just face the day, even when people are cruel to you.
Auggie's biggest challenge was something most of us take for granted: going to a regular middle school for the first time. For most of his life, he hid behind an old astronaut helmet to avoid people staring and whispering. So for him, walking into Beecher Prep was like landing on an alien planet without a spacesuit. You could feel how scared he was, and honestly, who could blame him? But he still went. That first day, walking into school knowing everyone’s eyes were on him, was braver than any fight scene I've ever watched. It wasn’t about being confident; it was just pure will.
I could relate to that, even though my own experiences weren't as intense. I remember how nervous I was when I got my first leadership spot in Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC), suddenly being responsible for guiding my peers. I felt that same nervous energy on my first day as a camp counselor, feeling like this whole group of kids was counting on me to make their summer great. In those moments, I wasn't fearless at all. I just felt the pressure. Auggie's story showed me that being brave isn't about feeling 100% ready. It's about showing up, especially when you'd rather be anywhere else.
But it wasn't just about showing up. Auggie's story is really about how powerful kindness can be. Middle school can be a battlefield, and right away, kids like Julian were awful to him just because of how he looked. It would’ve been easy for Auggie to get angry or just shut down completely. But he didn't do that. Instead of trying to get back at the bullies, he just focused on being a good friend. He won people like Jack Will and Summer over by just being himself a loyal, funny kid. He basically lived by that precept from the book: "When given the choice between being right or being kind, choose kind."
That really changed how I thought about leadership. In JROTC and as a camp counselor, part of my job was to guide people and sort out conflicts. At first, I thought being a leader just meant being organized and telling people what to do. But Auggie showed me a different way, one that's about empathy and just being a positive influence. He made me realize that kindness isn’t some weak, passive thing. It’s an active tool you can use to actually make things better, build trust, and create a team where everyone feels like they belong.
The last big thing I learned from the book was about perspective. The way the story switches to different characters, like his sister Via or his friend Jack, was really smart. It forces you to see that you can't judge someone just by their appearance. You find out that underneath it all, Auggie is just a regular kid who loves Star Wars, science, and his dog. He has insecurities and gets his feelings hurt like anyone else. That’s a huge lesson. In college, group projects, and whatever job I have in the future, I’m going to be around all sorts of different people. Auggie's story will always be a reminder for me to try and see things from other people's points of view, to listen before I judge, and to remember that we're all more alike than we are different.
So, in the end, a ten-year-old kid from a book taught me more about courage and being a good person than any superhero ever could. Auggie Pullman’s heroism wasn’t in one single big moment; it was in all the small ways he stayed resilient every single day. He faced his fears, chose to connect with people through kindness, and stayed true to himself when it would have been easier to hide. As I get ready for college, that's the lesson I want to take with me. I want to be the kind of person who shows up even when it's hard, who uses kindness to connect with people, and who always tries to see the good and the wonder in everyone.