The Characters Who Taught Me by Sidne

The Characters Who Taught Me by Sidne - October 2025 Scholarship Essay

When I was younger In Fourth Grade my teacher read the class a book, it was the most intriguing, imaginative book I have ever read. I was able to imagine the characters and their scenes in my head. This book was Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. In this book Harry lived with his aunt, uncle and cousin because his parents were killed as a baby by the dark lord Voldemort. This wasn’t a home for him, he was treated like an outcast. They made his room a cupboard under the stairs. The only clothes he had were the hand-me downs from his cousin Dudley who was a few sizes larger than him. They treated Harry like trash.

I grew up with 5 sisters. Ever since I was younger I’ve always shared a room with my sisters, we shared most of the items, all of our clothes were passed down through all of us. I’ve always despised sharing a room, no privacy, no personal space, and just constant bickering between us 24/7. As a fourth grader hearing this story it taught me to be grateful for everything I have even my bickering sisters. Harry didn’t have that growing up. He didn't have the support from his family. He didn’t even have a comfortable room to call his own. In the cupboard it was narrow and only large enough to contain a very small mattress and a few belongings. Harry never complained about what he didn't have, he never cried about it neither, he stayed strong through it all. Harry taught me the lesson as a child to not complain about little things that someone who doesn't have wishes for. But hearing Harry’s story made me realize how lucky I actually was. Unlike him, I had a family that loved me, even if they sometimes drove me crazy and a room.

As I got older I began reading more mature books. In high school I read the book “ It Ends With Us” by Colleen Hoover. It's based on the life events of Lily Bloom, who is a young woman that moves to boston after her father’s death. She opens her very own flower shop and she meets a man named Ryle Kincaid. In the beginning of their relationship Ryle seems perfect, confident, sweet and deeply in love with Lily. As the relationship goes on Lily begins to see the darker side of him, he has a violent temper and becomes physically abusive. Lily finds out she is pregnant and she leaves Ryle for the sake of her daughter as well as herself. Lily taught me the lesson that no matter how much you love a person, if you are being treated in a way that hurts you, it's not meant for you. Lily opened my eyes to how in a relationship I also need to prioritize myself. She opened my eyes to self respect and knowing when to walk away.

Both Lily and Harry showed me Strength, Harry’s gratitude and Lily’s courage. From both of them I learned to value what I have, don’t take it for granted, to stay strong through challenges, and to never settle for less than I deserve.