College Essay

Paper Friends

The world to me had always been two distinct dull colors for as long as I can recall. Exciting things were rare, as I never ventured outside my confined work area where I felt the safest. I indulged myself in reading coutnless novels, lying to myself telling myself that one it would pay off. However, those lies became the turth upon meeting Holden Caulfield from "The Catcher in the Rye" by J.D Salinger and Gene Forrester from "A Separate Peace" By John Knowles. Getting to know them through the pages, they added colors into my life, made me something other than a studious child, and cahnged the views I had about the World.

Much like Gene, studying and academically excelling was not only a skill I naturally had, but also it was a false passion. Nothing in the world meant more to me than studying and getting satisfying grades. However, the 95's and 100's seemed to be only a filled that easily went away, and left me feeling empty yet again. Gene was the same but as I got to know him through the pages and see how he developed from that nerdy kid to something with Athletic talent. I figured out that I don't need to be chained to a life of books and solitude. That I too, amd able to break free from the chains that hold me down. I began to get more active in after school activites, and found myself enjoying the experience I neglected myself from having for a long time. I became more friendly and even smiled more. Even physical education became an enjoyment that I waited for rather than tried to avoid.

A character's influence, such as Holden, had such a positive affect, that it is able to change your views on yourself, muhc like he had on me. As a longer, I felt that no one knew what was going through my mind. No one knew how I functioned or my personality, because I was so hidden away. However, Holden changed that for me. After finishing Catcher in the Rye, I realized something extremely important. And that is: I am not alone. I've learned so much from Holden, and have great respect for the fictional character. I've learned that I'm not the only one that cuts off sentences, or asks questions that don't really have an answer to them, but still wonders about it. Moreover, he has also taughth me to have a strong exterior becuse not everyone in the world is going to look out for you. That you have to be cynical and stand your ground for the reight purposes, and most importantly, to love you family as much as hge loved his little siblings.

To this day, I take what I learned from Gene Forrester and Holden Caulfied to heart. I try my best not to lose the lessons I've learned from them and to not forget how positively they both affected my life. It's because of them I've become a better person. A more rounded person.A person that stand up for what is right. A person that is able to balance out studies and other activites. A person that is outspoken. A person that is capable of going above and beyond. Thank you, Holden and Gene.