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Second-Prize Essays

Wednesday
The Power of Fate
Sarah Holowach
Canfield High School
 

Fate is a many-splendored thing. It can take you to the top of the ladder or send you catapulting down to the bottom rung. Each decision we make in our lives carries with it a component of fate that will inevitably affect our futures. In the stories Into the Wild and Ender’s Game, the two main characters make decisions in their travels that would prove to not only be difficult but also to be rendered by fate.

Chris McCandless is a severely intelligent young man. He had a degree from a prestigious college, a loving family, and several other opportunities that most people only dream of happening. Instead of taking the well-trod route of graduate school, though, Chris decides to jump into his car and travel the nation, ultimately ending up in Alaska and dying from starvation.

His decision basically changes his life forever. Never again would he see his family or live anywhere permanently. He often finds himself hungry and lacking money or decent shelter. Surprisingly, Chris is happy with where fate brings him, and he accepts the consequences of his decision. He embraces the difficulties that his decision results in and is fully content in his life.

That in mind, what can be said as to what Chris should have done? Speaking in the realm of what is socially acceptable, it can be argued that Chris should have returned home and never indulged his gallivanting spirit. Of course, this decision would have also resulted in unhappiness and a feeling of oppression for Chris. The human spirit must not be chained up, so for Chris’s sake, it seems that his decision is the right one.

In the case of Andrew in Ender’s Game, the same moral is very evident. For the supposed good of mankind, Ender is forced to give up his childhood to develop his killer instinct and strategy. Though noble of him to do so, this decision also results in the deaths of two other children and the mental and physical breakdown of Andrew, and ultimately it turns out to be unnecessary because the Buggers are a peaceful species. Once again, then, it can be seen that the “socially acceptable” decision is not the proper one and that the twisted hand of fate can often take a person to places he or she dare not dream of.

Both of these characters face life-threatening decisions, but fate seems to smile on only one of them. The very essence of life is the free will humans have to make decisions, but unfortunately, this gift can too often become a downfall. Both Andrew’s and Chris’s decisions held difficult surprises for them, but it is not them, but fate that scripts their final outcome.

Thursday
King Thurath’s Punishment
Diana Santangelo
Boardman Glenwood Middle School
 

As I look back upon that time long ago, I remember the mission so clearly still. I had been stranded in a little known country, transported by the powerful throne of Thurath. I was unable to heal his precious daughter from her fatal sickness, and in his anger, he evicted me, just like that. King Thurath decided to give me the privilege of transporting three well-known beings from another world. I realized this was my only chance for navigating my way back home, so I had to be careful  whom I chose.

The first thought that came to my mind was my good friend, Aerin. She had recently lost her father, King Arlbeth, and from then on, we became tight friends. I knew Aerin would greatly help me on this journey. Aerin is very courageous and strong, and whatever unknown vermin cross our path, Aerin will be most able to overcome their powers. Aerin is amazing with a sword. Watching her rehearse fencing in the courtyard always leaves me stunned and embarrassed at my own pitiful attempts at fencing. Aerin would not only be a great swordsman—excuse me, swordswoman—and will  fight and defeat enemies, but she would also be a great companion generally. I miss my family—they mean a lot to me—and I had to get out of there.

My second being I chose was the wandering Vagrant. The only  problem in that choosing is that it is often difficult to find and communicate with any vagrant. They are a bizarre group of people, but if you ever need to know how to get somewhere, ask a vagrant. You see, vagrants are wanderers who travel from place to place. They get to know the land. Vagrants have been navigating since the beginning of time, and if I wanted to escape that wretched place, transporting a vagrant would be a good idea.

I gave the third and last transport seat to Tim. Tim may not excel above and beyond any certain skill, but he is wise. If we had a situation in which we saw no solution, Tim would come up with one. Tim is levelheaded. To tell you the truth, my heart aches for Tim. In his world, his dear father was taken captive, and his brother was blamed for a wrongdoing for which the fault lay elsewhere. Tim only had his poor mother left. The whole situation made Tim a mature, diligent, hardworking person. He knows how to cope in tough situations, and this situation was classified as tough. He was a great help to me in escaping this country.

My choices were secure and wise, for with the help of Aerin, the Vagrant, and Tim, I completed my mission successfully and escaped home to my family. Though I was still under the rule of King Thurath, he had seemingly forgotten me. I enjoyed it best that way, for I was home and safe with my family, working as a writer. Aerin, Tim, and I became best friends, and the Vagrant went on his way again, wandering to the ends of the world. I will never forget my experience on that unknown island, and I am overjoyed that my friends willingly helped me and were there for me when I needed them, for I will always be there for my friends when they need me.

Friday
True Strength
Nicholas Guerrieri
Canfield High School
 

“You don’t know how strong you are until you are taken away from your home.” This is the preaching I’ve heard many times from my father. There is a great amount of truth in those few words. Alien environments can bring things out from you that you never thought were there, or a new environment can show you that you’re not quite as independent as you thought yourself to be. The characters in this year’s English Festival books embrace the challenge of foreign situations and do the best they can to survive.

A royal princess strays from her royal ways to conquer what no one thought possible. The princess, Aerin, from The Hero and the Crown, misses adventure from her monotonous routine. She sets out to seek it in weird potions and fables. Aerin endures enormous criticism as she branches out of the protective walls of the castle and does what she knows has to be done. Any spare moment, she diligently works to learn to ride and use weapons to help her on her journey. Riding long hours into a town no one else would go to, to do something no one else would do earns well-deserved fame. Her failure only makes her stronger to overcome a fear far worse than dragons. In the challenge of her new environment, she overcomes her own self-doubt.

A young man from a fishing village chooses not to be controlled and in so doing, risks not only his life, but the lives of others. Jean Paul “Beanpole” from The White Mountains sees the results of being capped and takes the responsibility to not have these things happen to him. Equipped with only trust and will, he follows two children in a journey more dangerous than even they could have anticipated. With a keen mind and cool head, he handles dangerous and unbelievable situations. Scavenging for food and shelter becomes a nagging enemy. When the smoke clears, he had beaten the Tripods and would always be free in his mind and spirit.

These characters share an undeniable courage and passion. They choose not to buy the preconceived notions of society. In doing so, they show that they have true strength.

Festival of Writing 1999 Home Page