A Raisin in the Sun

Kierra Daves

Women of Tomorrow Scholarship Essay

Walter Lee Young, the protagonist in the novel Raisin in the Sun, is a very determined individual. He wants to provide for his family and give them a life where they don’t have to struggle anymore. Although Walter is determined, he’s also simple-minded and a dreamer. He doesn’t fully think things through. For example, throughout the story, Walter tries really hard to get involved with get rich quick schemes. He only thinks about the positive outcomes instead of thinking about what the schemes can do to him and his family in a positive and negative way.

I chose Walter’s character because I like his determination and the fact that he is a dreamer. Once he has a goal, he works diligently to achieve it. This is how I am. Once I set my mind and my heart to something, I work for it and keep an optimistic view of the situation. For example, my freshman year, I wanted to join the club Women of Tomorrow when some friends who had recently become members told me what it was all about. I had a dream of becoming a member of this club so that it could shape me into a young lady of class and intellect. With the information I had, I found the person in charge of the club. I had gotten there just in time to receive the application. Because of this determination, I have been a Women of Tomorrow mentee for all four years of high school. In those four years, I have matured mentally and respectably.

If I were in Walter’s shoes, I would not have made the same decisions that he made. He did not fully think things through which caused his family more hardship. If I were Walter, I would’ve invested in the business as he did; however, I wouldn’t have put a large sum of money into the business like he had done. I would take this path instead because the family was struggling tremendously so I wouldn’t have put a large lump sum of cash into something that probably wouldn’t have had a successful turnout.