Fans of The Hunger Games practically bow down to Katniss Everdeen, whistling the mockingjay tune between classes and scouring over the words to Suzanne Collins’ popular novel. It’s a good thing that Katniss has her act together! Hunting game for her family, nurturing her younger sister, acting as the matriarch when her mother is absent, sacrificing herself for her sister in the Hunger Games, knowing her skills and weaknesses, and constantly keeping her emotions in check, Katniss is certainly not representative of the average adolescent, and it is for this reason that she is so admired.
Katniss is never spotted curled up crying over a boy, or acting recklessly. She doesn’t appear overly dramatic or confused. Katniss never displays personality traits that are characteristically adolescent. “I protect Prim in every way I can,” the sixteen-year-old says about her younger sister. Then, when stating her last goodbyes to her family before her certain death, she notes, “I cannot afford to get upset… crying is not an option.” So don’t feel bad next time you find yourself unable to hunt down tonight’s dinner or hold back the waterworks. I, myself, am three years older than Katniss’ character and can only hope that my own personality will soon be as mature as hers.
–Alyssa Taylor is a rising sophomore at Franklin & Marshall College, which was ranked the 4th most rigorous college in the nation by Newsweek in 2011.
