SAT Essay #3

"Conscience-that powerful inner voice that tells us what is right and what is wrong." Helping us discern whether something is right or wrong, our conscience is an extremely powerful motivator. Is it a more powerful motivator than money, fame, or power though?

Money, fame and power motivate some, but in the end, conscience will win the battle. A good example of this would be Pip from Great Expectations. Pip is motivated to become a gentleman, to be able to climb higher on the social-class ladder. Through his journey to become a gentleman, he forgets the important things in life like his family. In his pursuit of a higher social rank, Pip does not visit his brother-in-law who thinks of Pip as his only friend. Nor does he visit his sick sister who dies while he is away. After a time Pip goes into debt and has to give up living the life of a gentleman. The little voice inside his head, that has barely been heard before tells him that he has been a jerk. He needs to go and make amends with the ones he's hurt. Arriving in his hometown, he goes to see his brother-in-law to whom he apologizes to for not being a good friend. He asks forgiveness fro9m a series of people. Clearing his conscience of all the past offenses he had committed helps him to become a true gentleman: not a gentleman of social class standards but a genuine gentleman. Pip's conscience turns out to be the more powerful motivator. He is a better person for listening to his conscience.

There are multiple examples throughout history that show us people whose conscience has overcome fame, money and power. By allowing his conscience to motivate his actions, Pip became what he had hoped to become: a gentleman. "Conscience...can be a more compelling force than money, power, of fame."

Movie Review

"Christmas Shoes"

Before watching the movie "Christmas Shoes" you will need to grab a few boxes of tissues because this story will make you cry like a baby. The whole movie tugs at your heart and makes you appreciate the joys that life brings.

This story goes between the lives of two different families: the Layton family and the Andrews family. Robert Layton (Rob Lowe), a busy lawyer, hardly spends time with his family. Things between him and his wife get a little strenuous and as he goes through his Christmas holiday, he learns a valuable lesson about family from a child. The Andrews family has problems of their own: Maggie (Kimberly Williams-Paisley), the mother of the family, has a fatal heart disease. As Christmas approaches, her son Nathan, realizing that this will most likely be her last Christmas, buys her shoes that are similar to dancing shoes she had as a little girl. He goes through different struggles to get the shoes, but he perseveres in the end. Nathan himself learns lessons as he celebrates his Christmas holiday.

It is nearly impossible not to cry when Nathan awakes his mom in the night while checking to see if her heart is still beating.

This moving story is based on the book by Donna Van Liere and song by Christian group "Newsong". I heard the song on my way to school and I bawled my eyes out. It touched my heart. When it came out on DVD, I jumped at the opportunity to buy it. I live in a house with two sisters, so when we watched this movie my two sisters, my mom and I cried the whole time. If this story does not move you in any way then you must have a cold heart. I have to say that director Andy Wolk did an amazing job.

I give this movie 5 out of 5 stars. It is a heartwarming Christmas movie that each family should watch. This movie is a great example of the love of Christmas and it shows that each of us have a lesson to learn.