My Seventeenth Summer

My seventeenth summer is a book about a girl who is spending her summer pretty much doing her work when she meets a boy. the boy makes an effort to reach out to her and be friends. They end up kind of being on opposite ends of life, but actually having a lot in common. He's more popular and she's more focused on her work and family. I've just started reading it so i don't know much about it, but this is what i've learned so far.

I think one of the main messages is that if you do your work you will get rewarded. For example, almost every other girl is out on dates or at parties while she is home working, and she gets the boy that everyone wants. The other girls are working to get noticed by him, while she's working for herself, she gets noticed by him. If you work hard something good will come out of it. Two things good come out of it in this case. She gets a good friends, and she discovers herself. Instead of focusing on following everyone else, she is developing her own character. You never know who will like you for you, but it's better to make your own path then follow in everyone else's footsteps.

Another lesson is about being judgemental. Don't judge others by your past experiences. I'm barely into the book and theres already multiple examples of this.Like when they are on their first date, and he is talking about how pretty certain things are,   and she says something like, i didn't think boys noticed those things. First of all she is putting a label on him, even though it's true that he's a boy, she's making it seem like he's the type of person that acts like how she thinks boys are. At least she was open to the possibility that she could be wrong and she changed her opinion.

The most important lessons I've learned so far are that you need to focus on yourself more then what others are doing or what you think others want you to do. It's important for you to develop your character before you start doing things for others. And also that it's important to not be so set in your way of thinkings, always be open to changing it if you realize your wrong. You will be a much stronger person with both of these characteristics.