The Final Showdown

This is an essay about this passage in Anne Frank's diary "The final forming of a person's character lies in their own hands"

Anne Frank, only twelve or thirteen when she went into hiding with her family to avoid Nazi persecution, wrote that "The final forming of a person's character lies in their own hands". Anne probably said this as her mother and Mrs.Van Pells would strongly criticize her and often tried to order her around; However, Anne's strong will and stubbornness helped her stay afloat and follow her dreams. This statement clearly shows that Anne was not only a brilliant writer but that she didn't only see events come by but analyses them as well. The exceptional playwright William Shakespeare remarked "Nothing is either good or bad but thinking makes it so"and what are we Homo sapiens best at? Think, think and think some more.

Every teenager has quarrels with their parents. But, haven't you noticed you are not that little girl or boy who admired their parents above all? Did you know that every word you speak, every decision in your life, reflects your moral values? Since kindergarden, adults have been our major role models, teaching us the difference between right and wrong. In fact, we've grown up being told how to behave. As a teenager, I feel I am in the stage when you get to really know yourself. Take my religious beliefs for instance, my mother is a Christian, my father is a Christian, as are the rest of my family members. I don't want to be a Christian because my family is; I want to be a Christian because I believe. To me it seems as if my eyes are suddenly open, but the real thing is I'm growing up and now is the time to build and solidify my moralities. I think what Anne Frank meant was that people are always in some way, influencing you, but when it comes to the final showdown, each individual is to decide for himself of herself.