“You can swim all day in the Sea of Knowledge and not get wet.” Milo begins his journey in Norton Juster’s The Phantom Tollbooth searching for substance in his life. He finds meaning in the same place I have, through experiences that teach him how to better understand the things around him. I want my experiences, like Milo’s, to help me create change in my world.

“You mean you have other words? Well, by all means, use them”
Like Milo, I was undeservingly given the gift of education. Milo’s reception of an anonymous package that allows him to find excitement in the world seems random and mysterious. Although not tangibly wrapped like Milo’s tollbooth, my gift came from a similarly chance source. Given that I happened to be born in a suburb of Ohio, availability of public school seemed tantamount to my existence; I did nothing to earn access to the extraordinary nature of knowledge. Milo also accesses nature when he orders a “light meal” and is forced to “eat his words.” He receives a literal beam of light on a platter, thus discovering the intricacy of language and the importance of accuracy. I, like Milo, have developed …show more content…
Milo, using his newfound courage and wisdom, helped return Rhyme and Reason to the entire kingdom. I try to use the opportunities I have been given by bringing a similar “rhyme and reason” to my own sphere. This past year, for example, I tutored an eighth grader who struggled severely with algebra; I felt that I had done impactful work as I helped her develop her understanding. I also try to affect a positive change in my job as a camp counselor. Whether by teaching campers to hang up clothes or reading with them to overcome homesickness, my work makes a difference. By helping produce more productive and confident individuals, I, like Milo, move the