Benny Nielsen

Dear Mr. Card,

I had no idea how reading Ender's Game could change my life, but it did. It made me view the world in a different way that I never expected. I always believed big changes in life always make you start over and frustrates you, but after reading your book I had a different view. Now I think changes bring opportunities, I never thought of it that way. I also believed that being alone is sad, but after reading Ender's experiences, I thought it may be even good to have some alone time. Lastly, I always believed I will never get a chance to do what I want because everyone around me tells me what to do; but I think after reading this book I might be able to do what I want someday after all.

I had a negative idea about changes in life. I thought about Ender moving from place to place even though he didn't want to. When I read it, I thought of me too. I'm from Palm Springs, California. Then I moved to Turkey for a while. Next I moved to Riverside, California. Then I moved to Clear Lake, Iowa and now I am in Des Moines. I never wanted these changes; I just had to. These changes made me sad and I hated to start over with new schools, new people, and new houses every time. When I read that every change made Ender closer to reach his goals, I got inspired thinking maybe all these changes in my life also will help me with my goals. I want to be an inventor and I get new ideas every time I make a new change in my life.

Another way I am changed is that I am lonely and I hated it. I don't have many friends and I sometimes think it is bad to be this way. Ender in the book was also lonely but he figured out a lot by this way. He had more time to figure out important things and it helped him to think alone. I think for my inventions I have to think a lot and be alone too.

I also used to think I can't do anything I want because of all the adults telling me what to do. This frustrated me a lot. When I read Ender's Game, I saw that Ender also had this problem but after he did all the things the adults wanted him to; he got to do what he wanted. I am inspired to think that maybe I can do whatever I want once I do what adults want me to do. I want to draw and come up with inventions but I am always told to do chores and homework. I was always mad thinking it interferes with my inventions but now I think I can still do what I want after doing what people expect of me. I just have to be patient.

I am hoping I will be famous when I grow up because of something I do just like Ender. I am hoping to change the world with my inventions. When I read Ender's Game, I thought that every place Ender went made him closer to saving the world. He did what he wanted even though he was lonely and he was told what to do all the time. Maybe I am getting closer to a breakthrough invention even though I moved a lot, and lonely and am told what to do all the time also.

This book taught me that everything we do is another building block to reach the future. I don't know how all the moves in my life, being lonely and being told what to do will build up, but someday maybe I will see how they are included to make my future the way I want it.

Sincerely,
Benny Nielsen