In It to Win It by Emily

In It to Win It by Emily - October 2025 Scholarship Essay

“You’ve got to be in it to win it!” My family and I say this phrase almost daily in a joking way, referring to our fake winnings when we’re playing Jeopardy! at home on the couch. We always laugh about risking all our “money” on Final Jeopardy, just because why not? But risking everything in a game show, especially when you’re just playing at home in your pj’s, is different than treating this phrase as a life motto. Jennifer Lynn Barnes is able to play pretend when she writes the character of Jameson Hawthrone in The Inheritance Games series, who often does seem to live his life with this phrase as scripture. This is my absolute favorite book series, and when deciding which character to hone in on for this prompt, I realized that Jameson’s lesson resonated with me.
Jameson, or “Jamie,” as his brothers call him, is a massive risk taker. He lives life on the edge, and there is absolutely no dare he would say no to. This attitude was instilled in him by his grandfather, Tobias Hawthorne, who made him feel the need to constantly compete and best his three brothers. Jameson doesn’t have some of the unique gifts or talents that his brothers do, so to set himself apart, he makes impulsive decisions fueled solely by adrenaline.
His risk-taking habits are clearly evident when Avery, a stranger to the Hawthorne family, shows up and is revealed to be the heiress of the Hawthorne fortune. The books center around the enigma of why Avery was chosen above all family members, who would be the obvious choices. Immediately, Jameson goes into puzzle mode, tackling every game and puzzle that comes his way with an intense attitude and desire to win by whatever means necessary.
All this to say, Jameson’s attitude toward tackling the puzzles left by his grandfather and attempting to beat his brothers has taught me the value of taking risks and putting yourself out there. I don’t mean acting impulsively or foolishly, but making decisions that are out-of-the-box. I tend to stand off to the side, play by the rules, and definitely not take big risks. This contradicts the lifestyle of Jamie – where he would say, “Yeah, let’s go for it!” I would be cautiously lurking in the shadows.
In the series, Jameson’s actions are often extreme – such as when he puts his deepest secret on the line in the Devil’s Mercy, a secret underground society. He could have easily stepped down or found another solution. But Jamie never does anything half-way. He was “in it to win it,” refusing to step down or withhold any of his cards. He showed me the importance of always going the extra mile for the causes you believe in.
I have also learned to make peace with the fact that not everything goes perfectly – some risks don’t pay off. For Jameson, in the beginning, he acts impulsively and confronts Avery about a piece of the puzzle. This leads to tension between them that could have easily been avoided. I have learned to accept that the things I do won’t always have the exact results that I intended them to. I like being in control, and taking only calculated actions, but I can’t always win.
I have slowly begun taking more risks and putting all my cards out on the table. Last year, I applied for a position on the board of my school’s chapter of the Spanish Honor Society. To me, this was a risk: I had doubts about my abilities, and whether I would ever be chosen. Was it even worth it to try? But I put myself out there, answering written questions and sitting for an in-person interview, trying my best. In the end, my efforts did pay off; I earned the spot as President. I could say this is all thanks to Jameson.
So, the next time I sit down with my family to watch Jeopardy!, I will encourage them to wager everything — after all, we’re in it to win it. Maybe we’ll get the question wrong, but you never know until you try. There’s always the possibility that we’ll get the question right and surpass the competition. Regardless, I’ll feel good knowing we put ourselves out there and took the risk, just as Jameson would have.