Sophie Borrmann '24

Finding Meaning in the Journey:
A senior’s reflection through the lens of The Little Prince

Growing up, I was surrounded by books and languages. My parents are both high school French teachers and every year they teach the book The Little Prince, or Le Petit Prince, to their level 3 French classes. Even though it is over 80 years old, it is incredibly relevant and a great teaching tool. As my dad likes to say, he learns something new everytime he reads it.

The Little Prince, by Antoine de Saint-Exupery, is simple on the surface, but the deeper you delve into the story, the richer the character and the story become. If you do not dismiss it as a children's book, you will find that it is riddled with meaning and life lessons that are mature and cleverly woven into the story. In the narrative, the Little Prince sets out on a journey, leaving his small planet to make friends and find a purpose for his life in the universe. I have been thinking about the Little Prince a lot recently as a second-semester senior in college with graduation looming in the near future. As I think about my intentions for my life post-grad, I seek to find meaning, connections, and continue to grow as a person, just as the Little Prince was when he left his planet. I have made friends and found passions at BC, but this is a journey that will last my whole life.

One of the key characteristics of the Little Prince is his open mind and willingness to learn from the characters he meets. He asks a lot of questions, which some find annoying and others endearing. Asking questions is often labeled as childish. You have surely had an experience when a kid won't stop asking you "why?" and will notaccept the generic "because that is just the way it is." As an adult, sometimes asking questions can feel like a trait of stupidity or ignorance. Within the IS program, there is an invitation to embrace curiosity and an openness to learning. We are encouraged to ask questions when we lack understanding and to begin discussions, which often bring ideas and knowledge out into the open. While not all those who we encounter open themselves to listening and learning, it can be worthwhile to ask questions of them as well.

I have a lot to learn from The Little Prince about meaningful relationships. This is one of the book's most important and persistent themes, and something I am always working on. The Prince meets people who are shallow, negative, and draining. He courageously leaves these relationships behind because he realizes they are unsustainable. What the Prince does come to appreciate is that it takes time to create intentional and authentic bonds with people. It also takes mutual patience, trust, and understanding; these are harder to find than we often think. Each relationship is unique and holds exceptional value in our lives, something the Little Prince discovers on his voyage. What he ultimately learns, however, is that relationships make life worth living.

While on his adventure through the universe, the Little Prince also falls in love with traveling and exploring new places, something I have been fortunate to do and hope to continue. Traveling has taught me a lot about myself and others and the world in which we live; it keeps me curious, like the Little Prince, who, as I already mentioned, is always asking questions and seeking answers. He also listens and embraces the wonder of what he is seeing. Curiosity, wonder, and listening are all qualities I hope never to lose, and have been fostered at BC through my International Studies professors. The world constantly reminds me that there is so much I do not know and motivates me to continue to learn and listen intently, even when I am in an unexpected place. Meaningful relationships can be forged anywhere if you have an open mind and heart, something I learned from the Little Prince.

I am excited for the new and unknown adventures that lie ahead. Like the Little Prince, I am getting ready to leave my planet, and even though it is scary, I know it is right. By stepping outside my little planet, I will continue to forge meaningful relationships and learn more about myself, others, and the world. Like the Little Prince, I am attempting to embrace the change and transformation that is inevitable in life and find meaning and purpose in what I encounter.

If you haven't already, I recommend you read The Little Prince. And if you have, read it again! You are sure to find some new meaning in it that you missed before. There are so many more lessons from this book than the aforementioned ones, and there is so much to keep finding meaning in.
 

Sophie Borrmann '24
March 2024