My name has always been different. Someone’s dog is named Scout or their uncle is Scott. When I was younger kids would ask why I had a boy’s name, and adults have always been ecstatic to talk about To Kill a Mockingbird– a book so powerful it gave my name meaning I didn’t understand. So powerful, it often took me from Scout Benson- daughter of Doug and Heather, curious, confident, and bold- to Scout Finch- daughter of Atticus, curious, confident, and bold.
It was life changing to always be associated with this other child, who I was told I fit perfectly.
I bore the weight of this little girl on my own little girl’s shoulders. Her story changed the world. Would mine? My name is heavy. It means things to people. Things like innocence, or pain. My name reminds people of history. Battles fought and won, battles still being fought. Wrongs yet to be righted. A little girl in a world she didn’t understand. Much like I was. Much like I still am. My name is Scout Benson. I love my name. It gives me power. It is not a boy’s name, or your uncle Scott’s name, or a dog’s name. It is my name. A name I share with a little girl in a big story that touched millions. I want to be curious and confident and bold like her. My life is not a story, it is my life. But I too hope to touch millions someday.
Scout graduated from Springville High School in Utah in May of 2021. She enjoys expressing herself through writing about the world around her. Outdoors are one of her many passions, and her writing attempts to convey feelings and emotions that she finds and feels in her life.