KAYLEE MCCRACKEN

Personal Statement

My great-grandfather is the greatest man I’ve never met. Richard Powell is my mother’s
mother’s father and I look up to him more than anyone else in the world. He was in the military
and made a living by writing speeches for General MacArthur. After serving in WWII he
continued his writing but instead of speeches, it was books. He wrote both short stories and
novels. One novel, Pioneer, Go Home!, was later turned into a movie called Follow That Dream
starring Elvis. My great-grandfather then became great friends with him until his death.

My favorite novel of his is The Philadelphian. This was also made into a movie, The Young
Philadelphians, starring Paul Newman. It is about a young man who, despite having a very rough
childhood and home life, became one of the youngest and one of the most influential lawyers in
Philadelphia. It was the book that sparked my love of reading. It’s my comfort book. It made me
realize I want to be a prosecutor. It influenced my entire life and I would have never even known
it existed if it wasn’t written by my great-grandfather. My whole life my family has told me that
The Philadelphian was a prophecy from my great-grandfather about me.

He died in 1999; four years before I was born.

My entire family tells me often that he would have loved me. I am reminded every time I see my
grandmother that he would be so proud of me. She tells me how every time she looks at me she
sees him. I live my life so he would be proud of me. I conduct myself in the manner he would
have. Although I have never met him, I feel like I know him through his books (I own a first
edition copy of every single one). Although I have never met him, I am closer to him than any
other member of my family. Although I have never met him, he has influenced every aspect of
my life.