Taking Risks In Uglies By Scott Westerfeld

In the novel “Uglies” written by Scott Westerfeld, Tally lives in a society where once you turn 16, you get a “pretty surgery”. Until the age of 16, you are an “ugly” and treated differently than “pretties”. Tally struggles to find the real meaning of beauty and she battles her want to undergo the surgery. She discovers herself and what she wants by stepping out of her comfort zone and taking risks. With each risk Tally takes, she grows as a person. She finds that taking risks can have both negative or positive outcomes but she will never know unless she tries it. She doesn't want to miss out on opportunities because of her fear of taking risks.
When Tally is presented with a deal made by Dr. Cable, she is unsure about accepting the proposed offer. Dr. Cable wants Tally to go on a risky mission all alone to a place called the “Smokes”, which is a place where runaway “uglies” live. Tally’s friends happen to live there too and are a part of the “Smokes”. The deal Tally is offered is to travel to the “Smokes” and expose where it is located and …show more content…
Cable is threatening her so it wasn't a risk because she didn't choose it. This is a weak argument because Tally still had the option whether she wanted to turn pretty or not. She didn't have to take the offer but since she did, she grows as a person and she finds out what she really wants.
In conclusion, “Uglies” shows that risks are things that must be taken to help you grow and discover opportunities. When Tally takes the risk of destroying her pendant, her friendships grew stronger and she grows as a person and opportunities are unlocked. Taking risks can be scary because there is no way of knowing the outcome of the choice, but growing as a person outweighs the mystery of what's to come. Stepping out of your comfort zone and taking risks supports your growth as a person and you should never back down to a risky