While it is difficult for me to find a total depiction of myself within the confines of a single fictional character, the one that I can most easily relate to, minus the alcoholism, is Hunter S. Thompson's Paul Kemp, from The Rum Diary. The book tracks an aspiring journalist who makes his way to Puerto Rico where he lands a job writing for a failing sports newspaper. Kemps inquisitive nature allows him to assess any given circumstance from multiple angles, giving him a cognitive advantage amongst the rest of his co workers at the Daily News; it is in this way we are one in the same. Now, that is not to say that I have any type of cognitive advantage over anyone. However, it is simply impossible for me to even imagine going through a typical day without realizing multiple other ways that a specific event, the subsequent event, and the following one might have concluded; and how that would have affected something on an even larger scale. Throughout the Rum Diary, Kemp and his befriended newspaper columnists are faced with trying events that subsequently unfold as Kemp submerses himself in the lavish culture that his other companions have shown him. Kemps incisive criticism however, eventually brings to light that all the things about Puerto Rico he has fallen in love with are extremely detrimental to the rest of the local population; including his fellow co-writers. Though I cant relate to the cinematic-like endeavors against political corruption and the bastardization of Puerto Rico, I approach every task with the same opened-mindedness and perseverance that Paul Kemp has. I find happiness and entertainment come easily, with the right attitude, and often challenge myself to have faith in my problem solving skills to guide me in the right direction; as opposed to acting based on a perceived will of a higher power or even a gut feeling. Essentially, taking a leap of faith is easy for me; so long as I can find any possible way to rational