Kate Zacharzewska is a United States national with dual citizenship. She was born in Germany and has always been a strong supporter of her homeland. Growing up in the United States, Kate has always dreamed of making a comfortable home for herself and her family, but at the same time she understands the sacrifices that come with it. She joined the army as a teenager and was given the chance to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming a nurse. She was deeply disappointed when the position she applied for did not accept her due to her height and her skin color.
After this she joined the Merchant Army and served in the Civil War. Eventually, Kate was given an opportunity to become a teacher in a preparatory school for girls and this led her to start her own teaching career. It was also then that she decided to take on her most rewarding profession, writing. Now, whether you agree with her decision or not is entirely up to you, but what is clear is that Kate’s love of words and the love of teaching is very much ingrained in her and she would have done anything to keep her position as a teacher even if it meant giving up her nationality and her birth country.
As we see in this movie, Kate is not only focused on her profession, but she is also focused on being happy and enjoying her life as a whole. Her age does not deter her from being able to achieve these things. This is also evident by how she is able to successfully manage all of the responsibilities that come along with teaching. In one scene we are told that Kate works from home because her desk is next to her bed. This of course is implausible, but what is clear is that this type of life style is what she wants and it is what will help her achieve all of her goals. It is easy to see why this movie is so likable.