In "The Last Song" by Nicholas Sparks, Ronnie Miller is currently in a rebellious, resentful stage of her teenage years. Her parents' divorce three years prior to when the story takes place has changed Ronnie's life in many ways, turning it upside down without Ronnie getting a chance to control her emotions. In a desperate attempt to pull the family back together, Ronnie's mother sends her daughter and son to their father's home in Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, for the summer. Throughout the summer, Ronnie learns important lessons about life and happiness through relationships with her family, experiences with tragic events, and falling in love for the first time. These experiences help to progress her character in "The Last Song", including her conflicts, relationships, and motivation. For example, in the beginning of the novel, Ronnie Miller struggles with the fact that she would much rather be in her hometown, New York City, than Wrightsville Beach with her father for the summer. She is very selfish and does not realize how blessed she is. When Ronnie meets Will, however, her outlook on life changes, shifting her conflicts. Ronnie must then learn how to open her heart and mind to friendship, and later, true love. Relationship conflicts follow, strengthening Ronnie's character. Illness in Ronnie's family also proves to cause conflict later in the novel. After she and her little brother discover that their father has been diagnosed with cancer of the stomach, Ronnie's main conflict completely changes to that of taking care of her family, instead of fulfilling her own needs. She knows that she must step up to do what she can to help. Ronnie's relationships also improve and grow throughout the novel. When she first arrives at her father's beach house, it is obvious that she resents her father by what she says and how she treats him. However, Ronnie begins to appreciate her father's undying love as she spends more time at his home for the summer. She comes to realize that he is not a bad person, but rather a kind, understanding man by spending time with him. Another relationship Ronnie possesses that grows throughout "The Last Song" is that of she and Will Blakelee. Will's attitude and genuine personality draw Ronnie to him, and soon Ronnie realizes she is in love. This is when she truly learns to be less selfish, and to let down the walls she hs built around herself for three, long years. Another part of Ronnie that changes in "The Last Song" is the motivation that she goes by. Upon first arriving in North Carolina, Ronnie is motivated by her own selfish desires to go back to New York City where her friends are located. She is also motivated by anger and harbors resentment toward her family members because of her parents' decision to end their marriage. After Ronnie meets Will, her motivation becomes love and the desire to be happy. She begins to let joy into her life again, which helps her even in taking care of her ill father and younger brother when it is needed. In conclusion, Ronnie Miller is a character who greatly progresses in "The Last Song". She has matured and discovered a new way to live her life. She no longer resents her father, and has grown to love him very much, though he passes away. It is also apparent that Ronnie opens up her heart and finds out what it means to truly love someone in a relationship. Ronnie is very different at the end of the novel than at the beginning.