In the book Wednesday Wars, what does Holling Hoodhood want and why is it important to him?

The thing Holling Hoodhood wants most in life is to have a
chance to determine his own destiny. Holling's father is a controlling, insensitive man
who has decided that Holling will follow in his footsteps and take over his architecture
company, called Hoodhood and Associates, when he comes of age. Holling's father is used
to having his own way, and will not allow any dissent in his family, or anywhere
else. What he says, goes, and he cruelly belittles anyone who dares defy
him.

Holling does not know what he wants to do with his
life; because of his talents - as Mrs. Baker tells him, he "has the soul of an
architect," - he may indeed follow in his father's footsteps, career-wise, but he wants
to have the chance to decide this for himself. Holling tells Mrs. Baker that the thing
he is most afraid of is

readability="7">

"that (he) won't get the chance to see what (he)
can do with the slings and arrows of outrageous
fortune,"

and Mrs. Baker
tells him that, because of the great courage involved in securing that chance, not many
people do. Holling, however, is determined, and with the lessons learned through
the support of Mrs. Baker and others, as well as the insights he has gained from reading
the works of Shakespeare, he finds the strength to stand up to his father. When his
father tells him that becoming a man involves getting a good job, providing for one's
family, and learning to "play for keeps," Holling disagrees,
saying,

"I
don't think so...it's not just about a job. It's more. It has to do with choosing for
yourself."

The story ends on
a hopeful note, and it appears that Holling will indeed have that chance to determine
his own destiny.