STANISLAUS CONNECTIONS

Working For Peace, Justice, and A Sustainable Environment

A Modesto Peace/Life Center Publication

2007

Peace Essay Contest

Peace Essay Contest 2007

Important Truths: 2007 Peace Essay Contest

Sometimes the most important truths in life appear simple and straightforward In most cultures, we learn them at a young age, recognizing that these simple truths or principles can help people to live together in peace and understanding, solving conflicts nonviolently. Putting these principles into practice, however, is not always popular and requires a commitment that goes beyond pleasing only ourselves and others around us.

The 21st annual Peace Essay Contest received 784 qualifying. Sponsored by the Modesto Peace/Life Center, the contest is open to all students, grades 5-12, who live or attend school in Stanislaus County.

2007 Peace Essay Contest Committee: Margaret Barker, Indira Clark, Pam Franklin, Elaine Gorman, Russ Matteson, Suzanne Meyer, Deborah Roberts, and Sandy Sample.

Winners

Peace Essay Contest Winners:  Olivia Laura Mesches, Div. 4, Alyssa Medina, Div. 3, Griselda Ramirez, Div. 2, Kellie Courtrey, Div. 1

Division I  (grades 11 and 12)

 Division II  (grades 9 and 10)

Division III  (grades 7 and 8)

Division IV  (grades 5 and 6)

*The author of the best essay in a division from a school that has ten or more entries in that division is honored as the school winner.

Thanks to Nancy Smith and David Rockwell for hosting “A Fall Gathering“ fundraiser for the Peace Essay Contest, and to Shelly Scribner for organizing this most pleasant evening.

Thanks to our screeners and judges: Jerry Budin, Andi McGhee, Dorothy Griggs, Mike Monson, Pam Franklin, Margaret Barker, Elaine Gorman, Richard Harvey, Suzanne Meyer, David Franklin, Phil Franklin, Shelly Scribner, Amanda Woods, Linda McFelter, Stephanie Franklin, Linda Scheller, Jeshua Franklin, John Lucas, Ruth Spencer, Ray Miller, Indira Clark, Jim Beggs, Julie TenBrink, Susan Janis, Myrtle Osner, Brad Barker, Steve Collins, Jim Costello, Anita Feeney, Sandra Franklin, Simeon Franklin, Nancy Griggs, Barbara Manrique, Russ Matteson, Susan Novak, Dan Onorato, Kaye Osborn, Tim Smart, Sandy Sample, Judy Sly.

The Peace Essay Contest is a project of the Modesto Peace/Life Center. 720-13th Street, Suite D, P. O. Box 134, Modesto, California 95354-0134; 529-5750 peaceessay@juno.com

First Place
Division I (grades 11-12)
Kellie Courtrey
Johansen High School - Miss Nielsen

“See Beyond What Is”

People today are in a great hurry to fit in. They rush around in a constant frenzy, worried that what they do will not measure up to the expectations they assume others hold for them. They are set on succeeding at living inside the proverbial box and are so focused that they fail to see anything beyond its confinement. In doing so, they limit themselves in. so many ways. I first began to see the effects of this restriction with the guidance of my junior high drama teacher. "Dream big" she used to instruct me, for no great accomplishment ever comes about without such inspiration. Things do not happen when people are bent on succeeding in mediocrity; they happen when someone chooses to see not what is but what could be. At first, I dismissed this as merely another motivational speech. Why did I need to hear this? I was content with my life the way it was. As time went on however, I began to see that there was truth in her advice and I chose to follow it. I might not be able to be selected for honor band, but I could try out. The lonely girl in my science class may not become my best friend, but it would not hurt to be friendly. Little changes like this would not take much effort.

The more I dreamed, the more enthusiastic I became about the results. I began to see more opportunities present themselves, even things I never would have dreamed of on my own. A community service opportunity to work in west Modesto came up and I was quick to respond. I had little skills in those fields and little strength to speak of, but I was dreaming big. I saw an opportunity to make a difference. By the end of the week, I had benefited from the experience as much as the family whose house we had remodeled, and happier than I ever would have been if I had been thinking only of me.

This effort to dream big has many implications, even for my own life. At first my "big" dreams involved going to an Ivy League school and having a high-paying job. Now that I am learning the true meaning of dreaming big, that focus has changed. Dreaming big now means going to college so I can get a job and use my talents to help people. Dreaming big means not limiting my future to the years ahead but doing my best at what I can now. Dreaming big means using my extra time to participate in community service projects at church instead of watching television. Dreaming big means being friendly to everyone around me, because it does not hurt to try to be friends with everyone and make someone happy every day.

Dreaming big causes a change of perspective, it makes a person think of something beyond his daily life. Living life successfully is one thing; living with a purpose is something more. When a person dreams big, he sees the people around him, not just himself, and sees opportunities for him to make a difference. When one thinks in the long term, trivial differences do not matter as much. Dreams unite people, bringing out the best qualities and fostering common goals. Dreams focus on the best in people, the possibilities, and give people a hope that lifts them out of the meaningless routine of life that entraps so many. Dreams can be self-centered, but big dreams focus on what one can do for others. That is when change takes place.

Division II
First Place
Griselda Ramirez
Enochs High School - Mrs. Mariano

“A Way to Bring Peace to the World”

The world is not perfect, of course. We all make mistakes, we all gossip, we all mistreat others, and we all lose our temper. That is all part of human nature. We tend to get angry whenever someone hurts us. The next thing we want to do is get revenge by spitting back an insult or physically hurting them. These actions can lead to arguments, fights, and wars. But all these conflicts can be avoided if humans learn to control their temper, hold back their mean comments, and avoid unnecessary confrontations. If people learn to avoid confrontations, they won’t be seen as the “problematic types” by their peers. They will be bothered less by people who do try to start fights at every second.

My morals are mostly based on my parents and my church’s teachings. My family and I are strong Catholics so we try to follow the Ten Commandments precisely. One of the Ten Commandments is: “Thou shall not kill.” However, it does not literally mean to kill; it can also be interpreted that one should not show disrespect for others. My parents have taught me to be respectful to everyone, even if they mistreat me. I learned that disrespect is one of the main causes of fights at home, school, and in the world. Whenever I ignore insults, I find it easier to avoid useless confrontations. That is how I developed my theory that avoiding confrontations can prevent conflicts.

Even though I try really hard to be a good person and not cause any problems, I still have not managed to expertly control my temper. When I hear people muttering negative comments about me or my friends, I am often tempted to hurt them back. But trying to live by my principle has helped me survive similar situations without getting into arguments. The first thing I do when I am confronted by trouble-makers is ignore them. This sometimes works but not always. When I am about to lose my temper, I try to collect myself and hold my mouth shut to keep me from doing or saying anything rash. If things start to get out of hand, I start singing one of my favorite songs in my head. Doing this helps me calm down and focuses me on something else. I can put myself together and walk out on a useless fight.

There are many times when I have to use my principle of avoiding confrontations at home. I live in a family of seven. There are five children and my parents, so it is easy for me to start arguments with my siblings. I recall a time when my mom made me try on a hideous dress and wanted me to wear it to church. The dress was old-fashioned because it used to belong to my aunt. When I looked at myself in the mirror, I thought I looked ridiculous. When my sister saw me, she laughed and called me ugly. I was already on the verge of tears, and when she insulted me, I almost erupted with anger. Luckily, I remembered my principle. I told myself to calm down and forget what she said. I also managed to convince my mom to allow me to wear something else to church. If problematic students practiced my principle, there would be fewer fights at our school. We might even have more privileges like more dances, fun assemblies, and better rewards.

My idea of avoiding confrontations to create a more peaceful world has encouraged me to take a career in psychology. A psychiatrist can help people work out their problems before they turn to chaos. That way their problems can dissolve before they develop into unnecessary conflicts between the patients and their relations. Psychiatrists are there to help others cope with their emotional, psychological, and personal difficulties. Their cooperation to our community will help make the world a more peaceful place.

My concept has added more goals for my future. I would like to assist at rehabilitation centers when I get older. I want to help drug addicts and gangsters face life without drugs and violence. If I become a psychologist, I would also like to establish my own rehabilitation hospital for teenagers to help them deal with their problems. I also want to go to different schools and talk to children about the concept of violence. I want them to learn how much better it is to live in peace than in a world full of conflicts and wars.

There are many times when my friends and I have disagreements that end up badly. We sometimes stay mad at each other for days. I use my concept when I and my friends have these types of arguments. I just hold back my insults and avoid the confrontation. This makes it easier to forget why we started to argue in the first place. That is why I think my principle will improve my relationship with my family, friends, and peers. If more people followed my principle it would be easier for them to forget their problems and forgive the people who hurt them. There would be fewer conflicts and that would equal a more peaceful world.

Division III
First Place
Alyssa Medina
Teel MiddleSchool - Mrs. DeMattos

“Treat Others as You would Want to be Treated”

I think one important truth that would help make this world a better place is treating others as you would want to be treated. This principle means treating others with respect and kindness because you would want them to treat you in the same way. If you treat someone in a disrespectful way, they will feel that you don't deserve to be treated with respect. When you treat someone with kindness, they might not only treat you in the same way, but they might also pass on the kindness to other people. Kindness would then spread throughout the world.

Treating others as I would want to be treated is a principle I've known for a long time. I learned this rule when I was little. My mom taught it to me. When my brother and I would fight, my mom would remind me to treat my brother with kindness and respect, just as I would want him to treat me. Fighting was something my brother and I did a lot. My mother reminded us of this principle so many times that it finally stuck in our heads. I will never forget to treat others as I would want to be treated.

Treating others as I would want to be treated is a principle I will try to use throughout my life. If someone is kind to me, I will be kind back to them. If someone is rude to me, I will still be kind to them. If I'm not treated with respect and kindness, all I can do is offer it. If they are not polite back, there is nothing I can do about that. Living out this principle would not always be easy, but my life would be better.

If more people followed principles such as treating others as one would want to be treated, this world would certainly be more peaceful. People should learn to be polite, respectful, and kind from a young age. For instance, if there was a new kid at school who looked lonely, I would befriend that person. I would introduce that person to my friends and show that person around school. I would make that person feel welcome because if I were ever a new student, that is how I would want to be treated. I wouldn't want to eat alone or feel lost at a new school because nobody would be my friend.

Treating others as you would want to be treated is an excellent principle to use throughout one's life. It's not always easy to do, but it is the correct thing to do. This principle can act like a domino effect. If you pass on the kindness, it will hopefully keep spreading throughout the world. It is a lot easier to live in a world with people who treat others as they would want to be treated than to live with people who don't.

First Place
Division IV
Olivia Laura Mesches
Lakewood Elementary School - Mrs. Malekos-Quick

“If We Believe”

Imagine a world where nothing is accomplished. A world where people do not bother to try because they do not believe that they can succeed. Now, imagine a world where when confronted with a problem, people say, “I believe that I can make a change for the better, and help not only myself, but others who have not yet found the voice inside them to speak up and take action. I truly believe that I can change the world.” That would be great. Not only would this attitude help to make a more peaceful world, but it also would help in everyday life. If you believe you can achieve your goals and are prepared to work hard, you can make a difference in your family, school, and community.

In my own life I have learned this trait by accomplishing good grades. If I go into a test thinking, “I can’t do this, I didn’t study,” I tend to get a bad grade. But if I study and believe that I know what I am doing and can do it, then I achieve a good grade. Great people through history who have believed in themselves and worked hard to change something that isn’t right have also made me believe that following this trait is very important.

I think that Nelson Mandela, Susan B. Anthony, John Lennon and so many other great people are good examples of real-life situations when the practice of this truth has helped to create more peace in the world. Some had to make the ultimate sacrifice and give their lives for the cause they were so dedicated to. As Nelson Mandela once said, “It is an Ideal which I hope to live for and achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.” Although it never did come to death for Mandela, he was imprisoned from 1962-1990 for speaking out and protesting nonviolently against apartheid. This did not alter his faith in himself or his will to continue fighting against apartheid. Eventually, apartheid ended, thanks to Nelson Mandela’s continued action and belief in himself.

“Failure is not an option.” That was what Susan B. Anthony said and that was the attitude which eventually got women the vote. Anthony was involved in supporting women’s suffrage for more than hall of her life. In fact, before she died from complications in her heart and lungs, she asked to have her entire estate, down to the last cent, given to the fund which Anthony and two other women had helped to organize for women’s suffrage. Unfortunately Susan B. Anthony died before women were granted the vote. Because she was persistent in the matter, women today can vote and are foreseen as being just as productive members of society as men.

Even musicians like John Lennon can use their publicity to make people stop and think about their actions. In his song Imagine, Lennon asks us to “imagine all the people living life in peace.” This is another incident that shows that we can always make a difference.

If all these people had not believed that they could make a difference where would the world be today? Whatever I decide to do with my life, I will believe that I can do it and accept whatever risks or disadvantages I may have to face in order to reach my goal. Whether that goal may be helping our planet to take another step towards world peace, or being a mom who raises productive members of society, I know that in order to achieve my goal I must believe in myself.