| WUIS’ This I Believe Essay Contest for High Schools
Sangamon County 2006-7
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WUIS reached out to area high schools again this year with an essay contest
designed to capture young adult viewpoints and share them with
wider audience. During the fall 2006 semester, area high schools
used the This I Believe high school curriculum in their English
classes. More than 100 students participated by exploring and
ultimately defining their personal belief.
 In January, a judging panel met to read 57 finalists’
essays and ultimately selected these ten winners, who have recorded
their essays under the supervision of our veteran News Director
Rich Bradley. The winners will also receive $100 from Springfield
Rotary Club Sunrise.
You can hear the essays on 91.9 or 89.3 from January
29 to February 9, weekdays at 7:55a and 4:45p.
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Week One: January 29 - February 2, 2007 |
Week Two >>> |
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Monday, January 29
Lauren
Ross
Rochester High School
“I
believe strength comes from friendship, which in my situation,
took the shape of a koala bear.”
Listen to Lauren's essay.
Read Lauren's essay. |
Lauren in the WUIS studios.
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Lauren says this experience made her stronger. She is proud of her scars because
it’s something that she got through. “I never in a million
years would have thought that a stuffed animal could help someone
this much. I know it sounds a little childish but that little
bear really pulled me through the hard times, I mean a 5 year
old girl can’t just hangout with doctors and her parents and
actually have fun.” Lauren is interested in majoring in communications
in college. “Maybe I can write essays and stories that can
help people through their hard times!”
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Tuesday, January 30
Sarah
Brunson
Springfield High School
“I
believe religious tolerance could bring peace to the world.”
Listen to Sarah's essay
Read Sarah's essay.
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Sarah with Mayor Davlin at Springfield High’s
award ceremony.
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Sarah says that as a result of her explorations through various religions, she
has grown up very open-minded. “I know where I stand on certain
topics, but I try to put myself in other people’s shoes.”
She respects people that stand up for their own beliefs,
but no one should force one’s own personal views on anyone. |
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Wednesday, January 31
Michael
DeFraties
Springfield High School
“I
believe that the biggest problem in the world today is that
people too often use their tongues to slander and demean
others for their own entertainment or self-esteem.”
Listen to Michael's essay.
Read Michael's essay.
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Michael with his mom.
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Michael says that the inspiration for this essay was constantly seeing other
students fighting at school. “I used the Columbine tragedy
as an example because it is something that everyone can relate
to,” he says. Michael believes that having a good role model
who is close to your own age can help fix this issue. He
believes that this problem is one of the most detrimental
to young adults and if taken care of early, can improve self-worth
and lower depression. “The suicide rate is crazy, and nobody
seems to compliment each other anymore,” he points out. Michael
plans on continuing his education at LLCC by working on studio
recording and a history minor.
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Thursday, February 1
Diandra
Wilson
Southeast High School
“I
believe in vanity.”
Listen to Diandra's essay.
Read Diandra's essay.
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Diandra reads her essay before fellow students at Southeast.
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Diandra believes that one way we can improve the self-esteem of young adults
is to show “more realistic models” in magazines and on television.
She also says that she was able to overcome the pressures
of physical perfection within our society by help from her
friends and family. “Crash diets and taking diet pills are
stupid,” she says. She believes that it just isn’t worth
it.
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Friday, February 2
Libby
Morse
Springfield High School
“I
believe in the joy a photograph brings me and the joy it
can bring others.”
Listen to Libby's essay
Read Libby's essay.
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WUIS GM Bill Wheelhouse and
Libby.
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Libby says that because of her passion for photography, she will pursue a career
in photojournalism, studying photography and international
relations. She hopes to attend Brown University next fall,
because it’s her “dream school.” “We’ll find out in April!”
As far as photographing images, she prefers action shots
over still shots. “I hate posed shots. I like the candid
ones.” Libby says that her favorite famous photograph is
by Alfred Eisenstaedt called “VJ Day, 1945” which was featured
in Life Magazine. |
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