Middle School Essay Contest Winners

THE QUESTION WAS....

“As it applies to the United States, what do you fear or hope for in the next 25 years and what might be the solutions or dangers that surround it?”

First Place Nicholas Simon

     I was born in America but then lived abroad from the age of four months old to when I was eleven and a half.  I therefore do not know America well and my impressions are those of a stranger and a European.  I have felt very welcomed by America and whilst I do think it faces very real problems I also feel it has much to offer which is very positive.  As an outsider however I do have certain fears.

     Firstly I feel that education in America is very unequal.  I hope that in the next twenty-five years it will improve in poor areas and large cities.  Through education people learn to know the difference between right and wrong, good and bad.  Through education people can get jobs. Crime will then disappear and American towns will become cleaner and safer.  I think lack of good education means that America is missing out on talented boys and girls who might even have the capacity to change the whole world for the better.  I hope that in the next twenty- five years it will become possible for all American children to get a good education.

      Secondly, I hope Global warming is tackled.  America is a big, strong, gas guzzling country so if America took global warning on and used more efficient ways of making power it would make a huge difference and be a great example to others. I hope, for example, that an American company makes a cheap electric car which would reduce green house gases. America has the money, resources and people to save the world but it might also stand by and do nothing and not only destroy America but hundreds of other countries.  I hope America notices Global warning for the sake of all of us.  America could be a “Hero” or a “Zero.”

     My final hope is that some one steps up and tells President Bush to bring the American army home.  People die everyday in Iraq and that has to change. My biggest hope of all is that the Iraqi war ends as soon as possible and that the money spent on it goes to saving the starving in Darfur.

      All my hopes would be easy to accomplish if people listened, thought, then did.

      I have many small personal fears but I have fears that involve America also.  These fears stare all of us in the face every day.

     Firstly I fear that more Americans are becoming fatter every day.  Before I came to America I thought 80% of Americans were fat.  That is what America gives a picture of to the rest of the world.   If America banned fast food and halved portion size then American life expectancy would rocket.  People in Europe and Asia would talk about thin America and everyone in America would be proud.

     I also fear that America’s lust for oil means President Bush will embark on a “war for justice” or a “ war against terrorists” when what he means is that it is a war for oil.  I pray that America doesn’t start World War 3 just for oil.  We can only hope Bush doesn’t but if he does it will be “God save America.” And the rest of the world also

     My final fear is as more people come to America more people will be homeless.  America needs to help Third World countries to help themselves by making trade easier and by improving education and living conditions in people’s native countries.  Then people will be less likely to emigrate. 

    My biggest hope is that America uses all its wonderful kindness, intelligence and resources to make the world a better place in the next twenty-five years.  If they did that the world would not only improve for everyone else but by making the world a greener  and safer place the world would also improve for Americans themselves.   My biggest fear is that America does nothing and then the whole world will suffer.  America’s fate and our planets go hand in hand.

Second Place Allegra Schiff

           Humans are leaving the world in shatters of glass from a once whole, unbroken earth. In the next 25 years I would love to see some things change. I hope that people would be kinder to animals, stop war, and make cars better for the environment. I think if the whole USA pitched in we would not only save the United States but possibly save the world. The dangers of this movement are only a tiny fraction of the dangers that we will have if we leave everything the way it is. By working together we can undoubtedly accomplish these enormous feats.

            One of the things I hope to see improve in the next 25 years is how we treat animals. Most endangered species were put into the horrible state they are in by humans. We destroy their habitats, shoot them for sport, take away their homes and food sources and worst of all, don’t seem to care about what we are doing in the least. The amazing and exquisite animals that live in the USA have more of a right to live here. They aren’t bothering anyone. They were here first, and we just barged in and took away everything they ever had. At first we lived in peace with animals, as Native Americans. It was rather minimal peace, but peace none the less. The Natives only killed animals for survival, and they became a natural part of the ecosystem. The animals adapted to their kills. One solution I think would help solve our problem is to ban hunting for sport and to encourage people to become vegetarians. Even if people don’t want to give up meat, they can help save animals by not wearing real fur and by not using other animal products like elephant tusks or real skin rugs. People should also be banned from hunting for profit. People kill animals for something they don’t really need. That is why it is so horrible. Also, it would help to save trees, water and other natural resources to help save their habitats. Think about this next time you want to waste paper, wear fur or leave the water running, you just might change your mind.

            Another thing that I would like to see change in the next 25 years is war. We have just so much of it; actually we are in one right now. These wars endanger millions of innocent lives and are not truly needed. All the shooting and bombing should not be a way of protesting. These horrible actions may make people give in to you, but can you really feel pleased about it when you know they gave in out of pure fear? That’s not much of an accomplishment. A solution that could be used to solve this problem is to find another way to work out conflicts between countries other than war. How will bombing innocent houses prove whatever to the government? On September 11 many people died. I was living in New York at the time, and I know all the sadness that was suffered, and the relief that families shared when they found out that their relative had survived. We know how it feels to be bombed like this, so how can we be so heartless as to do it to others? The danger of the country in which the war takes place is enormous. Yes, there are some horrible people out there who do horrible things to their countries, but how will killing people make them want to give in? It will just make them angrier. I really think there is a better way to express out opinion; the United States just has to find it.

            One last thing I would like to see change may seem very small, but it could help the environment more than you could ever imagine. This thing is having cars that run on something other than gas, like solar power or batteries. All the horrible things that come out of cars pollute the air and do more damage than you could ever realize. This is also one of the things causing global warming. I think the gas companies are be very cruel people, caring more about money than the environment, and the creatures in it. They discourage these cars because if everybody buys them, then they won’t sell gas and fuel anymore. How could they be so selfish? They don’t think about what the gas is doing to our earth, they only think about the profit they make from selling it. The world would be so much better off with these new cars. They have made half gas and half battery, so it is not that they physically can’t make these new cars. A solution for this is that the gas companies can start selling batteries and chargers instead. I think this little change could make huge difference in not only the USA, but in the whole Earth. It would reduce the air pollution a lot, because look how many cars there are!

            In conclusion, I think if cars were changed from gas to battery, if war was stopped and if animals were protected the United States would be in much better shape, and I think the cleaner air might help the health and lifespan of humans as well. It could save the world. Please, everyone, pitch in and play your part to make everything better, like a band-aid on a big cut.

Third Place Sarah Gruen       

Did you know that 200 acres of rainforest are cut down every second? Soon, this breathtaking place will be gone! Or did you know that more recyclable objects are put into the trash that into the recycling bin every day? And what about cancer? How can we prevent cancer in the future? All of these questions float around in my head every day as I think about our world in 25 years. I know many are thinking the same thoughts as I am writing right now, and we all have a lingering fear of what will come next in life. If we keep destroying everything, we will have nothing, and that is what I am here to talk about today.

          Imagine that there was a cure for cancer. Now, imagine if there are about 5,000 trees that produce this medicine for the cure in the rainforest. People then go and burn every single one of those trees, and replace the trees with a shopping mall. No one ever discovered that the tree’s bark could save millions of lives. Unfortunately, this may have happened before in the past due to deforestation!!!! This is a huge problem right now. I worry that the plant and animal life of the rainforest will die out completely with so much undiscovered, such as a cure for cancer, a new way to make cloth, or a delicious fruit.The world doesn’t need another restaurant, hotel, or clothing store. We should rebuild the rainforest so the animals will have a home. The deforestation is getting to a boiling point right now, and soon, nothing will be left of the forest. The solution to saving the rainforest is encouraging others to send money and spread the word about this horrible mass destruction. It’s about time we give a little back to the rainforest after it has given us resources like you couldn’t imagine.

         Also, recycling has become a major issue. Many people don’t know that two 8 oz bottles can be made into a baseball hat. If recycled more bottles, we could save cloth for better reasons. The pits that hold decomposable garbage have way too much recyclable items in them. It takes a million years for a glass bottle to decompose and about one thousand years for a tin can to decompose. It takes only a few hours to make both of these into a brand new item. If we recycle more, we don’t waste as much, and the environment isn’t stuck trying to decompose objects that are meant to be reused. I really hope to spread the word about recycling when I grow up. One solution is simple. In school cafeterias people buy milk cartons, water bottles, and juice cans. I also know that kids throw these away in the trash. There is no recycling bin set aside for these drink containers. If Weston Public Schools could put aside recycling bins in every school, we would make a big difference.

         The last main concern I have is the outbreak of cancer over the past few years. Cancer is a six letter word for trouble. Lung cancer is a lot more common due to smoking too much. After-smoke kills just like smoking does. Smoking damages the air that we breathe in. Other cancers are becoming a major part of our lives due to people not affording health care. Also, we need more radiologists, like my father. My dad, Dr. David Gruen, has many, many patients each day. If more people save lives like my dad does, cancers can be found before they grow and form aggressive forms of cancer. My hope is to find a cure for cancer, but for now, more cancer research facilities are needed. America can also give out scholarships to medical school for those that can’t afford so more oncologists and radiologists can study cancer. The doctors in training could someday end up as heroes, finding, fighting, and researching cancer to save all of those lives.

         As you can see, we have many issues that need to be resolved, whether they be environmental or humanity related. I hope that within my lifetime, the world will be made right again. Something as simple as throwing a bottle in the recycling bin, donating a couple of dollars to Save the Rainforest ©, or not lighting a cigarette can make our world a better place to live in. If we do our share of work, our earth will live a long, healthy life.

     The Weston DTC sponsored its annual Middle School Essay Contest and is pleased to share the winning essays. 
    We are grateful to the many Weston Middle School students who participated and thank them and the Weston School District for its continued support.