2007-08 Creative Writing Winners

• 1st Place -  Laura Pomar (click here to read Laura's essay) St. Timothy Parish School
• 2nd Place - Erica Adams (click here to read Erica's essay) Epiphany Catholic School
• 3rd Place -  Carina Suarez (click here to read Carina's essay) Epiphany Catholic School
  

FIRST PLACE WINNER

A Light Worth Following

By Laura Pomar

In life there is a light.  This light brightens the way through one's sorrows.  It is there in the good times and the bad; understands a person's problems and fears.  It enjoys one's happiness and grieves at their sadness.  This light of hope and laughter plays with one's comical memories.  The compassion it gives is tender and gentle.  Its glow is simple yet perfect; it does not outshine others, but is enough to accompany one throughout life's journey.  It keeps untold secrets, secrets of one's heart.

This light is worth more than the treasures of a thousand kings.  It is greater than the Seven Wonders of the World.  Its faith is more enduring than life itself.  Its hope is stronger than the crashing waves of the oceans.  Its love means as much to one than all
of what God created. 

The light encourages one to follow their dreams.  Its glow will be there eternally, guiding others to doing right.  At times it may seem as though its flame is out, but its gleam is undying.  That light inspires one to be as flawless as it, even though that person knows that they could never reach that level of perfection.  Because of its magnificence, one admires it, but feels like they are not worthy to stand in its presence.  What that person doesn't know is that they might one day be that light. 

This light is seen anywhere there is love and family.  It can be found at the finish line in a race; it can be found when someone makes a mistake and needs a person to talk to; it can be found at a wedding; or at the birth of a new family member.  It is there in spirit when a person is at their last few precious moments of life.  This light never falters, never fails. 

This light is one of the most beautiful things God can give.  This light is a leader and close to each one of us.  This light is my role model.

Laura Pomar,
St. Timothy Parish School

SECOND PLACE WINNER 2007-2008

Do You Have What It Takes?

By Erica Adams                           
      
Have you ever wondered what a role model is?  Have you ever wondered what it takes to be one?  He or she is a molder, like a potter.  They know what they are doing and what they are making, and little by little they form something completely new.  In a potter's hands, a glob of drying cement becomes a delicate bowl; with a good role model, a small innocent child becomes a developed and secure adult.  A role model must be honest, forgiving, and determined.  By doing so, they can help others to make good decisions and achieve their greatest potential.

In my case, my father is my most significant role model.  He is one who has shown  me what is truly important in life.  First, he has shown me that when you lie, you don't  get anywhere but further into your own mess.  Secondly, he has taught me to forgive no matter how hard it is, because forgiveness is the key to a happy life, and when you hold grudges the only one who is left unhappy is you.  Thirdly, he has shown me not to listen to the others around me when they tell me that I am not capable or cannot achieve.  "If you are determined and truly believe in yourself, you will always succeed."

With all of his advice, I have realized that I have the empty pages to the book of my future in front of me, and what I decide to write in these blank pages is how I will choose to live the rest of my life.  I am the one who will choose who I am going to be.  I am the one who will choose to not let other people's judgments affect me.  I am the one who will choose to succeed.  I am the one who will choose to be a role model for others, as my father has been for me.

I will make an effort to be a role model by being honest, forgiving, and determined.  I will remember that every action counts and that every person makes a difference.  In the future, I want to be able to provide advice to others, as my father has done for me.  I am very grateful for the role model who has affected my life and hope that one day I can do the same for someone else.

Erica Adams,
Epiphany Catholic School

THIRD PLACE WINNER

Paradigm Precis

By Carina Suarez

A role model is the person whom you look up to and respect, the person whom you want to be like when you are an adult, the person who genuinely cares for you.  When I think of a role model, several adjectives come to mind: courageous, caring, and unique.  They have to fight for their beliefs, heed others, and be themselves.  Most of the time, children do not listen to those wiser than them, yet they are always watching.  As Robert Fulghum once said, "Don't worry that children never listen to you. Worry that they are always watching you."  Role models should act as they know they should, rather than preach about their grand exploits yet show no action.

All of us know that to be an example, we should not go to extremities. A model should be courageous, but not foolhardy.  People typically think that to be brave, you have to perform phenomenal and quixotic feats, but I am of the opinion that by saying no to what is wrong is in itself a gargantuan triumph. There are people who work behind the scenes, quietly doing what is right.

A paradigm has to be amiable and understanding.  For example, a therapist would be a fantastic role model.  They spend their whole day listening to people complaining about their lives, but never do they lose their tempers.  A counselor tries to put themselves in the people's places and understand what they are going through.  They also try to stay friendly, for if they are bad-tempered their patients? conditions might worsen.  In the same way, if a role model is not kind and thoughtful, the people who look up him or her would act in a way that would only hurt their lives.  For that reason, role models should be good-natured and considerate.

Many people, however, are not kind.  Unfortunately, these are the people whom others look up to as even examples, even idols.  Because of that, I believe role models should not be of the norm.  By different, I don?t mean those who are offensive, have bubblegum pink hair, or are out of the ordinary in a negative way.  Rather, paradigms are the ones who live up to the quote "Stand up for what you believe in even if you are standing alone."  They should be the ones that inspire us to go beyond what others have done, not because they tell us to, but because they themselves reach for the stars.  After all, Bruce Barton once said, ?If you have anything really valuable to contribute to the world it will come through the expression of your own personality, that single spark of divinity that sets you off and makes you different from every other living creature.?  Role models are the people who feed that spark and make you who you are or who you are going to be in the impending years.

So you see, being a role model is very demanding. There are several traits that they need to be born with, courage, gentleness, and individuality being only a few.  Role models, paragons, heroes, whatever you call them they all mean the same thing.  They are the people we look up to, not because of their looks or wealth, but because they shine out like a lighthouse or beacon guarding ships.  Plutarch, a Greek biographer, philosopher, and priest of the Greek god Apollo, once said, "The mind is not a vessel to be filled but  a fire to be kindled."

Carina Suarez,
Epiphany Catholic School