MARA KETTLE WINS ESSAY CONTEST

Congratulations to Mara Kettle, first place winner of the Metropolitan New Jersey Planned Parenthood 2012 Teen Summit essay contest. The topic was “What Can You Do to Bring Positive Change to Your School?” Ms. Kettle is truly passionate about writing and making her school a better place. “I enjoyed putting my ideas down on paper. The beauty of it was picturing the perfect foundation where every child felt like they belonged”.

SET Junior Mara Kettle, winner of the 2013 Planned Parenthood
Teen Summit Essay Contest.

Ms. Kettle’s essay is below.           

            The 21st century has brought to its inhabitants, a world of imagination and wonders. We are taught to dream big and reach up for the stars and create our own constellations. Our society is full of intellectuals who are prime doctors, lawyers, artisans, musicians, engineers, and entrepreneurs. There is courage and ambition instilled within individuals who strive for success in their life time. The only problem our world faces today is lack of inspiration passed down to generations.

            Many individuals are inspired through learning in school. We obtain knowledge beyond our horizons that allow us to discover who we are and what we want to pursue. But sometimes the environment can discourage people from expanding above the custom. Factors such as violence, poverty, disabilities, and negativity can influence a person's mental outlook on learning and moving forward in life.

            If I could change the world, I would make the environment a more positive place. Communities would accentuate hope and promise. Families would be secured financially in the sense that children won't have to worry about someone outside the home providing for them. Community Fundraisers and counseling groups would be established for family's who need extra help in the home to care for their children. Instead of students focused on getting the bills paid with a minimum wage job, an education would be their number one priority.

            Visualize some struggles students may face socially, mentally, and physically. Think about children who are overweight, autistic, insecure, physically disabled, mentally impaired, bullied, afraid, parents, and so on. These examples are someone's reality and it makes them different in some shape or form. Imagine if everyone felt equal to their neighbor. Despite the fact that autistic child having social problems, everyone still made an effort to be his friend. The overweight person who is bullied constantly would feel beautiful because she had constant encouragement from her peers and counselors. And the teenage mom with a baby boy wouldn't be on her own because she had support through the school system.

            There are reasons beyond wanting to drop-out or simply just hating school. Many kids don't have the support they need from school and at home, therefore making students feel like they don't belong. One thing that society needs to realize is that we are all human. Our indifferences shouldn't depict how we are treated and placed among the world.

            One major change I would make in the world is to make every individual a support system for someone else. We all need to realize the same people we ignore will affect our lives or the next generation. Their children can impact someone else's children future. Let’s all be an advocate for someone and show people that it is okay to be gay, mentally challenged, or overweight. When acceptance is of the essence, school would be a place where everyone wanted to be because students could express their uniqueness and feel belonged.