Student Publications
As an organization celebrating the Liberal Arts, we encourage the practice of writing, analysis, and communication in every course, regardless of the disciple. Our instructors integrate these values into the assignments we create and assign, helping students to refine their voices and their technique. Check out some select student work here!
Student Work from our Reading Comprehension Class
Throughout The War That Saved My Life, Ada has shown great hope and persistence. Whether it was at Mam’s apartment or when she realized Susan’s house had been bombed, she never gave up no matter the consequences- because she knew she had to persevere regardless. A prime example of this is in the beginning of the book, when Mam wasn’t planning to allow Ada to escape London, Ada didn’t take no for an answer. Despite the difficulty she had walking to the station she achieved the freedom she had been desperate for. Regardless of her Mam’s reaction, Ada was resolute enough to realize that she would get out of her situation as long as she continued to strive for her freedom. Another example of this is when Ada got to Susan’s house, even with a clubfoot, she still attempted to ride Butter. Even though she fell off many times, got hurt, and became frustrated, she still tried. Thanks to her persistence, she was eventually able to train the horse and eventually learned to jump walls.
A more solemn example of Ada’s persistence occurred when Ada inadvertently captured a spy. When she first became suspicious of a spy and went to a policeman,he didn’t believe her initially, and even mocked her for her disability. Still, Ada kept trying, eventually finding someone who listened to her concerns. She eventually helped the policemen locate the briefcase and became a hero. This tells the reader, always be persistent of your point of view, even if you’re doubted.
A final way perseverance is represented in The War that Saved My Life is in Susan’s actions to protect Ada and Jamie. When Mam tried to take the children home, Susan went back for them on her own, knowing that it was dangerous to go outside due to the bombings that were occuring. Despite all this, she risked her life, trying to find them. Her actions demonstrated the strength of love, and how it gave Susan perseverance- has the power to drive her forward. This is especially significant since before Ada and Jamie brought new love into Susan’s life, she had lacked the affection and motivation. She needed to live her life to the fullest, after the death of her friend, Becky. The children gave Susan the love she didn’t know she needed, inspiring within her the determination that would later save their lives.
Therefore, throughout the book, the characters have shown great persistence and hopefulness to the reader, despite their extenuating circumstances. It sends a message that perseverance can be found in the most difficult of times- and can be sparked in the smallest places- especially when you least expect it. Perhaps it wasn’t the war that saved their lives- it was the hope, love, and motivation that was built in spite of it.
Ziyue, age 13- Minnesota
In The War That Saved My Life, the main theme shown in the book is to let go and move on. In the beginning, Man mistreats Ada and consistently calls her "cripple" and "girl" rather than her name. Mam does not want her or Jamie, as shown at the end of the book when she says to Ada, "I can get rid of you without paying anything?"(ch43). It indicates how much she hates Ada and her existence. It also shows how greedy she is, thinking of her children as drains of her money. Despite all this, Ada consistently wants her approval, saying things like, " Maybe Mam would smile at me," and daydreaming about her mother loving her(ch1). This attitude sticks with her throughout the story, making her miserable and wary of others until the end of the book, when she finally confronts her mother, accepting that her mother did not want her and would never love her as she deserved to be. Afterward, she is finally happy and free from her mother and her influence on her life and emotions.
In chapter 31, Susan gives Ada a green dress made of satin. When Susan puts the dress on, Ada hates it. She screams about how ugly she is, her foot, and how no one would love her with it: "I've got the ugly foot.". Ada couldn't comprehend the idea of someone loving her and finding her pretty when she didn't think she deserved anything. She compares Mam to Susan, saying, "She wouldn't hit me," a reminder of Mam's abuse. Ada says,"I gave Susan her scarf, knit from white wool" (ch. 31). Susan chose the book Alice in Wonderland so Ada would like it. Alice goes to a fictional world with different, new things and meets others in their world, which mirrors Ada.
The book teaches the readers about the theme by showing Ada grow and progress through the book. It teaches us to stand up for ourselves, like when Ada confronts her mother about her foot, saying, " It would have been easy to fix when I was a baby."(ch43). Ada depicts the effect of trauma on children, and it gives readers a sense of finality when she becomes happier and lets go of her trauma. In the end, when Ada becomes comfortable with Susan, she "slipped my hand into hers" and feels "A strange and unfamiliar feeling ran through me/It felt like the ocean, like sunlight, like horses/like love."(ch46).
Michelle, age 13- Michigan
Ada’s blossoming relationship with Butter is constantly growing as she trains and has fun with Butter everyday such as pg.37 where it says “I thought of Butter, how he smelled so warm and good, how his breath felt against my hand.” that was when Ada was at the doctor for her clubfoot and that shows how much love Ada has for Butter. Ada loves spending time with Butter and she does this all the time which shows her love for Butter. She rides Butter and doesn't give up trying to train Butter and have fun at the same time. Her relationship with Butter is so huge even when she fell off of Butter she didn’t let that make her mad instead it gave her perseverance and the courage to keep on trying no matter what small thing happens. Whenever she is sad or upset she always thinks of riding Butter because that makes her happy. She is always determined to make Butter soar across the world and jump across stone walls as in the story pg.72 it says “I couldn’t make Butter go faster than a walk.” which shows that she wants Butter to go as fast as possible. In pg.35 it says and shows how Ada looks and sniffs the horse to see what horses are like which clearly shows that Ada likes the horse and thinks it's an interesting animal. Whenever Ada has nothing to do she always goes and spends some time with Butter because Butter makes her happy. She loves learning what all the words related to the horse means such as bridle, headstall, and reins which shows her dedication to the horse. Overall, Butter means the world to Ada as she goes to him for comfort, love, and enjoyment and their friendship is always growing.
Bowen, age 12- Washington
Ada has always thought that whenever Suzan said something nice to her, it was a lie. This is mostly because her Mom never told her anything good about herself, always criticizing her foot, saying it was her fault. An example of this is in chapter 30, page 134: ‘She was lying. She was lying, and I couldn’t bear it. I heard Mam’s voice shrieking in my head. “You ugly piece of rubbish! Filth and trash! No one wants you, with that ugly foot!’”. This is when Susan called Ada beautiful when she was wearing the green velvet dress that Susan gave her for Christmas. This shows that Ada’s mother relentlessly calling her bad names really made an imprint on her. She feels like people saying nice things to her shouldn’t exist, as she has learned from her Mam that she’s “a piece of rubbish”, and doesn’t deserve to be called anything nice. I think Susan was quick to try and get close to Ada because once she learned that Ada didn’t have a normal relationship with her mother, she wanted to make Ada feel welcome and happier in her home. Despite her thinking she is not suited for raising children, she still tries her best. Ada however, is very reluctant to get close to Susan. She doesn’t want to get used to getting treated nicely, so that way, when she goes back to her Mam, she won’t feel hurt or sad when she misses Susan and the kindness she gave her. Plus the fact that Ada still thinks if she gets her foot fixed, her mother would love her. An example of this is on page 146: “She couldn’t take care of me. She talked about fixing my foot, but she couldn’t do it, not really. It was all just lies”. Here she is talking about her sending a letter to her Mam asking her to grant permission for Susan and the doctor to fix her foot. If we really think about it, Susan is perfectly capable of taking care of Ada and Jamie, and this is Ada just trying to convince herself otherwise.
Claire, age 11- California
Jade’s perspective of herself changes the way she sees the world around her because at the beginning I think she views herself as poor, and has little opportunities. This is shown on page 7, “But girls like me, with coal skin and hula hoop hips, whose Mammas barely make enough money to keep food in the house, have to take every opportunity every chance we get.” This shows that she is aware that her family doesn't have as much money as the rest of St. Francis does, and because of the fact that her skin color is black, automatically gives her less opportunities than a person whose skin color is white. Because of this, everybody else she sees at St. Francis is wealthier than her. This is shown on page 5, “Some girl in my class said to her housekeeper. It wasn't that I didn’t think she took her housekeeper for granted; it was that I couldn’t believe she had one. And then so many classmates nodded, like they could all relate.” This shows that most classmates of Jade’s families had money that they could use on a housekeep while Jade’s Mam works as one to earn money. At the end of her book, Jade’s perspective has changed because she has an opportunity from Women to Women, and gets to go up on stage where normally she wouldn’t have done so because she has self confidence now after being with Maxine. This is shown on page 233, “‘I get exposure. There are going to be a lot of people there–people with money–and you never know what's going to happen. Plus, it helps raise money for us to go on all those outings and, of course, it’ll help the scholarship fund. I like to be able to say I’m not just getting an opportunity from Women to Women, but that I am helping to keep it thriving.” This shows that Jade got an opportunity from Women to Women just like she said. In conclusion, Jade realizes her identity and her purpose in life through the opportunities she recieves throughout the book.
Ivy, age 12- New York
I think Virgil is a little bit timid at times and is really only comfortable around his Lola who tells him tons of stories, and his guinea pig, Gullivar. He has a pretty exotic family compared to himself, especially because he is the only one that is bullied all the time by Chet Bullens from his middle school; that by the way he absolutely detests. Virgil tries to keep avoiding Chet because he's too shy to confront him but avoiding him doesn’t seem to work but he also works out his own things in his head. Like Saint Rene or questioning fate and he also wants to talk to this girl named Valencia but he is again too shy to do so. Soon he finds out about a 12 year old kid named Kaori Tanaka who claims she is a psychic and only accepts children as clients. Therefore, Virgil goes to her house with an optimistic spirit. After Kaori and him discuss a few things, Kaori ends up asking Virgil to bring her some rocks that are of different sizes, shapes, and forms. With a lot of help from Kaori, Lola, and a lot more people Virgil gets more comfortable around others and becomes way more social than before. He also becomes very good friends with Kaori and accomplishes the goal of at least talking to Valencia once. He still prays to Saint Rene and asks his Lola questions that just pop out of his head and a lot more. Throughout the book there are many climaxes and character development. In the end Virgil becomes much more open through these events. His family has always told him to be more social but all these others told him the same thing and it actually works, unlike his family.
Melody, age 12- Massachusetts
I think Virgil is a shy but kind and caring boy that hasn't came out of his comfort zone yet and doesn't know how to make interactions to people he either knows but doesn't know him and he may think he should be that way if he will be called Turtle for majority of his life, since in the point of view to his parents, he is a shy boy who “Hasn't Came Out of his Shell'' he doesn't know what to say and he may be a bit insecure because he often compares himself to his brothers and always describes himself not as bold, and outgoing as his family members, and describes him as “the leftover parts''. Virgil thinks he’ll never be as bright, outstanding and confident as his family members, and never fends for himself against Chet, because Chet always his putting him down and calling him a retard which is not very kind, and in the middle of story Chet threw Virgil's backpack into the well so Virgil climbed into the well all because of Chet, but after he was in the well for a while he met/started talking to Ruby, (The Girl With No Destiny) she assured him that pah wasn't gonna eat him and that he would be ok and so, Virgil thought of things he wanted to do when he was out of the well to make him come out of his shell! To be more confident, he stood up for himself and it was like he had and pulled the courage to message Valencia and to tell his Mam to call him something other than Turtle like, Virgil or Virgilio! and he decided that he would stand up for himself against chet. So after he had all those thoughts trapped in his well he finally came out of his shell.
Anna, age 11- California
I think that Virgil is shy and nervous at the beginning of the story and he is the odd one out in his family because the rest of his family is more social and talkative than Virgil. This is true because on page 9 this sentence is shown, “On the morning she arrived, Virgil’s parents and identical twin brothers immediately rushed her in a flood of hugs and hellos. With the exception of Virgil, that’s how the Salinas family was- big personalities that bubbled over like pots of soup. Virgil felt like unbuttered toast standing next to them.” This shows that Virgil, compared to the rest of his family, is quiet and shy. The life experience that shapes them together is when Chet throws Gulliver down an abandoned well in the middle of a forest. After Virgil gets rescued from the well and loses his shyness. This is shown in several sentences on page 311, “it’s Lola’s number, but right away I know it's not Lola. Suddenly I’m wide awake. I stare at a single word, and for some reason, I don’t know why... I get a weird feeling in my belly, like a hundred butterflies have taken flight. It says Hello.” This shows that if it’s not Lola, and Virgil’s phone is broken. It must be Virgil. Virgil thinks that his brothers are perfect
and he’s not perfect. This is shown in this sentence on page 20, “Virgil had long suspected that his brothers were crafted out of a factory that made perfect, athletic, perpetually happy children and he was made out of the leftover parts.” This shows that Virgil thinks he was made with the bad parts so he thinks that he is the worst and everybody around him is better. Virgil has changed from the start of the book and he has left his shyness behind him. This is shown on page 311, “it’s Lola’s number, but right away I know it's not Lola. Suddenly I’m wide awake. I stare at a single word, and for some reason, I don’t know why... I get a weird feeling in my belly, like a hundred butterflies have taken flight. It says Hello.” This shows that he is willing to talk to Valencia instead of when I would have just gone to bed.
Aaron, age 11- Arizona
The main theme in The War That Saved My Life is love and care. A person that demonstrates this theme is Susan. Susan demonstrates this theme by always caring for Ada and Jamie, she also helps out in the community by volunteering in WVS such as when she is cleaning the soldiers naked backsides such as in pg. 157. Susan is a great example of this theme because she cares for Ada and Jamie and even the soldiers and most of the people she meets. Susan also loves almost everyone she meets and she says in pg.116 “I’m so loving and kind” showing that even she knows that she can show compassion. Taking Ada to see a doctor for her foot also shows love and care as it is the right thing to do in that situation.
An event that shows this theme is on pg.157 when Susan was helping out with cleaning the soldiers naked backsides. It taught readers that Susan and the rest of the WVS are capable of showing love and care by doing things that are less than appealing, for war’s sake. This is shown on pg. 157, saying “I saw Lady Thorton, her face streaked with blood” and still she didn’t complain because she and the rest of the WVS were doing all they can to help out with the war and the soldiers and they shouldn’t complain about it because the soldiers are going through way worse times.
The book teaches readers that everyone has at least a bit of love and care like the fact that Susan at first didn’t want to take care of Ada and Jamie, but later in the book she enjoyed taking care of them more. It wants us to feel like that even if a character is portrayed as mean or not really liking another character later in the book they can change and they can show more love and care to each other such as the pilots even coming to Susan's house because Jamie likes them so much. The book is trying to show readers that almost everyone has a little bit of compassion and love but they need time to show it because well they need to get used to the person otherwise they don’t know what their personality is.
Bowen, age 12- Washington
I think that Virgil is shy and nervous at the beginning of the story and he is the odd one out in his family because the rest of his family is more social and talkative than Virgil. This is true because on page 9 this sentence is shown, “On the morning she arrived, Virgil’s parents and
identical twin brothers immediately rushed her in a flood of hugs and hellos. With the
exception of Virgil, that’s how the Salinas family was- big personalities that bubbled over like
pots of soup. Virgil felt like unbuttered toast standing next to them.” This shows that Virgil,
compared to the rest of his family, is quiet and shy. The life experience that shapes them
together is when Chet throws Gulliver down an abandoned well in the middle of a forest. After
Virgil gets rescued from the well and loses his shyness. This is shown in several sentences on
page 311, “it’s Lola’s number, but right away I know it's not Lola. Suddenly I’m wide awake. I
stare at a single word, and for some reason, I don’t know why... I get a weird feeling in my
belly, like a hundred butterflies have taken flight. It says Hello.” This shows that if it’s not
Lola, and Virgil’s phone is broken. It must be Virgil. Virgil thinks that his brothers are perfect
and he’s not perfect. This is shown in this sentence on page 20, “Virgil had long suspected
that his brothers were crafted out of a factory that made perfect, athletic, perpetually happy
children and he was made out of the leftover parts.” This shows that Virgil thinks he was made
with the bad parts so he thinks that he is the worst and everybody around him is better. Virgil
has changed from the start of the book and he has left his shyness behind him. This is shown
on page 311, “it’s Lola’s number, but right away I know it's not Lola. Suddenly I’m wide awake.
I stare at a single word, and for some reason, I don’t know why... I get a weird feeling in my
belly, like a hundred butterflies have taken flight. It says Hello.” This shows that he is willing to
talk to Valencia instead of when I would have just gone to bed.
Aaron, age 11- Arizona
Student Work from our Writing Composition class
I should have dropped out of school when I still had the chance, I thought grimly. A pair of glass double-doors loomed before me, dauntingly labeled ‘4th Grade’. Taking in the massive school, I watched students of all ages chatter with their teachers and with friends. Nervousness engulfed me as I stood in the bleached morning sunlight, wincing as the school bell sounded, startling me slightly. Why do I have to finish fourth grade? I thought as I was led into a classroom, choosing a desk in the back row. The cold, metal chair seemed to agree with my sentiments, sending a chill up my spine. Looking around, the room was gigantic compared to my third grade homeroom, swallowing me in walls of colorful posters and thumbtacks. Taking a deep breath, I willed myself to forget all about it, to shove my fears into a corner of my head where they couldn’t emerge. It didn’t work.
Throughout the day, I shrugged my way through class, going mostly unnoticed amongst icebreakers and get-to-know-you games. Still, as the day dragged on, there was one subject that I had been dreading- one where I couldn't get away with not being seen. Recess. I gulped as I stepped out of the sky-scraping school, into the ocean of wood chips. Each step was like wading through a pool of anxiety, churning under my sneakers. The sun had been taken down by chilly winds bristling across my face. As I stood there, shivering, I heard a voice behind me. It was a girl. “Hi! I think I know you from math class!” Before I knew it, we had started conversing comfortably. We talked about our families, our favorite things, and school. By the end of recess we had laughed so much, we had tears in our eyes. Rays of sunlight smiled down at the playground. The whistle signaling the end of recess blew and as I skipped down to the last class of the day: science, a newer thought emerged into my mind- Recess is actually kind of fun. I felt like I was on cloud nine instead of in a science classroom. As I took a seat in the front row of desks, I wondered, “Have I made a friend?”
Before I knew it, the final bell sounded, and I exited my classroom, swept into a bustling hallway. Pushing open the double doors that had haunted me on my way in, I took a Moment to listen to the birds chirping and hear the breeze whistling a welcoming song. Waving goodbye to the friend I had just made, I realized that my nerves had dissipated. The realization that I had someone to talk to at school finally sunk in, spreading a warmth through my stomach. Just this morning, I’d thought I would be dreading the next day of school and every day after that. Instead, I was left with nothing but pure joy.. School isn’t that bad, All I needed to do was make a friend. Grinning as I turned away from the grand building, walking down the pavement across from the playground, I sighed in content. I’m so glad I didn’t drop out of school.
Last year marked my journey to a fencing tournament. My solo duels didn't exactly sparkle, but I held onto the hope that group bouting would light a better path for me.
After a brief hiatus and a lunch break, the time came to assemble teams. I crossed my fingers for a team that was either top-notch or at least had a couple of familiar faces. Among the four teams, each comprising three members, fate placed me alongside one of my friends and a fencer from a different club who was more or less a stranger to me. A grin tugged at my lips since having a friend around was fantastic, but what's even better, he was seriously skilled. Hooray! I was on cloud nine. The other team member, as it turned out, was no slouch either; our skill levels were quite aligned. The rules dictated that we'd face off against each opponent on the other team once, and our points would stack up. Every three minutes or when a team's score reached certain checkpoints (like 5 points for the first match, then 10 and so forth), we'd switch. A standard match concluded at 45 points, amounting to nine rounds. I sneakily glanced at the opposing team – this was going to be quite the challenge. My inner thoughts echoed something like, "Hmm... yep... let's give it a shot?" As the match's start loomed, I quenched my thirst with a gulp of water.
Initially, the lead swung back and forth as each match unfolded. The repetition and effort were seriously draining, given that our skill levels were like mirror images of each other. Frankly, I was beginning to lose my enthusiasm. Running on fumes, I shifted my approach to defense since summoning the energy to attack was beyond my reach. I aimed to create opportunities for my teammates. Still, I did manage to notch 3 extra points. We found ourselves trailing by a couple of points, but a rallying cheer spurred us onward, and by the time the three minutes were up, we had turned the tide and taken the lead.
After a well-deserved breather, our next bout hit us like a freight train – the opposing team was just too strong. We ended up falling short, with a final score of 45 to 28.
Following our defeat, we waited patiently for the award ceremony. We ascended the podium, and after a lady with a tray full of gleaming medals, they announced the third-place winners and adorned them with their well-earned medals. Snapshots were captured, and then it was our turn. The medal was truly radiant. My Mam went trigger-happy with her camera, snapping away. Lastly, they recognized the first-place victors, though my attention had wandered elsewhere by then. After the day's events, we made our way home, pondering the match. It dawned on me that even in moments of exhaustion and the desire to call it quits, perseverance could yield something meaningful. And indeed, it did for me – a medal!
Pacing around nervously, my brother and I entered a magnificent hall, decorated with beautiful sculptures as well as paintings representing each swim team. Today, my brother and I will be competing in the 2019 Borough cup swimming championship. Both of us had spent weeks upon weeks practicing, and it would all come down to how we did. Entering the stadium, hundreds of seats lined the walls, and at the center sat a 25 by 10 yard pool that the swimmers would be competing in. Changing into my swim clothes, I gazed into the audience, spotting my parents, waving and encouraging me to do my best. Despite how nervous I felt, I knew that I had to strive to do my best- no matter the result. In just a blink of an eye, an hour had already passed, and swimmers were now beginning to compete. I watched in awe as one person in each age division was presented with their medals. I imagined myself standing amongst the podium, relishing in the light as my friends and family cheered for me.
However, imagining a victory still couldn’t quell the anxious pit in my stomach. Seeing the expression on my face, my brother scooted over, muttering to me, telling me that “You’ve spent so long practicing for this day… your efforts won’t be in vain”. Straightening up a little, I watched as a group of older swimmers dove into the water, closely analyzing their strokes, and positions, willing myself to replicate that form- even a little. Before I knew it, it was time for me to compete. I remembered my brother's words of encouragement, my parents' endless support, and the long hours of practice I had put in. Pacing myself, I climbed up onto the diving board, mimicking my brother's position. I waited with bated breath until the horn blew and I dove into the pool. I was quickly engulfed by the ice cold water, shivering as I thrust an arm forward, completing one stroke after another. Pain shot through my ribs like a bullet, but I had to persevere,I had to make it to the end…
Avika, age 10- Minnesota
Ziyue, age 13- Minnesota
Kevin, age 12- Maryland
As I neared my first full lap, I could already feel my arms dragging behind, completing each stroke slower and slower, forcing breaths through my lead-ridden body.. I have to do this, I thought as I threaded through the water, willing my arms not to give way. I shot through the final lap, and as my fingers grazed the pool’s edge, I glanced up- fifty-eight seconds. Third place! Despite not getting first, I was still extremely excited, my time practicing and spending time swimming had paid off. I watched as my brother and parents cheered me on, praising me for my achievements. This experience had taught me an incredibly important lesson- one of perseverance, of endless grit that had finally paid off. I learned to continue to persevere through my challenges, and overcome hardships despite difficulties faced. No matter what challenge I encountered next, I had overcome this one and I knew, in my heart, that I could do it again.
Kevin, age 12- Maryland (continued)
I would’ve never believed I’d make it this far. MATHCOUNTS had its challenges and was a lot of work, but I thought if I pushed myself, I would make it.. I sat at the table, pencil flying across scratch paper, crossing out and writing numbers and symbols, my eyes scanning what I wrote. Amidst the buzz in my ears, a noise catches my attention. I took my headphones off swiftly just in time to hear what I never wanted to, shouted from the other room. I don’t think I ever thought that I would make it to States, but to have my pessimism confirmed was a final blow. My head felt light, my eyes unfocused. I dropped my pencil, equations long forgotten, and bolted out of the room into the hallway, each step weighing me down. My brother had done so many times, and yet I had failed. I thought of all the late nights, boring summers, and tests. And despite all my hard work to replicate even a fraction of his success, I had failed.
Day by day, I studied excruciatingly, doing practice problems and drilling techniques and formulas in my head. My head churned with only one thing: I had to show my parents my improvement and finally be on par with my brother. I knew I had to do the worst of it all, searching for that success in every crevice imaginable. I started to look at answers to get them correct, to not do the problems in the beginning, as if getting the questions right meant I knew what I was doing. But what choice do I have? I thought. There’s no way out. Shoving my parents’ nagging into a corner of my mind, I dreamt of an escape, a faraway reward of points, places, and college applications, things so palpable yet out of my touch. On days when I closed my eyes, wishing for those goals to be washed away as quickly as they were forced upon me, I thought of my friends, of their cheering, smiles, their encouragement. They believe in me, I told myself, throwing that thought as I tacked the next practice sets with a bit more effort. When the next MATHCOUNTS chapter round came up, I knew I was ready. With all those hours… How could I not be? This was where my streak ended last year, a testament to my previous failures. Letting it end again would be a waste. The test paper slipped in my fingers as I flipped it over, revealing the questions. Scribbles and barely legible equations decorated scratch paper as I wrote, sections torn off in an octahedron’s net, folded messily. Meticulously, I wrote my last answer and folded into my seat, waiting for the next round to start.
Michelle, age 13- Michigan
Hours later, after several rounds of competition, I walked away from the building with both a trophy and the news I had been waiting for. The past few years felt like a blur of moments and emotions, punctuated by defeat. But the moment our team was called for first place, I knew all my hard work had paid off. I turned the metal award over and over in my hands, inspecting the marble base, the label, and the material itself. The grueling process had caused me countless sleepless nights and bouts of anxiety- but when I was here, skipping to the car after a well-deserved win, it felt like everything had accumulated into that moment- and it felt amazing...I smiled to myself. Time to start preparing for States.
Michelle, age 13- Michigan (continued)
"I must remember to double check my work”, I mumbled to myself. With anticipation, I began to wait for the test to start with one thing in the back of my mind- to double check my work when I was done. Still, I knew that as I worked through all the problems, I knew I had to be as thorough as possible with my answers.. I can’t do worse than my friends. I can’t fail! I knew that in order to double check my work, I would have to do them all again. Being as cautious as possible, I could then continue to the next problem. Still, my stomach twisted with nerves as I waited for the test to start. I knew it wouldn’t be easy, but I hadn’t anticipated being this nervous.
As I waited for the test to start, I felt my body chill with nerves. I watched from the end of the row as white paper was shuffled down the line, the black-inked questions leering up at me, taunting my perceived inability. As I began to work, all while being buried in concentration, the timer ticked ominously out of the corner of my eye. I took a quick glance at the others and saw that they were all calculating the answers and their time wisely.I need to do that too! I thought, putting my pencil back to the paper. After what felt like years, I finally completed the entire set of questions! I had finished with a little time to spare, and I had even double-checked my answers which I thought would probably get me a few more right answers.
Going back to my seat to sit down, I sighed a big sigh of relief- one of my most important math tests was finally done! As I sat with my friends, thinking about how great it was to be done, bits of my nervousness crept into my mind. Still, I knew, the worst of it was over. My friends and I chatted about video games, knowing that soon, we would receive our scores.I then took a quick sigh of relief. I didn’t know my test scores yet, and I didn’t know how I had done. But, at least I had checked my answers.
Bowen, age 12- Washington
Throughout Minnesota, 40% of the water in lakes and rivers is polluted- and the stark truth is, humans are to blame. Specifically, littering is the cause of many of these issues. All sorts of harmful trash contaminate bodies of water all across the state. People have to put an end to littering. Most humans try their best to recycle. However, most of these efforts are often in vain, especially if other individuals choose not to extend the same practice.If everyone tries their best to recycle, reuse, and keep Earth clean, humans and animals should have a healthy planet to live on for a long time.
Aria, age 11- Texas
In the text, the author uses the word “ugly” to describe the mothers feelings about Ada’s crippled foot. This reflects Mam’s hatred towards Ada, referring to her as “my shame,” as she continuously beats her daughter for simply venturing outside for a moment.
Mam tells Jamie that he is “normal” and is allowed to go outside wherever he’d like. Unlike his sister who was restricted to staying indoors to hide her “shame.” Ada tries to fight back by telling her mother that Jamie has to stay where she can see him, but he makes friends and runs far past her sight. Ada tried to keep her brother near her because she despises being alone. She remarks to herself of how unfair it was that Jamie was never home, and Mam couldn’t care less.
Ada describes the train as “miserable.” Children were wreaking havoc everywhere she looked. She was glad to be getting away because she would finally be free and wouldn’t have to face her mother who should be protective and loving of her but instead, she makes her child want to leave her.
Ella, age 12- Georgia
Across the country, 60% of public school students believe that homework is more detrimental than helpful to their learning. In today’s world, this issue is more prevalent than ever, where we see students facing levels of extreme stress over their daily assignments. Right now, in most schools, students are assigned take-home work after the school day, which they are expected to complete at home. However, many students have complained that homework takes away time they could be using for more fulfilling activities.. Parents and teachers are currently divided on the idea of homework in general, where some believe that it keeps their students busy and productive, and others insist that student time could be better spent elsewhere. Many schools are now taking looks into their homework policies and lessening the amount of work that is given out each day. However, despite all of these claims, it is clear that there are more inherent student benefits in homework than harms. In a world where learning is constantly evolving and changing, it is integral that schools implement ways for students to stay current and educated on worldly topics- and homework is an effective method of doing so.
For students, homework might be their greatest enemy- but for their development as students, homework is their greatest friend. First, homework can help students learn effective organizational skills that will be useful in their future careers. Because individuals need to learn how to organize their time in order to complete their work and still have opportunity for leisure, they will be encouraged to manage their time wisely when doing an assignment.
Erin, age 14- Arizona
Playing sports builds lots of character, says a person. It helped tons of people build tons of character such as teamwork and resilience. In modern day society, many people have no character. But by playing sports you can learn character building skills such as never giving up and working together to accomplish goals. People who play sports can build character by just running around while having fun with a team to play sports. But some people think playing sports doesn't build character while some think it does build character. People are all divided on whether or not playing sports is a good way to establish character. People are making tests on whether or not playing sports builds character as building characters is important for human life. However, there is more information leading to the fact that playing sports does develop character. In a society where character building is so important for human life and interaction it is necessary to find the best methods of gathering character at a young age.
Sports may be super competitive but even if you lose, in the long run, character will form no matter how good or bad you are at sports. First, sports can help kids gain athletic skills vital to have character. Because in order to have character you must practice athletic skill to have a passion for sports thus playing more which establishes character greatly. According to Coach Blaise, a sports coach in 2019 he says “Greater athletic skills lead to more wins which leads to greater opportunities for athletes, coaches, and organizations.” That shows that if there is superior athletic skill that means there is an increased chance for athletes, coaches, and organizations to flourish in many ways. These opportunities include character building, funds, and more. More opportunities also leads to better players and more wins which leads to a cycle of kids whose character develops. So, the athletic skills that sports give are very important in later life, creating strong athletic adults who will continue to teach a new generation of children. Coach Mario, a sports coach in 2020 states “Regardless of the skill level of the child, playing sports can be a fantastic way for children to build self-esteem. Competition is a good thing, so encourage your child to find confidence in a real and meaningful way.”
Gavin, age 13- Georgia
Homework has been described as exhausting, hateful, and even the burden on their shoulders.It is actually helpful to the students learning and preparing for exams. Homework can help students remember key facts, practice, get better, and revise for hard tests.
Duke University psychology professor Harris Cooper did a meta-analysis and found evidence of a positive correlation between homework and student achievement, meaning students who did homework performed better in school. The correlation was stronger for older students—in seventh through 12th grade—than for those in younger grades, for whom there was a weak relationship between homework and performance.Cooper’s analysis focused on how homework impacts academic achievement—test scores, for example. His report noted that homework is also thought to improve study habits, attitudes toward school, self-discipline, inquisitiveness and independent problem solving skills. On the other hand, some studies he examined showed that homework can cause physical and emotional fatigue, fuel negative attitudes about learning and limit leisure time for children. At the end of his analysis, Cooper recommended further study of such potential effects of homework.Despite the weak correlation between homework and performance for young children, Cooper argues that a small amount of homework is useful for all students. Second-graders should not be doing two hours of homework each night, he said, but they also shouldn’t be doing no homework.Homework is useful mostly to older students, deadly to young students which would make them hate learning. But that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t, because small amounts are good for them by preparing them for the learning they are about to face. Homework isn’t useful to all in great amounts, but everyone should more or less do some.
Ziyue, age 13- Minnesota
Standing at the edge of the pool, I thought one thing: I was going to sink. As I watched groups of swimmers mingle on the tile floors, my eyes fell on a banner across the room- Welcome to Little Dragon Swim Club! My heart dropped into my stomach, goosebumps running up my arms even in the humid, bustling room. As I shivered on the deck, a woman in a red bathing suit began to herd a group into the water, pointing at me as she went, shaking me out of my stupor. I sighed, resolutely, knowing I had no choice. Why am I doing this to myself? I thought as I dipped a foot into the pool. The icy water quickly engulfed me to the ankle and I had half a mind to yank it out immediately, taking my nerves with me back to shore. Still, a part of me knew that I had to learn, for my own sake.
Still, every footstep I made towards the pool entrenched the rising pit of dread in my stomach. I wasn’t sure whether the cold rising up my body was from the chill of the water or the chill up my spine, but as I sloshed my way towards the rest of my swim class, my brain was churning all the same, bubbles and foam spraying everywhere in a jumble. Lining up with the rest of my class, my fingers slipped over the steel border of the pool as I closed my eyes, inhaled sharply, and pushed off the edge of the pool with a huff. I felt myself drift forward, arms lying flat and limply against the surface of the water. Good, I wasn’t sinking yet. I tentatively began to kick my legs, attempting to propel myself forward. With each stroke, I felt a newfound sense of airiness bubbling up in my stomach, rising as quickly as the droplets flying from the pool as I kicked. The water buoyed me up, as if whispering words of encouragement. Before I knew it, an hour had flown by in a series of kicks, splashes, and hazy drifting through the clandestine blue of the chlorine. I nudged myself back towards the pool’s edge with a newfound lightness in my heart, relishing in the comforting warmness of the water. The ladder embraced me as I grabbed it, welcoming me back onto the pool’s deck. I had done it- I had swum!
Rose, age 13- China
According to Mrs. Bempechat, a fourth grade elementary school teacher in 2019, “I think teachers assign homework in elementary school as a way to help kids develop skills they’ll need when they’re older—to begin to instill a sense of responsibility and to learn planning and organizational skills. That’s what I think is the greatest value of homework—in cultivating beliefs about learning and skills associated with academic success.” This shows that not only does homework help students become more organized, but the organizational skills they acquire will help them in future academic endeavors, creating a cycle of academic success. Thus, the planning skills that homework promotes are highly valuable and effective for future academic achievement, creating a new generation of individuals who are more organized and have a healthier work life balance. However, some students and teachers across the country believe that the stress of homework can yield negative academic results, as students feel more of a mental toll, which could potentially cause them to lose focus or motivation to learn.
Still, the fact holds clear that having students spend more time with course material and encouraging them to critically think when completing assignments can familiarize them with academic topics, leading to higher test scores and a better understanding of the material. As stated by the SDL Archive in 2008, “The homework question is best answered by comparing students assigned homework with students assigned no homework who are similar in other ways. The results of such studies suggest that homework can improve students’ scores on the class tests that come at the end of a topic. Students assigned homework in second grade did better on the math tests; third and fourth graders did better on English skills and vocabulary tests; fifth graders on social studies tests; ninth through 12th graders on American history tests; and 12th graders on Shakespeare tests. Across five studies, the average student who did homework had a higher unit test score than the students not doing homework.”
Erin, age 14- Arizona (continued)
This indicates that no matter how good or bad your child is at playing sports, playing the sports is a good way to build self-esteem and confidence which is vital for character shaping. Therefore, by just participating in sports you can gain confidence and self-esteem which are important traits when thinking about character. But, some people think playing sports leads to cheating and competition which turns children into unhonest people which is detrimental to the character building of athletes. However, the benefits outweigh the risks as playing sports often leads to athletic skill and fun with teammates and opponents. The traits necessary for character will develop more often than what is not wanted for character development. “Sports can foster self-sacrifice, loyalty, fairness, honesty, and respect.” This indicates all of the traits that sports foster that are super important for later on in your life whether it be playing more sports or working in an office or when you're with your friends and family. Since sports foster so many traits necessary for character formation such as loyalty, honesty, and respect it is clear that sports build character which brings more good than harm meaning sports build character.
As such, playing sports betters your character in the forms of athletic skill, self esteem, and loyalty plus many more beneficial skills. In the society we now live in it is important for children to learn character early on. Playing sports is a common way kids can gain character at the price of practicing sports all the time although some kids may enjoy that. Maintaining a love of sports not only gains you friends and the experience of a lifetime but it also teaches you life changing skills you can use in your later life. With a good team and a good coach you can be trained to play super well in whatever kinds of sports you play gaining you more character than if you had a bad team and coach obviously also making you play worse meaning you can’t learn some of the important skills. Future generations of adults need character to survive in this type of society and character building helps so much with that. If we don’t let our kids experience character building then the next generations of adults will not know how to survive peacefully in modern society. Currently most kids don’t know the importance of playing sports, and it is important we get all kids to play sports because it is super beneficial. So, hopefully someday in the future all kids are able to play sports and have a successful life with the help of character formation.
Gavin, age 13- Georgia (continued)
Jorge Barrientos wrote “As a student graduates to higher grades, that time goes up to roughly 30 minutes in third grade, 45 minutes in grade six, and about an hour in junior high.The Kern High School District recommends one hour for each class per week, while college preparatory students should expect two hours.Students can take a handful of college prep or AP classes at one time.Some districts, like Fruitvale and Rosedale Union school districts, leave it up to school sites to police homework. Others use a general board policy, which isn't strictly policed.” Home is needed only in certain amounts, even though policies suggest less homework, they still give more homework to students and give students stress. Schools should follow the policies and give students the right amounts of homework.
Ziyue, age 13- Minnesota (continued)
Pulling myself back onto the shore, I clutched the towel I had been handed, hair dripping onto the tile floor. I should’ve been shivering, trying to dry myself off as quickly as possible- but even as I was ushered away from the deck, I couldn’t help but recall the floating sensation of the water, so different from the floor that had grounded me in uncertainty just an hour before. Maybe, all I had to do was try. I had to try to be proven wrong. Waving goodbye to my instructor, shuffling towards the locker room, I turned back to the water, its fracturing surface casting light onto the walls, bading goodbye to me and my fears alike. One thing was for sure, though- I couldn’t wait to go back.
Rose, age 13- China (continued)
Clearly, homework yields more substantial academic results by giving students fundamental understanding of the topics they are being tested on, causing higher standardized testing scores and thus more concrete learning. Because homework helps instill organizational skills in students, encourages critical thinking, and boosts test scores and understanding of the material, it is clear that homework is largely beneficial and necessary to student learning and growth.
Thus, it’s clear that the benefits of homework are plentiful- including bettering student organizational skills, encouraging open-minded critical thinking, and raising test scores by providing accessible educational opportunities. More than ever, it is imperative that the quality of education is preserved, in order to creative more equitable schools providing accessible education to all. Homework is a traditional and effective way to keep students engaged in material, preparing them to be better leaders in the future, especially if they come from a background that is less privileged or educated. Maintaining student success not only gives peace of mind to parents that their children are engaged in their learning, but also helps teachers analyze how students are doing in their class based on completion of assignments. This further helps to improve class curriculum, when teachers have an idea of what areas of subjects need more focus or practice. By consistently adapting curriculum, teachers create a welcoming and equitable educational environment. Future generations of students will receive quality and robust education that is constantly developing and improving to fit their needs and help them become better prepared for postsecondary education. Hopefully, one day, 100% of students across the country will believe that their education has served a solidified purpose in their lives- and maintaining homework is the first step.