Barrington 4th of July 2009 Essay Contest Winners

Co-Winners- Age 12-14 Category

David Nowak and Grant Walsh
Both are 13 years old in the 7th grade at Barrington Middle School- Prairie Campus.

David Nowak Essay:

Abraham Lincoln was a patriot, and an American hero. During some of the toughest years of American history, he considered everyone and made fair decisions. Lincoln wanted to make a difference and proved that he could, by sharing his beliefs with those around him. With hard work and dedication, he made it so that the whole country heard his voice.

A community needs leaders. And when a decision has to be made, the people of the community have to step up and share their ideas in order to make a difference. Lincoln left a path for everyone after him to follow. A path that can lead to not only what a community wants, but what it needs. When we elected an unknown senator from Illinois as president, we saw that he presented his ideas and positive attitude. He wanted to do as much good for the people and give everyone a fair opportunity, just like Lincoln did.

Lincoln wanted to preserve the Union, but wanted a changed Union. For the good of the people, and to achieve the goal of having every human treated equally. A change made in order to do good would always make a community better. In the Gettysburg Address, Lincoln describes the true meaning of this nation, and what sacrifices were made to keep the nation and the freedom. Today, we are trying to give everyone a fair chance to do well. By considering everyone, today’s communities will be fair and a better place to be.

By following in the footsteps of Lincoln, society today can achieve more goals and be a more positive place to live.

Grant Walsh Essay:

In Lincoln’s second Inaugural Address he stated, “…With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right…” In my opinion, Lincoln was saying for us to be kind and caring to others, charitable to people with our time and money, and practice doing the right things in life versus wrong.

By following in Lincoln’s footsteps, I strive for these things. I try to be an example to all and nice to everyone I meet. In seventh grade it is hard not to follow the group; many times kids pick on other kids. I always try to be the kid who is nice, and when I am faced with an inappropriate group, I try and distance myself from them.

In my family, we always try to be charitable with our time and money. Last summer I went to Rockford to help with a project for their schools; it was called Sharefest. My family and I helped a school by giving our time mowing the lawn, raking leaves, and picking up sticks. I also went to “Feed My Starving Children” for my church two years in a row. We packed boxes of dried food for starving children, which we then shipped to Zimbabwe. I felt so good about helping, especially when my church announced that we all packed 4.2 million boxes of food for starving children.

The last point I think Lincoln was making is to do what is right in life. We all know right from wrong, so we should practice doing the right thing. For me, this means staying away from inappropriate language, drugs, and alcohol.

In the footsteps of Lincoln, I will continue to practice being nice to others, being charitable with my time and money, and doing what is right in my life.

Winner- Age 8 – 11 category

Emma Bradford
Emma is 9 years old in the 4th grade at Lines School.

Emma Bradford Essay:

Welcome to the Newscast of the Bradford Family

Today we are interviewing Abraham Lincoln the 16th President of the United States.

Interviewer: Where were you born?

Lincoln: I was born in a small, cold, chilly cabin on a farm in Kentucky on February 12, 1809. They named me Abraham after my grandfather. My parents Tom and Nancy Lincoln already had a daughter two years old named Sarah.

Interviewer: Did you work hard on the farm?

Lincoln: Well, it depends. What do you mean by work: reading books or plowing fields? I worked like crazy plowing fields. I liked to sneak and read books and work at the same time.

Interviewer: Why did you sneak?

Lincoln: Because Paw didn’t like me reading. I love reading because my mother wanted me to read and write. Boy, I miss her.

Interviewer: What happened to her?

Lincoln: My mom died when I was 9 years old and my sister was 11. I was heart-broken and it was hard to get along without her.

Interviewer: Did you get another mother?

Lincoln: A year later, I got another mother. She was sweet and kind and everything a boy could wish for.

Interviewer: Since you were President of the United States, did you enjoy your presidency?

Lincoln: No. I did not like all those meetings and when the Civil War that broke out. The slaves deserved to be free. I missed my family, Springfield, my beautiful wife and my little boys.

Interviewer: Why were you against slavery?

Lincoln: Do you see any difference between those Negroes and us?

Interviewer: Well, no.

Lincoln: Then, why do they deserve to be slaves? No reason, right?

Interviewer: Yes.

Lincoln: Very well. The Civil War was also about keeping the nation together.

Interviewer: Thank you. That’s all for now.