Committed to Radiant Peace

Second Annual Peace Essay Awards for High School Seniors
(Class of '96)

Table of Contents

First Place Essay

Theme:
Peacemaking for Young Adults What Is It?

Peace? Impossible! To most young adults, "peacemaking" seems like such an overwhelming concept. After all, what difference can one make in the face of wars or racial conflicts? However, "peacemaking" can actually be simple, and can be easily achieved within the community. It can be as simple as making up with a friend after a fight or helping someone with a simple task - any act that creates more harmony in the world. Having worked as a volunteer in the community for four years, I have been able to contribute to this peace. Through my work, I have learned that "peacemaking" can be as simple as visiting a patient in a hospital or cooperating with other volunteers. The actions that I have done to promote peace have been small relative to the "big picture" or the "grand scheme of things," but, I feel that I have made a difference in the community simply by trying my best to respect and help others. In this way, I have learned that "peacemaking" is not the impossible, complicated dream that it seems to be. It is a concept that is not only important on a global scale, but also something that is necessary in all communities. As a young adult, I can contribute to it simply by accepting and respecting the other people in my community, regardless of race, gender, religion, or any other characteristic that might ordinarily lead to disrespect, or hate. With this concept of peace, it is possible for all young adults to play an important role in upholding it.

Christina Ridley
Hillsborough High School, Tampa, Florida
Teacher: Ms. Sylvia Sarrett

Second Place Essay

Theme:
Peacemaking for Young Adults What Is It?

Turning on the evening news in my home is routine. Watching the daily domestic violence cases, homicide investigations, and drunk driving casualties is routine. Reading the newspaper updates on the war in Bosnia is routine. Going to school and witnessing racial hatred and homophobia is routine.

Peacemaking is not routine.

What is peacemaking for young adults? Peacemaking is hope. It is the dreams and desires of a "Generation X" who are numb to hate. Peace shouldn't be a foreign concept. It needs to start within the heart of every young adult. Peacemaking is not solely a global affair. Real peace needs to start in our homes, schools, and communities. It needs to be the foundation of our society, not the afterthought of a world in need of healing. Peace is attainable.

Our world is in need of love and compassion. As young adults we need to teach others the meaning of the word respect and the value of the golden rule. These simple steps are what peacemaking is all about.

Jennifer L. Williams
Countryside High School, Clearwater, Florida
Teacher: Ms. Marjorie Shoaff

Third Place Essay

Theme:
Peacemaking for Young Adults What Is It?

In high school, there are two occasions that draw large, enthusiastic crowds. The first is the time-honored tradition of varsity football, and the second is the increasingly frequent fight in the cafeteria or hall. That a quarrel could attract fans so readily says a sad mouthful about what teenagers encourage each other to do. Whereas it is popular to defend oneself, seeking a peaceful alternative is often seen as socially unforgivable. But what happens after high school, when popularity means little or nothing anymore? The teen who divided his time between scuffling in the courtyard and sitting in the principal's office finds a void in his life without the squeals of approval in his ear. If he's wasted his high school years, chances are that he will have difficulty finding a job or a college, because his belligerence ruined his chances.

Fighting is pointless and its glory is ephemeral; after the crowds have left, nothing remains but scars and bruises. We must encourage peace in our schools first because the teenage years may well determine the course of one's life. If a person learns to fight in high school, he will likely continue fighting and destroy his future as well as damage many more people before he is through. To a young adult, being a peacemaker means being the one person who does not jump up to see the big fight, the one person who does not sneer at the classmate who backed out of a fight, the one person who befriends the aggressor to find out why he fights and persuades him to stop. Being a peacemaker means taking a stand against the violence that others applaud that he might help to make the future that much better for himself and his community.

Jacqueline S. Tai
Hillsborough High School, Tampa, Florida
Teacher: Ms. Sylvia Sarrett

Honorable Mention Essays

Theme:
Peacemaking for Young Adults What Is It?

Peace is something most people are trying to find. Making peace can become a realistic idea, but it will take plenty of hard work and understanding. There are several methods to make peace. One way is to find peace within; another is for people to start caring more about other people, another is making peace with the people around them before they can make peace with the world.

People who find inner peace are the greatest peacemakers because if they can find peace within themselves, then they can find peace in others or at least how to understand other people and their view on peace.

Caring for others shows that a person cares about making peace. For some people, it is a challenge to get along with others. Some may have people who are enemies, but by showing them respect and treating them the way you would like to be treated, then he or she can show the other person that they do care, and they want to have peace between the two.

For a person to make peace, he must first make peace around him. A person can do this by volunteering at several different places. They can also try to improve their home, school and work areas, showing others that they care, and so then others will also become more interested in making peace. With the help of others, they can take on the world together.

Peacemaking is made easier if someone were to follow through and improve their inner peace, care more about others, and improve their surroundings before they take on the world. One thing that people need to remember is that peace is within them, and all they need to do is find it, and then they will make a great peacemaker.

Stephanie Adams, Age 18
Woodham High School, Pensacola, Florida
Teacher: Scott Whedon

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The quest for peace among young people is twofold: one must strive for harmony within, as well as a conciliatory attitude toward fellow creatures. Furthermore, these goals are intertwined, with each being a necessary aspect of the other. Consequently, each person, especially youths, should strive to achieve both perspectives of peace in order to live a more fulfilling life.

Young adults should begin by looking within themselves and identifying unhealthy areas of anger or depression. Through the aid of parents, teachers and friends, they should not attempt to completely eradicate these feelings, but rather, they must simply grow to accept and understand their emotions, in addition to any hostile feelings which they may harbor. Hence, by identifying sources of disharmony, young adults can create a state of harmony, allowing for a clarity of mind and the ability to handle stress which will prove beneficial throughout their lives.

Moreover, these identical concepts may be applied to one's relationship with his environment. By dealing with his emotions toward others in a healthy and honest fashion, a person can formulate an understanding even with his mortal enemy. However, this process becomes much more difficult if only one person strives for harmony, while the other refuses to believe in the possibilities. Thus, in order for humanity itself to make significant strides toward world peace, each person, especially those of the new generation which will soon lead the world, must acknowledge his responsibility to live in harmony with others and himself.

Judith H. Danovitch, Age 17
Stoneman Douglas High School, Parkland, Florida
Teacher: Mr. Red Pawcio

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"It's really a wonder that I haven't dropped all my ideals, because they seem so absurd... Yet I keep them, because in spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart. I simply can't build my hopes on a foundation of confusion, misery and death... and yet... I think... this cruelty will end, and that peace and tranquillity will return again."
-- Anne Frank

Like Anne Frank, the young have always been recognized for strong idealism and belief in the inherent goodness of mankind. Throughout history, it has been the young who have protested war, fought to create freedom, and have dared to challenge the boundaries of society. It is the young who continue to believe, despite the worst examples of human behavior, "that people are really good at heart."

It is this generation who stands up to the bureaucrats who make the journey towards peace rocky and tedious. It is this generation who has seen the horrors of war displayed as entertainment and have ceased to find it entertaining. We are the generation who will use the enormous advancements in communication to make this a better world.

Hannah Arendt teaches us that "equality is the result of human organization." We are living in a world in which we have the means to organize and form this equality which will lead to peace. Now, we must use it. It's time that our parents' generation remembered their own message of peace and lived up to the standards that they set when they were young. Remember the message of Martin Luther King, Jr., the hippie generation, and the despair of abandoned Vietnam veterans. Listen to your musicians, to John Lennon, to the words of your generation, now adopted by ours, "all we are saying, is give peace a chance."

Irit Eliav, Age 18
Plantation High School, Plantation, Florida
Teacher: Mrs. Sheryl Musgrave

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Since the beginning of time, human nature has kindled a world full of hatred and war. Time and time again different cultures and different peoples have fought to maintain their individuality and to salvage their self-respect. Pain and suffering has been imprinted in this world and into the heart of human beings. Peace, an understanding and acceptance of our world, is the only cure for this pain and agony. Peace is not something that is tangible and concrete; it is an abstract concept that is felt in the heart and the spirit. Thus, peacemaking for young adults is an understanding of human nature and the radiation of love.

Human nature is the most profound paradox, for within itself it can kindle happiness and pain. The human race lives on the concept that there is a stronger race or a stronger culture. Believing this justifies thousands of years of pain and injustice. Young adults must first understand that everyone is equal, all people are different but no one is superior or inferior. When humanity understands this concept, peace will be established; no one will want to reign over anyone, there will be no physical or mental inferiority on earth. Spiritual things will outweigh the materialistic virtues of wealth and power. Everyone will live equally and in peace.

What is peacemaking? Peacemaking is radiating peace to the world. Peace is not compromising, it is understanding. The key to peace is love. Love will kindle peace and tranquility all over the world. When society learns to love themselves, they will begin to love their world. Peace will reign over the worlds, brotherhood and understanding will permeate all people.

Vanina A. Gueriero, Age 17
Ely High School, Pompano Beach, Florida
Teacher: Mrs. Goldstein

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Peacemaking for young adults, what is it? As a teenager who attends high school, I find myself wanting to do more than just attend local protests, sit-ins, and the so-called Woodstock. With today's problem, there is more that needs to be done.

Making the world aware of how communism not only hurts our generation but future one's, could possibly alter one's current thinking. Watching the television and seeing the small eyes of a baby look into the camera as the sounds of guns and tanks go off in the background hits home hard. I think that even this could wear on the hard headed. Finding peace starts not between countries, but in the community, even within the household. Avoiding a fight or confrontation with a friend or a local gang would influence others to follow close behind.

In conclusion, peace begins at home between family members and local gangs. That is where my part comes in. I will counsel my friends who are at war and even fighting family members. This I believe, will do more than sit-ins, protests, and attending a rock concert labeled as a peace event.

Elizabeth Hill, Age 18
Ely High School, Pompano Beach, Florida
Teacher: Ms. Goldstein

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In the bible, it tells us to love they neighbor; how many times do we actually find ourselves following this?

Each day we come across conflicts in school, at home, and in our environment. Each day we choose whether to resolve those conflicts or fight them out. It is at this level that true peace begins. Peace is not always avoiding war, putting down gang leaders, and overthrowing drug cartels. Peace has a very basic meaning, too. Peace can be simply avoiding a fight with a friend. It can be looking out for each other in unknown territory. Peace can be helping a lost tourist find his way home, or even just moving out of the way when an ambulance is responding to a call. The very basic ideals of the good Samaritan, if brought out in each one of us, will provide a greater peace and a more congenial harmony than stopping a war.

Although we quest for world peace by protesting the sending of troops to the Middle East and Europe, we fail to realize that peace is developed at the local level. Many schools, including the one I attend, create multicultural assemblies, making students aware of the cultures around them. With this awareness, students are less likely to develop racial prejudices, leading to less racial conflicts. Also, many schools have gang violence presentations in conjunction with the local police division. In these sessions, students learn about the violence caused by guns and characteristics of gang members so that students know who or even what to avoid. If each one of us took just a small amount of time to help someone else, we would create a more friendly and nonviolent society. Peace in everyday society would build a much more tranquil and unified world. This is where peace begins.

Faris Jessa, Age 17
Ely High School, Pompano Beach, Florida
Teacher: Ms. Goldstein

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When we look back on history, we see that it is filled with wars and violence between countries and states. However, the discord here is over policy disagreement. Real non-peace comes to the forefront in criminal activity where actual hatred and enmity are evident. It is in this area that the youth of this world must be concerned. After all, this type of friction is the kind that leads to destruction of life and the deterioration of society.

Much of the fighting in today's world stems off race and culture. Although it is sometimes human nature to put one's own self above others, continuance of this practice leads to racism and prejudice. It is the responsibility of the next generation of this world to put aside the hatred among cultures in our forefathers' times, and look toward creating a more peaceful world where cultures can happily coexist. We should promote events as multi-cultural days where cultures get together and unify to spread the all-important message of love and peace.

An urge should be burning within all of us to stop the violence around the world. We should never support, let alone condone, the violent behavior of people for whatever revengeful reason there is. We should strive to accomplish this goal not only for the sole reason of preventing pain and suffering, but more importantly, to preserve and maintain the love and peace that we as humans are capable and should be willing to convey.

Charley John, Age 17
Ely High School, Pompano Beach, Florida
Teacher: Ms. Goldstein

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Peace is the result of being able to accept the differences that each individual possesses. The movement towards peace became most noticeable in the United States in the early twentieth century as martyrs such as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. began movements for the "natural rights" that they believed were due unto them. The venture towards peace does not need to begin with powerful leaders or even necessarily with adults involved in the political arena; the movement can begin as early as the elementary years and continue throughout the high school years of a young adult.

The foundations for peace can be taught to children at a young age. People who are taught to accept the differences between themselves and their peers will become knowledgeable adults willing to associate with many different people, regardless of their unique characteristics. Students need to learn to appreciate the diversity of humans at an early age. This can be accomplished through multicultural events such as days designed to taste food from different cultures or days to view different style dances from many cultures. The methods to teaching a young child how to appreciate diversity are endless. We must begin to educate our children at a young age, for these early years are fundamental to developing a child's mind. Young adults need to share a major role in this early education.

Young adults can communicate on many levels, thus, allowing them to voice their words while still helping young children to understand the many different cultures that make our world the beautiful place it has the potential to be. The young adult has the ability to create a better tomorrow and continue to pass the words of early peacemakers as they are the leaders of tomorrow.

Joel Speiller, Age 17
Ely High School, Pompano Beach, Florida
Teacher: Ms. Goldstein

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Peacemaking is not a term that can be defined by one person. A group of people, however, focusing on the subject of peacemaking can collaborate on a truer meaning. I asked some Countryside High School Seniors to comment on what peacemaking conveyed to them. "It is respect for life," stated Suzanne West in AP English. "It is the stopping of war. No, no. Better yet, it is the world working together to help each other," affirmed Natalya Butcher in AP Calculus. "It is the coming together of people and morals so we can work out misunderstandings," asserted Billy Peiper during Peer Mediation. "It's a caring compromise," smiled Holly Wells in AP Psychology. "It is people loving others more than themselves," responded Emily Coleman in AP Spanish.

I believe that for peacemaking to occur, we should become more open to accept new and different ideas. Peacemaking is the effort put forth by various factions to create or maintain an accord between reconciling parties. Being narrow-minded seals the door of desires for global interdependence. Harmony, trust, and communication are the essential keys to succeed in peacemaking.

We are the youth; we are the future. The causes we create today are the effects that will be seen tomorrow. Peacemaking will not only insure a secure life for the present, but also it will build a concrete foundation for our children.

Monica Yamada, Age 18
Countryside High School, Clearwater, Florida
Teacher: Mrs. Marjorie Shoaff