6th Grade Honorable Mention, William Shakespeare

Another great 6th grade essay! Gabi makes writing seem easy and she describes her love for Shakespeare. Keep up the good work Gabi, I look forward to your essay next year! Kylie

Gabi S
Ecker Hill International Middle School
Sixth Grade

What If There Was Time Travel?

What if there really was time travel? What would you do with that privilege?
Beep, ding, whoosh. Back to the year of 1592!

I opened the big, heavy doors of the library and took a step in. It was enormous.
All I could see was rows and rows of books, from fantasy, to science, to everything. I
could smell the pages of the millions and millions of fabulous books. It was an earthy
smell, more so then libraries today. I could hear the librarians, old and brittle, whispering to be please be quite. I wandered down the shelfs looking at the spines of the books, some brand new, some old. As I was running my fingers along the spines of the books one of them caught me off guard. It had a leather cover with the words “Romeo and Juliet” written in gold on the front cover...

If I could meet anyone in the world, from any country, during any time period, it
would be the extraordinary, outstanding, William Shakespeare. I want to meet him
because he wrote stunning books, romantic poems, and magnificent playwrights that blew people away! I think it would be really cool to hear him read some of his awesome books or poems in modern english. He would have so much emotion - fear, joy, love, hate, or horror in his voice! It would be so delighting! I would really like for him to teach me some of his secrets in writing. I think that he could be an inspiration
to my own writing. He would inspire me to write more often. I would also ask him how
he came up with ideas, got past writing blocks and made his way up to being famous!
William Shakespeare is the person I would meet if I could meet anyone, from any time,
anywhere!

I would want Shakespeare to feel comfortable, so I would absolutely insist that we
meet at a library in Warwickshire. The reason for it being in Warwickshire, is because he was born there and I think that most every body loves and enjoys their home town. I
think that the library would be appropriate because he wrote books and loved to read! He would feel comfortable because now a days libraries are full of his work and he loved to be in quite places.

The first question I would ask William Shakespeare would be, “Was the role of
Juliet based on someone in your love life?” I would ask that question because I have
always loved the story “Romeo and Juliet”! I have always wondered what it would feel
like to be Juliet. I would also ask him to explain exactly how he pictured the amazing,
comely, Juliet, and the buff, handsome, Romeo. Since Romeo and Juliet were madly in
love, I have always wondered if Shakespeare himself, ever felt love of that kind. If he
had, then I would insist on listening to him tell about that story of his past. It would be so romantic! That’s what I would ask him if I got to magically travel back into history, and meet the one and only William Shakespeare!

I would like William Shakespeare to know how his work changed history. I would tell him that today we still use a quite a few of the outstanding words he added to the
language, and we, very much appreciate them. I would also tell him that he is an
unmatched figure when it comes to writing breathtaking masterpieces! Most everyone in
North America knows of his prose. One of his most famous pieces, “Romeo and Juliet,”
have inspired writers of today for their own books, poems, and playwrights. They all look up to him as a fellow writer. In that library in Warwickshire, I would tell Shakespeare how he changed the future.

Going back in time to visit the superb, magnificent, William Shakespeare, I would
ask him some questions about writing, about some of his masterpieces, ask questions to
learn more about his life, and to be sure he knew of his impact.

...Then I saw him, William Shakespeare the writer of the book I had in my hand -
“Romeo and Juliet”! I was so excited, I had to hold my breath so I wouldn’t scream my
heart out! Is it really him? I don’t know. I think it is. I’m going to go up and talk to him, right now. Ready, set, go!

8th Grade, 5th Place (Tie) - Captain Kirk

So, this may be my favorite essay I have EVER received. I have read Ben's essay about Captain Kirk ten times, and each time I have to remind myself that Captain Kirk is NOT a real person, however Ben has done an amazing job of making him seem real! This essay is well-written and passionate! Great job!

Benjamin D
Dixon Middle
8th

If I could meet anyone in the world, from any country, during any time period, it would be James T. Kirk. I want to meet James Kirk because he saved earth and was a great captain. He was the most famous and most honored star fleet captain ever and he was the captain of the Enterprise. He was also the youngest captain ever. He was promoted to admiral 15 years after he graduated from the star fleet academy.

During his career he did many important things. He stopped V’ger, an unidentified energy field, from destroying earth in 2273 by helping it to evolve so it could understand other concepts it couldn’t understand before. In 2286 he saved the world from a probe that had come to earth and started transmit frequencies that were destroying earth. He went back in time to get whales to communicate with the probe. He saved earth yet another time when Nero a Romulan from the future comes to destroy the federation. He saved three races during his career. He went on many other journeys during his career.

He had good personality traits. He was fast thinking and loyal. He had high moral standards. He inspired loyalty in people for example when he set out to save Spock his crew risked their jobs to help him steal the enterprise. He was very patriotic, he had the preamble of the constitution memorized and his childhood hero was Abraham Lincoln.

I would want captain Kirk to feel comfortable so I would insist that we meet on the Enterprise. I would meet him there because he was the captain of it for a long time. He was promoted to be the captain on it in 2264 and he served missions on the Enterprise for the rest of his life. He spent a lot of his life on board the Enterprise.

The first question I would as Captain Kirk would be “What is it like to interact with other life forms?” because he handles relations with other life forms a lot. He was also a close friend with Spock. It would be really cool to interact with aliens. It would be interesting to learn about their cultures and languages. I would really like to know what aliens cultures are like, to see if cultures are similar or what makes them different. For instance are they affected by what their home planet is like or what type of animals are on their planet. Interacting with aliens would really be cool because it would show you how many different types of cultures there are.

When I met with him I would ask to see if he could take me to see the planet Vulcan because it would be cool to see another planet. I would also want him to teach me how to to fly space ships because knowing how to control something that advanced would help me become an astronaut. I would also have him teach me the basics on their machines to help me become a aerospace engineer (if I am not a astronaut). After a few days studying with Kirk I could lead the field of quantum physics.

I would like Captain Kirk to know that he saved earth more than five times. If he hadn’t humans would be close to extinct. This affects me because if he didn’t save the world most of the world’s creations in art, history, and science would be destroyed, all of the achievements of human kind would be forgotten eventually.

If I could meet Captain Kirk I would try to get Spock to come with Kirk. It would be interesting to meet Spock because he is part Vulcan. Meeting a Vulcan would be interesting because their life style is so much different from ours. The Vulcans are a lot more advanced. Volcans are very intelligent so it would be fascinating to see what Spock knew. It would also be cool because Spock accompanied Kirk on most of his voyages.

I would want Spock to be comfortable so I would insist we meet on the planet Vulcan because it is where he grew up. He would be most comfortable because he knows Vulcan. Another place we could meet is on the Enterprise because he served on her for a long time. He was with Captain Kirk for most of his missions so he would be comfortable there.

The first thing I would ask Spock would be “what is it like to be part Vulcan and part human?” because that would be weird to be part Vulcan and part human. It would be interesting to be Vulcan and human because Vulcans aren’t allowed to show emotion but humans show emotion on purpose. I would think being both Vulcan and human would be hard. I would a want to know how/if he mixed human and Vulcan cultures.

Spock and Kirk make a perfect team of reasoning and passion. Kirk is pro-active and impulsive. Quick to way risk without come. Spock is completely logical and valances that balances that impulsivity. Together they can accomplish great things.

8th Grade, 5th Place (Tie) Edgar Allan Poe

I love it that an 8th Grader wants to meet Edgar Allan Poe! This is a smartly written, well researched, believable essay. Great job Trystan!

Trystan P
Dixon Middle School
Grade 8.

Who I would meet.

If I could meet anyone in the world, from any country, during any time period, it would be Edgar Allan Poe. I would want to meet this person, because I love horror movies, scary things, anything freaky, and he was the father of scary stories. His poems such as The Raven really got me on the edge of my seat. along with the Pit and the Pendulum. A giant blade plummeting towards you while you are strapped to a slab of concrete? I was freaked. Tell-Tale Heart has such an eerie feeling to it, that you just have to read it and watch the movies they based off of it. Edgar Allan Poe would be the person I would meet because of how strongly he has influenced me.

I would want Mr. Poe to feel comfortable, so I would insist that we meet at the Poe Museum, a whole museum honoring him. I believe it would make Poe very happy to see he is still appreciated, and would make him very happy. I would be happy if I was taken to a museum honoring me and the works of art I created. I would also maybe take him to one of the huge Edgar Allan Poe birthday celebrations they hold ever year. Because Edgar was so unhappy, I'm sure it would delight him to know he is loved, and hasn't been forgotten.

The first question I would ask Edgar Allan Poe would be “What inspired you?”
Why? Because being an artist and some what of a poet myself, I would love to hear what inspired him to write such great works as Annabel Lee, Tell-Tale Heart, and Lenore. I would probably ask him what poet he thought most influenced him. I would be intrigued to know what poet or author that gave Edgar Allan Poe the drive an determination to write what he wrote. So many questions come to mind. What poem or short story he thinks was his best, how he thinks his poem affected people. I know that I want to know how he would answer.

I would like Edgar Allan Poe to know how his poems affected me. I love his poems, and think that people should read them if they already haven't. He has influenced me as an artist and a poet many times in the past, and still continues to influence me as I read his poems and short stories. I would let him know that I don't care what people label me if I read his poems, and that I love his work. I would tell him that many people all over the world read and enjoy his poems all the time, and he has a huge fan base. He has also affected my sister, as an amateur artist, she looks to Edgar Allan Poe to seek literary help. She thinks of him as a great author, and bases some of her works on Edgar's work.

I would also like to tell Edgar Allan Poe how his poems affected history. His works have inspired and influenced people to create a different type of horror and short story. His poem the Raven has gained world wide fame, and almost everyone has read it. He has affected Science Fiction with his stories, and is known as the father of modern Detective stories. He is also known as one of the first literary critics and theoreticians. If I were him, I would be proud of myself of creating such masterpieces to last through the ages.

I would love to meet Edgar Allan Poe, not only because he's affected me greatly, but because of how influential he's been to the rest of the world. I would love to share with him the stories and love notes people have wrote about him, even show him the art people have drawn of the characters he's portrayed in his poems. I'm sure this would delight him a great deal. He has affected me a great deal, artistically, poetically, and in my view on life. I hope you enjoyed my essay.

8th Grade, 4th Place Winner - JK Rowling

Another great essay about JK Rowling. Nice job Chelsie! Keep writing, you do have a talent! Kylie

Chelsie C
Dixon Middle School
Eighth Grade

If I Could Meet Anyone, It Would Be…

If I could meet anyone in the world, from any country, during any time period, it would be Joanne Rowling. I want to meet Ms. Rowling because she is the world famous author who wrote the famous series of books called "Harry Potter". Her pen name is JK Rowling. Her publishers demanded that she used initials for the first part of her name because they feared that boys wouldn’t read her book because she’s a girl. She didn’t have a middle name so she chose to use the K from her grandmother’s name. If I could meet her, then the meeting place I would choose would be the Universal Studio’s Universal Orlando Resort in Florida. There are many questions that I would want to ask her, but the first one I would ask would probably be “Do you have any secrets that have helped you write such an incredible book?” I would want to ask this question because I hope to someday be a great author and she has influenced me greatly in this desire. JK Rowling and her books have changed my life quite a bit.

I would want Joanne Rowling to feel comfortable so I would insist that we meet at the Universal Orlando Resort in Florida. That place has a whole entire amusement park based off of her famous series. In this amusement park, they have rides, shops such as Zonko’s, a wizard’s prank shop, Ollivanders, a wand shop, Honeydukes, a shop filled with sweets, Filchs Emporium of Confiscated Goods, a store filled with clothing, toys and other things from the book, Dervish and Banges, a store filled with magical supplies and wizarding equipment, and a restaurant called the Three Broomsticks. All of these places are based on places in Joanne Rowling’s series. The restaurant would probably be the best place for us to talk. In JK Rowling’s series, she often had her characters have important conversations there. The restaurant even created a drink called Butterbeer based off of the Butterbeer in Joanne Rowling’s book. She has approved of it herself. She created this place. It came from her own imagination, so I’m pretty sure that she would be fairly comfortable there.

The first question I would ask Joanne Rowling is, “Do you have any secrets that have helped you write such an incredible book?” I would ask this question because I hope to be a published author someday. I don’t know if it’s possible for me to be nearly as good as JK Rowling, but I can try. An author can always learn more, whether it’s tips, information, or anything else. Everything can help an author write their books, and I’m sure that the best author would have the best tips. That’s why I would ask her that question. Other questions that I would ask would mostly, if not all be about things that would help me improve my book. They would be things like, “Are there tricks that have helped you come up with the things in your book such as names of places and people?” or “What are the things you feel are the most important to know and remember when writing a book.” There are so many questions that I would want to ask JK Rowling.

I would like Joanne Rowling to know how their life, or how one of their decisions or how one of their posterity changed history. I can’t imagine how many lives she’s changed. I don’t know how many authors decided to become authors because of her. I don’t know how many people have dreams to become authors because of her. I am one of the people who have a dream to become an author because of her. In fifth grade, I was writing a biography about JK Rowling when I came across her words on how she came up with her idea for her incredible, world famous series. She said, “It was after a weekend's flat-hunting, when I was traveling back to London on my own on a crowded train, that the idea for Harry Potter simply fell into my head. To my immense frustration, I didn't have a functioning pen with me, and I was too shy to ask anybody if I could borrow one. I think, now, that this was probably a good thing, because I simply sat and thought, for four (delayed train) hours, and all the details bubbled up in my brain. I think that perhaps if I had had to slow down the ideas so that I could capture them on paper I might have stifled some of them (although sometimes I do wonder, idly, how much of what I imagined on that journey I had forgotten by the time I actually got my hands on a pen).” She also talked about games that she played as a child that she used in her books. When I read this, the idea that I might be able to write a book about my childhood games “simply fell into my head.” I hadn’t written any of it down, but I had all of the details I came up with from years of only playing that game imprinted in my head. I doubt that I would be writing my own books and even be the person that I am if it hadn’t been for Joanne Rowling.

JK Rowling has changed my life so deeply in such a good way. She is the person I would choose to meet, out of all of the people in the world, from any time period if I could meet anyone. She has changed the world and made it a better place. If it weren’t for her, then there wouldn’t be as many good books in this world for people to read. If it weren’t for her, then many of the children and people that she effected wouldn’t have imaginations nearly as good as the imaginations that they have. Reading a book, especially a good book strengthens the imagination. I am so grateful for Joanne Rowling and her amazing books. She has changed the world.

8th Grade, 3rd Place Toph Bei Fond

I love this essay. Hannah did something very, very difficult...she took a fictional character, puts her in our modern world, and explains very clearly and honestly why Toph is who she would most want to meet. Hannah this is a beautifully written, very emotional essay; you should be very proud of yourself. Stay true to yourself and keep writing, you truly have a gift.

Hannah O
Mount Nebo Jr. High School
Eighth grade

If I could meet anyone in the world, from any country, during any time period, it would be Toph Bei Fong. I want to meet Toph because she is brave, strong, smart, has a good sense of humor, and most importantly she does not care what anyone else thinks of her. She knows who she is and nothing will ever change her. Everyone can learn a lesson from Toph. We live in a world where no matter who you are, what you do, or what you look like there is always going to be someone who judges you. They are not right to judge you, but we cannot let someone else’s opinion change who we are.

Toph is an earth bender, which is someone who can move earth as a martial art. She became, at the very young age of 12, the earth bending teacher for the Avatar, (who is Aang, he is the peace keeper of the world and is learning all four elements). Toph also invented metal bending, (which is a part of earth bending but you bend metal) I admire Toph for her creativity. Toph used her new talent to escape a metal crate she was held in by two men who were hired by her parents to bring her home.

Toph has a complicated relationship with her parents, which is something that most kids can relate to. Her parents think that because she is blind she is fragile, but Toph knows she is not fragile. Her blindness taught her to use her earth bending as not only as a martial art, but as an extension of her senses, just like her teachers the badger moles. Toph and the badger moles understand each other because they are both blind. They use their bending to interact with the world. Earth bending became a part of who they are.

As Aang’s old friend king Bumi once told him, “The key to earth bending is neutral jing, where you do nothing.” Because Toph is blind she uses earth bending to feel the vibrations in the earth to see. Toph mastered neutral jing because she has to wait and listen before striking.

I would want Toph to be comfortable so I would insist that we meet in any canyon, in the Earth Kingdom. This way, Toph would be able to see because the earth that would surround us. This place would be important and comfortable because Toph would feel safe being able to see. I, for one, think that having her gift would be great, but also hard because if you were not on any earth then you would not be able to see.

The first question I would ask Toph is how do you handle people making fun of you about the way you look even though you cannot see them or the way you look? I want to be able to be strong, but it is difficult especially when other people put you down. In seventh grade I was made fun of for the way I looked, all I wanted then was to be blind like Toph, so I would not have to care about the way I looked because I would not know how I looked. I wanted to not care like Toph and make a sassy remark but when I did it still hurt inside. I want to know how she cannot care because when it happened to me, it still hurt.

I would like Toph to know how her life has changed history, she taught the Avatar earth bending. She helped to save the world, and stopped the fire benders from completely destroying the earth kingdom even though her own life was on the line. She helped to bring peace love and balance to the world and helped end the war that had been going on for over one-hundred years. She showed love, compassion, understanding, and joy everywhere she went, she became the greatest earth bender in the world with had dedication and love for her gift of earth bending.

Toph affects me because she has taught me to stand up for myself even when it is hard or is not the coolest thing to do. She has taught me not to be a push over, and when something is not right, that I can help change it for the better. I have learned that just because someone may not be the most beautiful person on the outside, does not mean that they are not the most beautiful person on the inside. I now really want to enforce the saying “do not judge a book by its cover,” because it is completely true. We do not really know a person by the way they look. We can truly know them when we take the time to understand them. No one can know what is going on in anyone’s mind no one is a mind reader. We need to be kind and friendly to everyone; I think that is something that a lot of people forget. People think that just because someone is different that they have the right to judge them but they do not, whether it is cool or not, it is not right. I know now to wait and listen before I do something because even though I think I might know what is going on, I usually do not. I have learned to be brave and strong in all I do. Toph is my hero, she inspires me so much in all that she does and even though I know she is not a real person, I want to be just like her and change the world to make it a better place with love and peace that can surround everyone. Toph has taught me so much, but the most important thing she has taught me is to be myself in every circumstance, because the best person I can be, is me.

8th Grade, 2nd Place - Anne Frank

I love, love, LOVE IT when winners and finalists come out of small towns...probably 'cause I'm from a small town myself. This touching essay about Anne Frank is well researched and beautifully written. Great Job Casey! Keep writing, you have a real talent. Kylie


Casey M
Vernal Junior High
8th

If I could meet anyone in the world, from any country, during any time period, it would be Anne Frank, author of A Diary of a Young Girl. I want to meet her because she was an incredibly brave, smart, deep and funny person. She went through such unimaginable experiences and dealt with them with such wonderful grace and maturity. She was forced to grow up quickly, growing from a girl to a woman in just two years, all the while writing down her witty observations and interesting insights in her diary to her imaginary friend named Kitty. I feel like I am Kitty, that Anne’s writing to me, that she knows another girl, somewhere, is listening. I like many of the same things she does; movies, art, music, nature, writing, learning. I feel the same way she does about a lot of things too, from understanding myself and discerning my strengths to knowing optimism is the best way to go. Although I don’t live in a moldy attic behind a Dutch store and I don’t know anything about the atrocities of war and prejudice firsthand, I do know what it’s like to grow and learn and think and dream and hope. That is why I would like to meet Anne Frank.

I would want Anne to feel comfortable so I would insist that we meet at a park in Amsterdam called Vondelpark in high summer. We could go to Hollywood or the Louvre but I think she would like to be in Vondelpark best because it’s located in her favorite place in the whole world: the city of Amsterdam. It’s is the closest park to the Secret Annex, and it’s creators wanted it to look like a big beautiful English garden. It’s great for walking, jogging, roller skating or just lying in the sun. There’s also a film museum, an open-air theater for free concerts and live performances, and within walking distance of museums housing famous Dutch masterpieces. Whatever Anne wanted to do, we could do. She loved being outside and experiencing nature, but most of all she purely loved the city of Amsterdam, and I think just being there in the sunshine and grass would make her happy. We could go anywhere and everywhere in Amsterdam, or just stay and enjoy the park, getting to know each other and having fun.

The first question I would ask Anne is “What do you think your life would have been like if you hadn’t been forced into hiding? Would you have been the same person?” I would ask that specific question because if she hadn’t gone through that extreme ordeal, would she have still grown up the same way or learned the same things? I don’t think she would have, but I would have liked to hear how she thought she may have changed. In the beginning of her adolescence she wanted to be a glamorous movie star in Hollywood, enjoying the good life with loads of boyfriends and money. By the end of her diary her plans had changed: she wanted to be a writer, to tell the world about her experiences and hopefully changing it for good. I would like to hear her thoughts about making important choices such as deciding what to do in life and how she came to those conclusions. Mostly I feel after reading the things she writes in her diary that she’s an extremely wise person that could help me appreciate what I have and help me to learn more to make the future better.

I would like Anne to know how her life and her decision to keep a diary during her confinement changed history. She has affected the world in the way she describes the harshness of prejudice and intolerance, painting a picture of truth and unfairness that she and millions of others experienced. I want her to know that Anne Frank, a thirteen year old girl, was speaking the words of masses of people explaining in clear, understandable language the unjustness of it all. But the message she wrote was not of revenge or anger against her oppressors, but of optimism and peace. She hoped people would see that, no matter what, there can still be good in the world, still be love, peace and happiness. She showed the world an attitude we should all live by.

She said in her diary that she wanted to live after she died and she has, through the publishing of her diary, but also in the hearts and minds of people who read it and understand where she’s coming from. She taught me that it’s okay to not to feel understood, that being young is part of the process to becoming a person. She’s inspired me to be happy and to count my blessings every day. She also has stirred me to dream and make goals without any limits to the impossible because she hoped and dreamed, even if she wasn’t sure if there was a tomorrow to fulfill those dreams.
I feel like we are very similar, Anne and I, and Anne has helped me to see things in a new light. Her words ring true to me, almost as if she knew people would read her story and understand what she went through. Anne has inspired me to write more and to start a journal; both for posterity and to show myself how I’ve grown. I’m thankful she wrote a diary and I’m grateful for the miracles that came about so it could be published. Anne Frank is truly one of my heroes and if I could meet her, I would thank her for everything she’s done for me and others like me. I want her to know that what she worked and hoped for do live on, long beyond her death.

8th Grade Winner - Al Capone

Creepy, dark, intense, however very, very well researched and very, very well written. Awesome job Chayeh, you absolutely deserve $100 for your work. Keep writing, you have a great talent.

Chayeh P
Dixon Middle School.
Eighth Grade.

If I Could Meet Anyone, It Would Be…

If I could meet anyone in the world, from any country or time period, it would the infamous mob boss Al Capone. I want to meet Mr. Capone because of his reign of crime on the entire world, and because I have an interest in the minds of the criminally insane and plan on making it a career someday. I believe that he has such an influence on the mobs and gangs today because of what did and believed in, so being able to meet him would be a very big and educating opportunity. There would be many questions I would want to ask him, things I would tell him and things I would record if I was able to finally meet him. His impact on the crime world and also the well-known Italian mob is huge, and dreaming of being a criminal psychiatrist, meeting Mr. Al Capone would be a very opportune moment to look further into the mind of one of the most criminal men of all history, perhaps find one common factor between different crime lords to why they do what they do.

I would want Al Capone to feel as comfortable as ever, so I would want to meet him at his Florida home near Miami where he returned after being held in a prison institution in 1939. Personally, it would be comfortable for him because that is where he lived the remaining years of his life after serving seven years in there very harsh environment of the Atlanta Prison Alcatraz. It would the best for him, because he lived there with his wife for eight years before he passed away of a stroke and pneumonia. Perhaps if he was comfortable enough I would be able to ask the questions I wanted without any distractions.

Certainly, I would not meet him in Alcatraz because of the mental stress put on him being institutionalized. Not only did he leave with paresis (a disease derived from Syphilis); which lead him to live with the mentality of a 12-year-old, but Alcatraz was known for being strictly disciplinary, which most likely lead to the stress. The home would be very friendly and nostalgic for him, so that would be the ideal place to meet him if I were to meet him.

The first question I would ask Mr. Capone is: “Why did you do the things you did?” I would ask this question because it would let me know a lot more about his life rather than searching up the information in encyclopedias and media from the internet. This question would be very informative coming from him because the things said about him could be misunderstood and taken differently by others because of opinion. Not only could this let us know the way he rationalized it, but it could also give us more insight on why usual mobsters kill and do the things they do. There could be similarities between his gang and the gangs of today. Because I am fascinated with the criminal mind, this could give me great experience and it would also let me know how some criminals make the things they do okay.

It is a very intriguing, the mind of the criminally insane. The way some of them think and rationalize the crimes the commit is very interesting, and seeing Al Capone try to persuade into thinking what he did was right might let me understand the things some criminals do. As I said earlier, there are many other questions I would ask him such as ‘Why would you risk being executed at Alcatraz for the people you’ve killed?’ and ‘Why would you put your family’s life in danger, especially your wife Mae?’ There are a lot of things I would ask him, just like I said in the previous paragraphs.

I would like him to know that his life has affected me greatly because it has boosted me to look more into criminal insanity cases than just domestic and simple mental instability. He has affected my country in a way that no one can really describe in a concise way. Crime rates weren’t exactly sprung by him, but I believe the mob world has grown since Al Capone’s crime spree in the early years of America. He is a big inspiration to me despite his wicked motivations of the things he did such as the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre. No matter the intimidation inflicted upon me by his wide range of body-guards, gang members, and him added onto it, I would be elated to meet with him and see how he reacted with the changes of society since his life in the early 1920s.

Al Capone was originally the mobster I wanted to research in my elementary days, he pushed me to think that psychiatry was my trail to my future, but I never took the path because I was only a child. Crime has always been an interest of mine, but the minds behind it all always have got me researching the things that have happened in said cases. Mr. Capone was a huge inspiration to many king pin’s and crime lords that have gangs started today, I’m convinced. Because of the turn of style of the gangs doesn’t mean the violence and rivalry is different in any other way. I know that Mr. Capone was a ruthless, wanted man. But behind all his hostility towards gangs in the world then, there was a boy who hadn’t lived in society normally since he dropped out of sixth grade and turned the streets at such a young age. In my opinion his power-hungriness drove him to do everything he did, like an addictive drug it was not to be stopped or it would go somewhere that America would regret more than they did.
I believe meeting this man would change everything, my understanding, the world’s understanding if I shared with them his opinions and thoughts, and the way his story was portrayed. His reign of crime locally and not only nationally was huge and it certainly inspires me in ways indescribable. I would love to meet the well-known Italian mob-king Al Capone; if I could have been alive to meet him I would have so much experience.

7th Grade Honorable Mention Thomas Monson

I am fortunate enough to get to read hundreds and hundreds of essays from students across Utah. I can tell when students are writing the essay for a grade, or because their teacher "made them write it". When pulling out the final winners, we are looking not only for well-written and well-researched essays, we are also looking for essays that come from the heart. Brian's essay about Thomas Monson is a great example of a well-written essay that the author truly believes in. Great job Brian!

Brian C
Diamond Fork Junior High
7th Grade

If I could meet anyone in the world, from any country, during any time period, it would be Thomas Monson, prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I want to meet Thomas Monson because he is like a modern-day superhero! He is the prophet of the church, which I belong. He was chosen by God to teach us what we need to do and how to find answers. I believe inthese teachings and because of these teachings I want to meet this great man. He is a prophet of God and all the prophets of God have been able to do amazing things: they have healed the sick and the blind. They have also taught the word of Christ in every country and every language. They continually teach that we should have a relationship with God through reading the scriptures and praying to Him. One day at school, I was having a tough time. However, I remember what I had been taught, and I prayed to God. By the end of that day, everything had turned out all right. Amazing things have happened to me when I pray to Heavenly Father and when I read His word. Prophets also teach that we need to pay our tithing. Paying tithing means giving ten percent of your earnings to the Church for the construction of other church buildings and glorious temples. There was a time I paid my tithing instead of purchasing something I wanted. When I paid my tithing, the toy I had wanted went down in price so I was able to buy it. As soon as I meet Thomas Monson I will shake his hand and feel the strength of the Holy Ghost upon me. Then I would ask him to share his testimony on the Church of Christ as well as some of the adventures he had while teaching the gospel. I want to listen to him. I want to feel the things he says rest in my heart. I wonder what blessings might come upon me from the experience and what I will experience in the days following our meeting. I am sure I would remember what he said forever. I would ponder his words in times of need. The words would help me know everything will eventually turn out all right.

I would want Thomas Monson to feel comfortable so I would insist that we meet at the temple. This place would be important to Thomas Monson because the temple is the House of God. In this place, Thomas Monson can see and talk with God. This would be the perfect place to meet Thomas Monson because it would almost be like standing in the presence of Heavenly Father. As the prophet, Thomas S. Monson connects us to God because he is his mouthpiece. If I were privileged enough to talk with President Monson in the temple, I think I would always be able to remember that special feeling in my heart. The temple of God would be the most amazing place on earth, and to meet the prophet of the LDS Church inside of it would be indescribable! I would always ponder how peaceful it felt being in the temple, and in addition to that, speaking with the prophet of God's Church! I would remember that experience in my heart forever! And even after forever I would remember! I would go back to the temple every chance I had to ponder the things he said to me. I would always look at the temple and remember with it, looking at the prophet Thomas S. Monson. I would hear the birds chirp and be able to remember the soft and love filled voice of this great man. I would feel the marble walls of the temple and remember shaking President Monson's hand, sensing the power of Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, inside him. I would remember him speaking in the temple forever because of how glorious I felt. I would always ponder his words when in the temple. I would remember the things he felt for the spreading of the gospel and for the people of the Church. I could always recall and gain comfort from the things he taught and the love he showed.

The first question I would ask Thomas Monson is,” How do you feel teaching others about the gospel?” I would ask him this because I sometimes feel awkward when I relate things or try and teach others about the word of God. I also want to know how President Monson feels about the people around him. How is he able to quickly relate things to the gospel? I would also ask him what methods he uses to convert people. I want to know how I could help others unto Christ more easily than I would normally do. I would ask him these questions because I want to comfort and assist some of my friends who are different, lonely, and feel like no one is on their side. I know that when people come unto Christ, why are able to feel his love, no matter what their life situation might be. I would ask for help and use his advice myself. However, I would also be able to relate his advice to the people that I know. I would love to hear president Monson's wisdom. I could record his words and bring them up when I am sad or in need. I could use these words of wisdom with my friends to help them feel more comfortable with themselves. I am sure that I would be able to use these words to help people in need, especially to those who are sad and those who are hurt. Lastly, I would ask Thomas S. Monson how to make people feel more comfortable with the gospel. It is deeply important to me to have people understand my beliefs and the lifestyle I have.

I would like Thomas S. Monson to know how their life, or how one of their decisions or how one of their posterity changed history. I would like him to know how much of an influence he is on me, how he encourages me to change and how he inspires me to be a better person. With his love and christian teachings, I know I can do it. I will not just try, but I will become better by the minute. I will do my best to help my friends feel all the good feelings they ever wanted to experience. I will make them feel great with the words President Monson shares with me. I will make people think their highest thoughts around me. I will encourage people around me to want to be better. I will help them to be happier with the things Thomas Monson, the prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints said. I will show them how to be happier with the word of the gospel. I will live this way because I know it is what Thomas S. Monson would do. I want him to know how powerful his influence is to the people of the world. There are people who continue living through trials and do all they can for others, simply relying on what Heavenly Father can do for them. I am going to be one of those people because I know the things president Monson teaches are true. I will do whatever I can to do serve just because that is what he would want me to do. Thomas S. Monson and all the other prophets of the LDS Church have, perhaps, the greatest effect on the world. I would want Thomas S. Monson to know all of the people of the LDS church trust in his teachings and follow them faithfully. That, I am sure, will make him proud of us. I can use this desire to please the prophet and my heavenly father to be happy, to say kind things, and to help people. I would always think, “What would I do if Thomas S. Monson were standing right next to me? Would he be proud?” I will always have that thought on my mind because of the influence he has on me. I love Thomas S. Monson and these are the reasons I want to meet him more than anyone else on earth.

7th Grade Honorable Mention - Walt Disney

The most surprising thing about the 2011 Kylie Klein Writing Competition? The sheer number of students who wanted to meet Walt Disney! Easily 25% of the essay's I received were about Walt Disney! I am still shocked! This essay is the best of the best. Great job Sarah.

Sarah W
West Point Jr. High
7th Grade

Walt Disney: A Truly Magical Man

If I could meet anyone in the world, from any country, during any time period, it would be Walter Elias Disney. I want to meet Walt Disney because has made a great impact on society, not only in his day, but in today’s society. He was always optimistic and he never gave up, even when he was told that he would never make it. Walt will forever be known for his amazing imagination and his ability to be so positive and creative. I would want to meet Walter Disney not only because he was optimistic, but he certainly created a way for others to enjoy a magical place and looked for a way to make the future look brighter for others. Walt Disney loved history and the world around him. He had a wonderful imagination and he would never let anyone change that. He was very passionate about what he did. I think it would be cool to meet someone that loves their job as much as he did. He was not just an artist or entertainer. He was someone who really loved the world and history, and put his talents together to create a place that would greatly influenced the world even to this day.

I would want Walt Disney to feel comfortable so I would insist that we meet at Disneyland. Disneyland is important to Walt Disney because he created this theme park to be one of the first places to go with your family and to just have a blast. Disneyland and Disneyworld are magical places to visit. They are full of fantastic, whimsical characters and rides that Walt created. It is known to be called “The happiest place on earth!” It would be neat to be able to meet him in the place that he created and to be able to talk to him and see what his inspiration was behind all his amazing creations, such as Mickey Mouse and all of his other whimsical creatures. I would want to meet at the place he created and loved. He has made millions and millions of American dreams come true at Disneyland and Disneyworld. It is such a wonderful place to be!

The first question I would ask Walter Disney is what his inspiration was behind all his creations such as Mickey Mouse and Disney World. I would ask this question because all his creations were and still are very creative and magical. They made many people in the world happy and optimistic because of the imagination and creativity behind them. I would want to know if anyone in his life inspired him and how he felt about the impact he has had on society. The second question I would ask is what his childhood and family was like.

I would like Walt Disney to know how his life, or one of his decisions, or how one of his posterity changed history. Walt Disney has impacted many lives of not only the community but the whole world. Many of his decisions and creations have influenced millions of people to have a dream and then share that dream with others. The way Walt Disney has lived his life has greatly inspired many people around the world, including me. He is inspiring to me because he has such a great imagination. Even though he was told “no” in his career, he never gave up and always kept doing what he loved to do, which was to make people smile by using his imagination.

He not only had a love for creating and sketching characters, he was inspirational because he connected history with technology to create a better future. He was innovational and inspirational. His decision to create Disney World has greatly impacted many peoples’ lives. It has created so many family memories around the world. Walt Disney captures the fun and really brings out the kid in everyone! Family and community was a great part in Walt’s life. He represented imagination, optimism, creativity, and will forever be remembered for all the great and wonderful things he accomplished. He was a wonderful man that greatly influenced society, and it would be a privilege to be able to meet Walter Elias Disney.

7th Grade Honorable Mention - Neal Peart

I love this essay, and I think it's cool that a 7th grader wants to meet the drummer of RUSH! Nicely written, great research, a fabulous essay. Kylie

Bryetan
Indian Hills Middle School
Seventh Grade

If I Could Meet Neil Pert

If I could meet anyone in the world, from any country, during any time period, it would be Neil Peart. I want to meet Neil Peart, because he is the legendary drummer for the rock band Rush. He is known as one of the best drummers in the world. Not only is he a drummer, but he is also a lyricist and writer. I would like to meet him, because I think he is the greatest drummer, and I want to be a great drummer, too. I could learn a lot from Neil Peart.

I would want Neil Peart to feel comfortable, so I would insist that we meet at a recording studio. Neil Peart has spent countless hours in a studio recording his music. This would be a great place for him to show me his work. Neil and I could also have a lot of fun in the music studio. He could show me what it’s like to record a track, and we could also record the two of us having a drum session. I would also like it if Neil Peart could teach me a few things in the studio. It would be great if he could tell me a few ways to improve my drumming. I think he would feel very comfortable doing all of these things in the recording studio.

The first question I would ask Neil Peart is, “how did you learn to play the drums?” I would ask this question, because I want to know if he was self-taught or if he had professional lessons. I take lessons from a professional, so I am curious how Neil Peart started learning. I would learn about the training he had to do to become so successful. I would get his advice about how to improve my drum skills; like how much to practice, what to practice, and what kind of equipment is best. I am sure Neil Peart would have great advice, and with his help, I know my drumming skills would improve.

I would also like to ask Neil Peart how he became a writer. He has written books and music lyrics. I would like to know how he became so talented. I think writing a book is a lot different than playing the drums, and I would like to know if it was hard or easy for him to do. Writing music lyrics seems to go with playing the drums, but I’m not sure if I could do it. I know Neil Peart could give me some tips, so I could start writing my own music lyrics.

I would like Neil Peart to know how his drumming has influenced my life. His endurance, imagination and drumming success has inspired me to work harder by practicing more often. When I don’t feel like practicing, I think of Neil Peart, and he inspires me to work harder. He didn’t make it big right away, he had to struggle, and that gives me hope and patience. It tells me not to give up and to keep on trying. I also like that he likes several music styles, and that makes me want to learn about other music styles, too. I usually only want to play rock music, but because of Neil Peart, I want to attempt other styles.

Neil Peart has had a long career as the drummer for Rush. In addition to being an incredible drummer, he is also a lyricist, writer, and a drum kit creator. He makes me want to be a better drummer, and keep practicing. He makes me think I can do many things, as long as I practice. He also has made me curious about other styles of drumming and music. He has inspired me to be better, and take my drumming more seriously. Because of these reasons, I would love to meet and learn all I can from Neil Peart.

7th Grade, 5th Place - Shirley Temple

Waiting for Natalie to forward essay.

7th Grade, 4th Place Florence Nightingale

Shortly after receiving Tiffanie's essay, I was visiting the crypt at St. Pauls Cathedral in London, where there is a beautiful memorial to Florence Nightingale. As I pondered the memorial, I thought back to Tiffanie's well-research and written and essay, and I hoped Tiffanie would one day get to visit her idol's home country. Follow your dreams Tiffanie, and see where they take you. Be true to yourself and don't ever, ever let anyone tell you that you "can't". Kylie

Tiffanie
Snowcrest Jr. High
Grade 7

“Lady With The Lamp”

If I could meet anyone in the world, from any country, during any time period, it would be Florence Nightingale. I would like to meet this women because she was caring enough to care for injured solders, even though she didn’t have to. She was also a pioneer for the nursing profession.

Florence was born into a rich family on May 12, 1820, in Florence, Italy. Her parents named her after the town she was born in. Her parents were William Nightingale and Frances Nightingale. Florence believed that God had called her to become a nurse. Her mother and her sister were very frustrated with Florence’s decision to become a nurse. Florence had rebelled against what was expected of a women, which was to become a wife and a mother.

Florence had to stand up for herself in order to educate herself. This must have been hard for her, because her family was not happy with her. I look up to Florence because she had to have courage to stand up for what she believed in and thought was important. I admire that she had that strength to take charge of her own decisions!

I would want Florence to feel comfortable so I would insist that we meet at one of the hospitals that she worked or learned at. One of the places she actually managed to work at some private nursing was a German school and hospital, called Kaiserworth. Florence had gotten permission from her parents to spend some time at Keiserworth, a training school and hospital for nurses and female teachers. I think she would feel comfortable here because she had spent a couple of months at Keiserworth, so Florence would already be familiar with the place we were to meet.

The first question I would want to ask Florence is how she found the courage to help all the people she did. Like I said before, Florence was a women and it was not likely that you would find many women nurses. Florence became nicked named “The Lady With a Lamp”, She did this by caring for all of her patients enough to go out in the middle of the night to check each and every one of them. Most all of the other doctors didn’t care enough to do that. By the beginning of the 20th century They established that she had reduce the death rate from 42% all the way down to 2%.

“Florence was it hard hearing all of the criticism from every body that you weren’t good enough, that you were just a women.” I would say. I bet that Florence would answer saying something like, “Tiffanie That’s just it, I am just a women, a women that is much more than everybody thinks.”

I would like Florence Nightingale to know how her life, or how one of her decisions changed history. Learning about Florence Nightingale’s life has influenced me to stand up for what I believe in and everything that is important to my life. All of he life se was put down by almost every body. Women were supposed to stay home and become mothers, wife’s and raise families. Those are all important for women to do but women are much more than that.

In school we are learning about uncommon jobs, like for a women to become a mechanic or a man being a hairstylist. I believe anything is possible and anything you believe can be possible, or in other words nothing is impossible! All of these things I have learned from Florence Nightingale and I hope her life inspires you as much as mine!

7th Grade, 3rd Place - JK Rowling

Another AWESOME essay from my 2010 6th Grade Winner, Cari! I received a lot of essays about JK Rowling, but this essay rose straight to the top. Cari's is well researched, well written and from the heart. Keep up the good work Cari, I look forward to your essay next year! Kylie

Cari P
Cedar Ridge Middle School
7th Grade


If I Could Meet Anyone, It Would Be…

If I could meet anyone in the world, from any country, during any time period, it would be J.K. Rowling. An imaginative genius, Ms. Rowling is full to the brim with creativity, and her books emanate with a blend of knowledge, mythology, and magic. Anyone who gives her books a chance is drawn into the mythical humor of the story.

I want to meet J. K. Rowling because I love how she created stimulating, thought-provoking stories that generated a reading pandemic, causing Harry Potter books to be a common sight the world over. Tall or short, wise or naïve, everyone still reads Harry Potter.

It is very rare when someone can create a story that captures audiences of all ages. Even those who were not fond of reading became bookworms under the influence of Ms. Rowling’s stories. That places Jo, as she likes to be called, in a position of remarkable power. Thankfully she accepts it quietly and doesn’t seek to hold sway over the choices of her adoring fans. In fact, she uses this power to help those in need. Throughout the course of her writing career, she has promoted and donated to many charities such as One Parent Families and Multiple Sclerosis Society of Great Britain. One charity accorded her a special honor: she has donated so much to The Children’s High Level Group that they changed its name to Lumos, for one of the spells in her book that brings a small beam of light. There are many people who would use such a vast amount of power very differently than she uses it.

I would want Jo to feel comfortable so I would insist that we meet at her home in Aberfeldy, Scotland. “There’s no place like home,” is there? The scenic views and the quiet peace of the quaint Scottish town would be perfect for a talk without being disturbed. Also, the breathtaking landscape would give many conversation starters, should there be an awkward silence.

The first question I would ask Ms. Rowling is, “Are you writing any more books?” I would ask her this because I want to read more of her writing. Almost since I could hold a conversation, my siblings were telling me about Harry Potter. Every time a new book would come out in the series, my oldest sister would go to a dress-up Harry Potter party and leave me wondering why she loved Harry Potter so much.

By the time I was in third grade I had found the answer to my question and I, too, felt a strange longing for the upcoming books. Completely absorbed, I whizzed (no pun intended) through the books as though possessed. My mom would have to ground me from the novels, because I would spend hours doing nothing but reading. Books became like a secret portal that would carry me away from the troubles of my life and let me experience other worlds. The longing I felt to visit places like England would be instantly quenched as I drank in the words. I was so addicted that I finished the third and the fourth Harry Potter books in the same week.

I would like Ms. Rowling to know how her life, or how one of her decisions or how one of her posterity changed history. Joanne has had a very good influence upon me personally, and upon millions of others. Every time I read her books, I am blown away by the fact that it seems so real. I feel like I could be there, solving the problems and pointing out the obvious answers to the solutions they can’t solve. I would tell her that I am inspired by her capacity to make something so real, that you are no longer sure if reality is all there is. Thrills rush through me when I think about the influence of her books. Lonely children have found courage by reading her heartwarming story of good triumphing over evil and a boy finally finding peace with the horrible burdens he has been forced to bear all of his life.

Jo has created a world that has become almost like a reality. Almost any person you ask, biased against Harry Potter or not, knows what Hogwarts is. Children all over the world love to believe that Harry Potter could be real and spend hours playing imaginative Harry Potter games in which they get to save the world and have magical powers. Harry Potter has proved to be quite an innovative market. Big name stores like Wal-Mart and Boarders sell Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans, Harry Potter Books, and almost any Harry Potter novelty you can think of. Through her talents, TV-watching couch potatoes have become bookworms, people who are realistic have learned how to be dreamers, and those in need have benefitted through her philanthropic donations to charity.

At the conclusion of the interview, I would thank her for making such a positive influence on the world and for giving us Harry Potter. Thank you, J. K. Rowling.

7th Grade, 2nd Place - Julia Childs

Great Job Tiffany! This is a well thought out, well researched and very well written essay. All of the judges absolutely loved it! It is obvious you truly do admire Julia Childs. Keep cooking...and keep writing, both are talents you certainly seem to excel in! Kylie

Tiffany O.
Spring Creek Middle School
7th grade

If I could meet anyone in the world, from any country, during any time period, it would be Julia Childs. Julia Childs is a great role model and a lot like me. Julia was always happy, positive, and fearless, and of course loved to cook. Let me tell you why I think Julia Child represented these characteristics.

One: before she married Paul she was known as a very spontaneous, friendly party-girl; people adored her. Two: whenever Julia made a mistake on her show (The French Chef), she would simply put it back together. For instance, if she flipped an omelet and it fell apart, she would simply say, “Since you are in the kitchen, you can always put it back together, who is to see.” This is showing Julia Childs' positive attitude. Three: Julia Childs was fearless. During the war she got restless and decided to leave her comfortable home in California and join the WASP (Women Air Force Service Pilots). This was a program where women pilots scanned the air for enemy planes. Also, I don’t know about you, but anyone who can pierce a lobster between the eyes with a knife and not get sick or woozy is pretty fearless to me. Four: I would love to meet Julia Childs because she is a real chef, and I would enjoy learning from her. Not many people know this, but Julia was not always a chef. She spent most of her time avoiding cooking. To her it was a chore that was hard to master, but it was food that brought her and her husband together. They both shared the love of good cuisine.

Years into their marriage Paul and Julia moved to France. Julia was unable to have children and once again became antsy, so she started looking for a career. She thought it was about time she learned to cook, so she went to a cooking school called the "Cordon Bleu," where her whole life changed. Julia Childs took flight, and started to write her a cookbook with her two friends. “This is my advice to people, learn to cook, try new recipes, learn from your mistakes, be fearless and above all have fun!” said Julia Childs. Wouldn’t you want Julia Childs in your home? She could teach me so many things.

I would want Julia Childs to feel comfortable, so I would insist we meet at my house where I would invite her to come into the kitchen. I am sure Julia and I both share the love of the kitchen; it is a place where we can think, create, teach and say things out loud one might not otherwise say in front of others. You can create things in the kitchen that either turn out great or are a complete failure. But either way who’s to see your mistakes? The kitchen is not only a place to teach, but it is a place I learn. I learn coping skills, like when things don’t always go the way I want, I learn to manage. The kitchen is also a place to share your talents with others when you are done cooking, everyone loves to eat! This is why I think Julia Childs would feel most comfortable in the kitchen at my house.

Julia Childs would most likely be more comfortable if my kitchen were more like Julia’. I learned that Julia Child’s kitchen was designed by Paul to make it easy for Julia to have fun, stay organized and not be stressed out by the mess after cooking. The kitchen walls were a cream color and the cupboards were painted a greenish blue, easy to clean. On the right side of the room, one of the largest walls, there are many holes with hooks; each hook has a shape of a pot or pan traced around it so she knew where everything was. This was a great place for Julia to hang her kitchenware. There was also a large metal sink split into two sections, a white cutting board, an oven that was attached to a wall, and a circulator wooden table in the middle of the room with a tablecloth on top of the table for either meals or extra counter space. Julia donated her kitchen to the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, DC.

The first question I would ask Julia Childs is maybe something silly like, “What is your favorite thing to cook?” “What’s it like to be so tall?” Or, "what’s your middle name?” Maybe I would ask sophisticated questions such as, “How did the war affect your life?” “Why is it that you started out hating cooking?” “Did you ever have any other interests other than just cooking?” I may even ask questions about cooking. “How is it possible for tapioca pearls to create enough thickener for a pudding?” “What is the best recipe for French bread?” “What is yeast made out of?” “And how does it make bread rise.” But the first question I would ask would be, “What does it feel like when you have reached your goals and found success?”

I would like Julia to know how she changed American cooking and how she affected my life. Julia Childs was an amazing woman in many ways; she did things not just because she had to but because she enjoyed it! She loved life very much; Julia Childs shared her joy of life with others! Before Julia Childs came around with this amazingly yummy food, American food was becoming flash-frozen, pre-packaged, with one hundred ingredients that you can’t read, garbage! I call this the dark ages of American cuisine. Julia Childs accepted this remarkably hard challenge of changing food. Julia started by cooking a simple omelet for one of her books on a TV show called the WBYC. The people who lived in Boston loved it and wanted her back! Julia started her new show called “The French Chef.” On her show it was the real deal! Julia worked with huge chunks of fish, different types of chickens, fresh lobster, beautiful vegetables, and at the time rare onions. Americans loved her and her cooking. Julia set up these difficult recipe’s for home cooks so they could not fail. When “The French Chef” was over, she visited now-famous chefs in the area and interviewed them. Julia Childs brought back to life the joys of cooking.

Julia Childs affected my life because my family and I are extremely into cooking with fresh ingredients. Healthy comfort food is always on the table at night to warm our bellies and make us forget about the busy day behind us. All of my dreams are based on cooking. I am saving my money for college, practicing my skills on different types of ingredients, and even writing my own cook book. Julia Childs taught me to strive for my dreams, think big, to be fearless, to laugh always, to be able to cope with things when they go wrong, to be creative, to share what you love with others, and to never just sit and let life make all the decisions for you. But most of all she taught me to love cooking!

7th Grade Winner - George Washington

Great job Tanner! This was a well-researched, well thought out essay, and well worth the $100 prize! Although I have heard George Washinton was really intimidating, I'd like to meet him too. Kylie

Tanner H
WVMS 7TH

George Washington, A True Hero

If I could meet anyone in the world from any country in any time period, George Washington, the father of our country, is the person I would most want to meet. He led our country to victory in the Revolutionary War and he asked for no pay. He served as the first president of the United States and set the standard for all the rest of the presidents. He left his beloved plantation behind for many years to serve his country.

He was brave, courteous, and kind. He even wrote some standards about what a well-mannered gentleman should do. For example, one of his rules was “show not yourself glad at the misfortune of another though he were your enemy.” Another one is “Be not hasty to believe flying reports to the disparagement of any.” These show that he had great respect for others. One of my favorite of his rules is “When a man does all he can, though it succeed not well, blame not him that did it.”

He also treated his slaves with respect and kindness (unlike some people at that time). He arranged for his slaves to be freed when he died. He was a great American, and I look up to him. He was smart and tactical and he was determined. On Christmas day he led his troops to attack the Hessians (German troops hired by the British to fight for them). They crossed icy rivers and treacherous, snow covered land. Some of his troops didn’t even have shoes and had to wrap their feet with cloth. Yet George Washington and his troops pressed forward and completely took them by surprise. Some of the Hessians didn’t even have their pants on. He conquered them quickly and few escaped. He led our country to victory during the last battle of the Revolutionary War, the Battle of York Town. He got the French to help him with that battle.

George Washington was very smart. In fact, he became the first American president. He won with every vote. He was a true hero. He was well respected by almost everybody both in the Revolutionary War and as the first President of the United States. It would be great to meet George Washington.

I would want George Washington to feel comfortable so I would insist that we meet at Mount Vernon. It was his home and I am sure he would be most comfortable there. He always loved to go there. He used to farm on Mount Vernon. I think George Washington would like my choice. His mansion on Mount Vernon had twenty rooms and was 2 ½ stories tall. It was made of wood. That is a pretty impressive house especially for that day.

Mount Vernon got its name from his half-brother’s commander. He loved and respected his half-brother, Lawrence, who later died of tuberculosis. He tried to move to a warmer climate to improve his health, but he died anyway. Lawrence had a commander in the British army and his title was Admiral Edward Vernon. That is where Mount Vernon got its name.

The landscaping at Mount Vernon is also beautiful. The estate covers about 502 acres. It is covered by green lawn, flowers and trees. George Washington, himself, planted a majority of the trees. So he put lots of hard work and effort into his home and property and his farm.

The first thing I would ask George Washington would be political advice. In a few years I will be voting and I want to make the right choices. I am sure he would give good advice because he was the first president and he helped get this county get started. He knows and understands the constitution and the principles that our country was founded on. He knows why he fought so hard for these things. I am sure he would give me good advice because so many brave lives were lost in starting our government and the defense of our country. For this reason, I can’t afford to make a mistake in how I vote.

Another of my many questions would be what his policy would be on when we should go to war. Should we only go to war in the defense of our country? Should we help other countries or allies out? Should we help small countries who cannot defend themselves and are getting conquered? Should we help rebellions against a bad government, like the French helped us? Or should we do none of these, and do you have a different suggestion?

I would want like George Washington to know how his life changed the world. I would show him a map of the United States. This would show him what America has become because of what he started. I also think he would be interested in seeing Mount Rushmore where his face is carved in the rock along with other great presidents. I would also like to show him the Washington Monument to tell of the great respect and love that people have for him and for all that he has done for our country. I would like him to meet the current President of the United States so he could give President Obama some advice. I would like to show him that many of his policies are still in place, like a president serving only two terms. There is still a president’s cabinet, which he started.

Most of all, I would like to thank George Washington for all of the great service he gave to start our country. I think that sometimes we don’t realize what George Washington and our other forefathers sacrificed to start this great country where we can live without fear of the government or mistreatment by them. So when you think about hero, remember George Washington, a true hero.

6th Grade Honorable Mention - JK Rowling

I received a lot of essays about JK Rowling. This one rose to the top of the pile. Great Job Sarah! This was a great essay. I hope you continue to follow your dreams and continue to write, you certainly have the gift! Kylie

Sarah
Ecker Hill International Middle School
Sixth Grade

Her Spellbinding Story

This woman started out writing her bestselling series on napkins and later became the first billionaire writer. If I could meet anyone in the world, from any country, during any time period, it would be J.K. Rowling. I would like to meet her because she inspires me every day, as she was the creator of the Harry Potter series. Harry Potter is a seven book series about a young boy who discovers he is a wizard and enrolls in, and is accepted into, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, which is the best school around. During the series, Harry fights evil, grows up, makes friends, and finds love, all while going through the process of becoming a powerful wizard.

While writing the books, J.K. Rowling was also going through her own personal struggles as a single mom who was striving to pay her bills, and an author endeavoring to get her works published. J.K. Rowling had her manuscript turned down twelve times before it was finally published! “It took a year for my new agent, Christopher, to find a publisher. Lots of them turned it down. Then, finally, in August 1996, Christopher telephoned me and told me that Bloomsbury had made an offer. I could not quite believe my ears. ‘You mean it’s going to be published?’ I asked, rather stupidly. ‘It’s definitely going to be published.’ After I had hung up, I screamed and jumped into the air; Jessica, who was sitting in her high chair enjoying tea, looked thoroughly scared,” from jkrowling.com. Talk about persevering! I think that it would be an awe-inspiring experience to meet the person who is responsible for my favorite books (that I’ve read four times each), my favorite movies (all of which I own), and my favorite game to play with my Harry Potter-crazy friend, Beth, and my brother Alex. I would be honored to get the chance to meet one of my idols in person!

First of all, I would want J.K. Rowling to feel comfortable, so I would insist that we meet at Nicolson's Café. I know that this is a place where she would feel comfortable meeting at because it is the café that she would go to regularly to write the Harry Potter stories. J.K. Rowling decided to write there because she would not have to heat her house and could stay at Nicolson's Café for hours for the price of one espresso (wikipedia.com on Nicolson's Café). She was a single mom who was watching her money after all. I found it interesting that J.K. Rowling thought up the idea of Harry Potter on a train, even though she wrote most of the book in Nicolson's Café. I can picture me sitting at her favorite spot, looking out a window, waiting for her to arrive. It would be fascinating to see the place where she put in long hours to write this fantastic series. The part that I think is the most captivating about J.K. Rowling when she went to Nicolson’s Café was that she would write Harry Potter longhand — not on a computer; nothing technical. Pen and paper. Now that is something that I know I wouldn’t be able to do.

In addition, the first question I would ask J.K. Rowling is, “Are you planning on writing another book or series after Harry Potter?” I would ask her this because I enjoyed the Harry Potter series so much, and she is a superior writer. I love the way she develops the characters in the Harry Potter series, how she can make me laugh out loud one moment and cry the next, and the fact that she can make me envision something in my mind without getting too descriptive. I would be so disappointed if she didn’t compose another book. However, according to brainquote.com, J.K. Rowling says, “I will carry on writing, to be sure. But I don't know if I would want to publish again after Harry Potter.” This makes me woebegone because I think J.K. Rowling has so much talent in writing, and I think that a lot of people will be disappointed if she decides she’s finished. Neverthelsss, I have read from other sources that she is considering writing an eighth Harry Potter book. Even so, the story would not be about Harry, and she would not start writing it for quite a while. I would enjoy talking to her about the development and completion of the characters, and if she misses them. I think it would be fun to talk about which characters she liked to write about the best, and if she was satisfied with the way they turned out. `

Finally, I would like J.K. Rowling to know how her life changed history. Her books opened up the fantasy genre in young adult literature like no one before her. The Harry Potter series led the way for additional book series like Fablehaven, Inkheart, Eragon, and the Alchemyst, all of them published after Harry Potter. For people everywhere, young and old, Harry Potter got us reading and wanting to be writers. The seven book series appealed to such a large audience that over 400 million copies have been sold (as of 2008) and have been translated into over 67 different languages.

As for me, Harry Potter has inspired me to be creative and showed me the meaning of friendship. As a writer, J.K. Rowling has motivated me to consider taking some creative writing classes and I have often thought about a career in writing. J.K. Rowling has showed me just how imaginative I can be, and that the sky is the limit when it comes to my creativity. This is why I chose her — not a popular singer, not some famous movie star — Joanne Kathleen Rowling.

6th Grade Honorable Mention - Archimedes

This writing competition is difficult to judge, because many, many essays were very well researched and very well written. Spencer's essay on Archimedes must be included in the best of the best. Great Job Spencer, this is awesome. Kylie

Spencer
Ecker Hill
6th Grade

If I Could Meet Anyone...

If I could meet anyone in the world, from any country, during any time period, it would be Archimedes. I want to meet Archimedes because he is one of the greatest mathematicians of all time. Archimedes was also a physicist, engineer, inventor, and astronomer. He discovered and created many things in his lifetime. His discoveries were even more miraculous considering he lived in Ancient Greece.

I would want Archimedes to feel comfortable so I would insist we meet at Syracuse, Sicily. It is important we meet here because when he was alive people didn’t know about the new world. I wouldn’t want to overwhelm him with a lot of new sights. Archimedes lived in Syracuse for most his life. If we met there he might even be able to find some buried historical sites. I could also ease Archimedes into modern life. I wouldn’t want to take Archimedes to his house though, he was killed there by a Roman soldier who didn’t know who he was.

I would then show him modern day cars and odometers. He invented the first odometer so he would be fascinated by modern day ones. I would then show him images of outer space on the internet so he could see what astronomers now days do, him being an astronomer and all.

The first question I would ask Archimedes is, if there was anything he’d invented or discovered that was never recorded. I would ask that question because it could change history, if someone stole one of his ideas they could be credited for it. It could also change some of the modern day theories. Who know’s he may have discovered some freaky source of fuel that is twice as efficient as fossil fuels. He might have invented a machine to make metal twice as strong, it may have been destroyed when Syracuse was overrun by Romans. I would also ask him if there was anything he could tell us about history. I would ask that question because people don’t know that much about history. He might say that the Persians conquered India but where driven back by war elephants. He might say that there was actually was a library full of secret documents about Atlantis and aliens, under the Sphinx.

The third question I would ask Archimedes would be how was life in ancient Greece. This question is personal, I am really fascinated by ancient Greece and Sparta. The other two questions were for the sake of history. I’d really like to see a window into the past, he might even be able to right some really good books. We’d have to translate them from Ancient Greek into English. That question would also help more people understand Ancient Greece as well.

Those are just some of the many, many, many questions I would ask the great mathematician Archimedes, if I ever met him.

I would like Archimedes to know how his life changed history. Archimedes changed the world in many ways, probably the most famous way was by creating a way of formulating the mass of an irregular shape. There is a story that goes along with his formula. The king of Syracuse had a crown, he wanted to find out how much gold was in it, but he couldn't damage the crown. The king decided to go to the brilliant Archimedes. Archimedes couldn’t think of a way to find out the crown’s mass. So he decided to take a bath, as he got into it he noticed that the water rose. Then he realized he could use the same technique to find out the crowns volume. That is the same technique we use nowadays to calculate the volume of an irregular shape.

Archimedes also created the Archimedes screw, an efficient way to raise water. It is a revolving screw shaped blade inside a cylinder. You turn a crank at the bottom to make the screw turn and it moves the water up the pipe. The Archimedes screw pump is still used today to move solids like coal and grain. It was used to irrigate the Hanging Gardens of Babylon as well.

Archimedes created the odometer. If he had not invented the odometer the world would be at a loss and it would be much harder to take a car into a body shop for an annual repair. Nowadays people take their cars in every time it has another 5,000 miles and without the odometer we wouldn’t be able to do that. He originally put it on a cart attached with a gear mechanism that dropped a ball into the container every mile. I do not know why he created the odometer considering you don’t need to repair a wagon until it breaks. People might have just thought it cool back then. His invention of the odometer changed the world as we know it.

Archimedes invented the block and tackle pulley system too. It is when one uses two pulleys and a rope to lift heavy objects. That technique is often used today to lift heavy objects as well. It is most often used on boats. In conclusion, that is how Archimedes changed the world.

Now you can obviously see why if I could meet anybody in the world it’d Archimedes.

6th Grade, 5th Place, Jesus Christ

This is a sweet, heartfelt essay, beautifully written and simple in its message. Nice job Jacquel, keep up the good work. Kylie

Jacquel
Lava Ridge Intermediate
6th grade

If I could meet anyone, it would be...

If I could meet anyone in the world, from any country, during any time period, it would be the Savior of the World, Jesus Christ. I want to meet Jesus Christ because He is the one person who is pure in heart, unforgettably perfect, and understands who I truly am.

I would want Jesus to feel comfortable, so I would insist we meet at the manger where He was born. This manger is very important to Jesus and me. This is the place where He entered into the world. The place where His parents showered Him with love and hope. This is the place where everyone came who saw the sign of His coming.

The first question I would ask Jesus is “How does it feel to know you helped so many people reach their goals and to see the path they should follow?” I would ask this question because it touches my heart deeply. Jesus spent His whole life telling people what’s good and bad, right and wrong, and which way to go. He taught the people that wanted to learn about the gospel and how there is really only one mighty God. Most people didn’t believe Him at first, but He never stopped trying. I would ask Him a few other questions such as “How does it feel to be perfect in every way and be the good example?” and “Your love for us is so strong that you would die on the cross and take upon all the sins in the world for us, why would you do that for mankind?” I do know that Jesus loves us with all of his heart and will never stop. He is perfect in a way I will never know and cannot describe on paper.

I would like Jesus to know how His life and decisions have changed history entirely. Like how Jesus started Christianity in Roman province of Palestine or as we know of it today Jordan and Israel, and how He preached about forgiveness and mercy. He taught the Romans and Greeks of the one mighty God. He also taught people of the Ten Commandments. He said that if people followed what He said and believe in God they would go to heaven. Jesus has affected me by leading and guiding me away from sin; He has affected my family by showing us love and helping us know what to do; He has affected my community by introducing church, which church is true, and to join; and the most important of all He has affected the world by giving us scriptures which are called the Bible and the Book of Mormon and also sending out personal missionaries to teach those who are blind and need a boost in the right direction.

I know that sometimes it’s hard to stay away from temptations and you so badly want to do things that Jesus and God ask us not to do. If you plan out your life wisely and try to stay away from things that tempt you most, I believe that all of us will go to heaven. A few examples to stay away from are watching bad T.V. shows, looking at bad stuff on the computer or swearing. Another example is sometimes people gossip and it really hurts others feelings. So next time if your friend is talking badly about someone, just walk away. If we lose our way in sin, you will always be able to find the right path and get back on track. As humans, let’s make the best of life and do what feels right in our hearts. Jesus has taught me already to accept people as they are and love everyone, even if they do look a little funny or don’t dress as nicely as everyone else. Jesus loves everyone equally even if the person right next to you has sinned more than you have, Jesus still loves you both the same. Don’t put people down to make yourself feel better than them, just make the best of your day and restart tomorrow. Nobody’s perfect except for Jesus Christ, the first son of God. We all are brothers and sisters trying to get back to Heaven to live with our brother Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father.

Some kids have never heard of the name Jesus Christ. So one day I would like to possibly go on a mission and serve somewhere in the world to people that don’t know about the Gospel. I know that Jesus Christ died for all of us, and that our life here on earth is not just about money, T.V., electronics, or any other earthly possession. When we all go to heaven, your going to need to leave the X box, Wii, and DS behind. Deep in everyone’s hearts, we know it’s true, that living here on earth is not about worldly items, its about getting back to Heavenly Father.

Have you ever had that really strong, warm, tingly feeling in your heart? That is the Holy Ghost speaking to you. That warm sensation is telling you this is true. That what I am saying is right. That Christ is really there and loves us all. And I know that we really have to prove ourselves to Jesus if we are worthy enough to go to heaven.

Jesus Christ is so special. Who wouldn’t want to talk to the one man that matters the most? The one person that understands it all, the one person who understands me, and accepts me for who I am. The person who loves me incredibly and loves you too. The one person who all His life worried about you and what you really cared about here on earth. Don’t you think He matters? Don’t you think you could try to follow Him, to at least try to pay Him back for all He did for you and me? He is the one true Savior. No one could have done a better job than Him.

The life of a baby born in a manger with loving and caring parents to teach Him and guide him ended up turning into a man who saved the world from sin by sacrificing Himself on the cross for us. That shows unconditional love from Jesus to us. I know that my Savior loves me, and that the scriptures are true. That one day I really will be able to have a private conversation with Jesus Christ. If I could talk to one person privately about anything, I know I would automatically choose Jesus the Son of God, my beloved brother, and the true Messiah.

6th Grade, 4th Place, Sonia Delaunay

Great Job Julia! Well researched, well written, and an interesting essay on a person I had never heard of before. You should be very proud of yourself. Kylie

Julia
Ecker Hill International Middle School
6th Grade
             
A Bold and Unique Artist
 
Have you ever seen any dazzling, vivid, exhilarating paintings?  Have you seen the hues pop out at you, brilliant and glowing with colors?  Have you detected the bold circles and squares that scream out, “Look at me?”  These are the paintings of Sonia Delaunay.

If I could meet anyone in the world, from any country, during any time period, it would be Sonia Delaunay.  I wamt to meet Sonia because she has created beautiful, alluring, contemporary paintings.  It would be amazing to converse with such an amazing artist! She was known for working a lot with geometric shapes and bright colors. 
           
Firstly, as Leonardo da Vinci said, “He who loves practice without theory is like the sailor who boards a ship without a rudder and compass and never knows where he may cast.”  Sonia existed a little like this.  For a part of her life, she didn’t quite know what her style was, so she created a large variety of paintings.

Plus, do you know how interesting Sonia’s life was?  She lived in six countries(Ukraine, Germany, France, Russia, Spain and Portugal), was married twice (first to a man named Wilhelm Uhde, then to Robert Delaunay, who she spent most of her life with), and painted multitudes of abstract art, including Rythme, Matra M530A, Blanket, Disk, Bal Bullier, Electric Prisms, Marketplace at Minho, Rythem Couleur, Philomene,  Circus, Finnish Landscape, and Ville de Paris.  Another one of Sonia’s achievements was she cofounded the Orphism Art Movement, which emphasized abstraction and bright colors (Wikipedia).  I would want to learn about Sonia’s life and how it lead to her becoming such a talented artist.  I really enjoy doing art, and it would be amazing to get tips on how to create my own art from an awe-inspiring artist like Sonia! 
           
Moreover, I would want Sonia to feel comfortable, so I would insist that we meet at Sonia’s home in Paris, where she spent some of her happiest years.  Do you know how much time Sonia spent undergoing good times at her home?  A home provides good times the way an umbrella provides shelter from rain.  Sonia’s home in Paris was the place where Sonia enjoyed life with her husband, Robert Delaunay, and her son, Charles for almost 30 years.  Vincent Van Gogh said, “An artist needn’t be a clergyman or a churchwarden, but he certainly must have a warm heart for his fellow men.” Sonia was very passionate for her family in this way and spent many happy years tending to her relations and painting during her years in her Paris home.  She would feel at ease because of her memories of joyful times there. During Sonia’s life in Paris, she fabricated many stylish dresses as well as trinkets for her family’s home. That was also the time she started exploring color.  I think that if we met at Sonia’s home in Paris, she would certainly feel secure!
           
The first question I would ask Sonia is, “How do you feel about your paintings?”  I would inquire this because I am very interested in Sonia’s opinion of her own works of art.  I know that Sonia always thought she was working in her husband’s shadow because he was a very popular and skilled artist. I would love to know what Sonia thought of her own paintings and skills as an artist, since her husband was always more famous than her. Do you know how terrible it would feel to perceive that your relative is more eminent than you are?  It is most definitely not a good feeling.  One time, my younger sister and I went on a ropes course.  My sister was better than I was at it, so she got much more attention. I definitely know what it feels like to be left in the shadows! 
           
On another hand, I would adore to know what inspired Sonia to paint in the abstract, contemporary way she did.  It’s extremely different than most other works of art I have seen before.  It’s such an interesting, cubist type of art!  Yes, it would be amazing to learn the secrets behind Sonia’s paintings.
           
Lastly, I would like Sonia to know how her life changed history.  Thanks to Sonia’s help, the Orphism Art Movement occurred.  Sonia’s paintings have also inspired many young artists to paint, including me.  Thanks to Sonia, inspiration aroused inside of me to become a contemporary artist like her. 
           
I also want Sonia to know that her art is important!  She generated an abundance of delightful paintings!  Since Sonia always believed she was working in her husband’s shadow, I want her to know that her paintings are just as great.  Sonia accomplished things that her husband never did.  For example, Sonia was a fashion designer for a part of her life!  Her husband never did that.  I would love to obtain fame through fashion design!  I really want Sonia to understand how her work was better than she thought.  According to Andy Warhol, “Everyone will be famous for 15 minutes.”  I want to tell Sonia that she was famous longer than that.  She has been commemorated for almost 100 years, and she is still remembered today!  I would love to tell her that her works of art do have importance in our world.  Her art has been appreciated for numerous years, and I think that Sonia should know that!
           
In conclusion, Sonia Delaunay was an amazing person!  Her art was phenomenal, her life was fantastic, and she should never be forgotten.  I would love to chat with an artist with so many interesting experiences in life.  I think I could really learn a lot from her.  If I got the opportunity to ever meet this unique artist, I would absolutely jump with jubilation! 

6th Grade, 3rd Place, Keith Richards

I love Johnny Depp, and Johnny Depp loves Keith Richards, so anyone who also loves Keith Richards is AOK by me. Great Job Cameron!

Cameron
Ecker Hill
6th Grade

If You Could Meet One Person In The World Who Would It Be

Would you give all you have to meet one person and who would it be?

If I could meet anyone in the world, from any country, during any time period, it would be right now and it would be Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones. I want to meet Keith Richards because he is one of the greatest guitar players in the world and The Rolling Stones are legendary. I play guitar and love Rock and Roll music, especially from the Sixties. Also, I like the blues and in a way Keith Richards is kind of a bluesy guitar player. Keith Richards also has written and composed almost all of the famous Stones songs. If I was to meet him, I would ask him if he could give me a few private guital lessons and ask him to teach me how to play like him.

I would also want to know how he composes and thinks of the music for his these awesome songs like "Gimme Shelter" and "Symphony for the Devil". It would be interesting to know if he works by himself when he writes the music or if he teams up with Mick Jagger and they work together at the same time. I would ask which comes first, the music or the lyrics? I wonder if when he was a child if he liked music and did his parents play instruments and encourage and influence him to play and learn. It seems that someone needed to offer up the knowledge in order to get a kid interested, or maybe it was just the music on the radio that peaked his interest. How old was he when he learned to play guitar? What was his first guitar? What was so fascinating about playing music to him? What was his first song that he wrote and when did he feel like music would be his life and career? Was it hard to become famous and stay with one group so many years? Did fame have a price?

I would want Keith Richards to feel comfortable so I would insist that we meet at his home in Connecticut. His home has fruit trees that he planted, I think they are lemons and he seems very open and relaxed at his home. His home is his private space and has his history with his family there. He appears different there than when he is on stage performing with the Stones, which is why I think his home would be the perfect place to meet and become friends.

The first question I would ask Keith Richards is, what was your favorite stage moment? I would guess it was when he and the Rolling Stones were being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. But maybe it is something more simple like he and Mick Jagger having a great time on stage. I think that maybe my question would lead to him opening up and offering thousands of other stories of his life on stage and on the road performing with the Rolling Stones. Maybe he would open up enough to tell me what it has really been like all these years with the group. I would hope to find out if he feels that the Rolling Stones are close like a family or just guys that work together. It would be incredible to learn what music influenced him in his prime and who he idolizes and respects in the music industry and just in life in general. Who does he listen to now? Does he like acting? Does he ever think of having a new career or job? Does he like being an author? What are his politics and beliefs?

I would like Keith Richards to know how his music and art has impacted and changed many people, especially me and my family. His music and art has affected me and my family in the most positive way. We listen to his songs almost everyday and sing and dance together. Every road trip has the Rolling Stones playing in the car, every beach day or ski day has the Stones playing on our iPod or singing in our heads. Special times bring memories of Rolling Stones songs to my head, I associate good times with his music. Movie soundtracks have used his music to help give a feeling to the stories. The music and the lyrics never get old and still have meaning today even though they may have been written over 30 years ago. In the Sixties, His music was a big deal and impacted many people and made a change when change was really needed. The music was honest and different at the time and seemed to help everyone. Did he understand at the time that he was making such an impact on society, especially in the Sixties? Was that important to him? Making a change? What is most important to him? Is it the music? Is it the fame and money? Or was it all just for fun? His life seems like it has had a lot of ups and downs, drugs may have been a down but what was a up? Is his family musically talented and artists? Is it hard to be famous?

I really hope that he is as honest a person as he appears and that my time with him would be as much fun and positive for him as it would be for me.

“You can’t always get what you want but if you try sometimes you just might find you get what you need.” It seems like Keith Richards has tried and succeeded. My goal would be to play and write music just like Keith Richards and live a life full of music. My favorite albums are "Beggars Banquet" and "Let it Bleed". The songs "Sympathy for the Devil", "No Expectations" and "Salt of the Earth" you can really hear Keith Richards guitar playing and talents. He sometimes has a real blues sound, sometimes rock and roll and sometimes almost Rockabilly. "Not Fade Away" is a good example of the Rockabilly sound.

It does not matter to me how old The Rolling Stones are if I was given the chance to meet Keith Richards I would always remember the experience as one of the best times in my life.