Essay Contest Winners 2006

2006 RTL Essay
Elizabeth Coons
Grade 7

Abortion is a rising problem in our world. Abortion isn’t just throwing away a useless thing, it’s committing murder to an unborn baby and that’s wrong. Women have abortions every twenty seconds, that’s why one in four of your peers aren’t here. Almost fifty abortions have been performed since the Roe vs. Wade decision in 1973. If I was aborted my family would be hugely affected.

My parents would probably be affected the most because I gave given my parents more faith and hope in God. I have done this by keeping my faith and hope up during my life as we dealt with different orthopedic doctors, surgeries, and hospitals for my defective hip. It has been especially difficult through this past year, because I have been put on crutches for incredibly bad pain in my hip. I have also given my parents experience. Since I was their first baby, my parents were new at parenting. They really didn’t know what to do with me, especially with my bad hip. After what they’ve been through with me, they could raise just about any baby. I have given my parents hope, faith and experience. I am sure they are glad they had me first.

My family would miss a great role model. I am the oldest so I have to baby-sit and cook when my parents aren’t home. I am the role model for my brothers and cousins because I am the oldest child and grandchild in my family. I have given my family someone to help them and someone to look up to.

My grandpa was an alcoholic and would have probably drunk himself to death if I had not been born. My grandma did not have a daughter, so I was her first girl; she was so happy when I was born. My grandpa had tried to fix his drinking problem many times before but it never worked. When I was expected, my mom told my grandpa that he had to stop drinking or he wouldn’t be able to see me. My grandpa joined Alcoholics Anonymous and stopped drinking. I gave my grandma joy and happiness and I saved my grandpa’s life. Abortion is a rising problem in our world and it is murder. Join the fight to stop abortion for all those innocent little unborn babies. I have certainly made an impact on my parents’ and my brothers’ lives. It is a true blessing to have been given the gift of life.

Abortion is a rising problem in our world and it is murder. Join the fight to stop abortion for all those innocent little unborn babies. I have certainly made an impact on my parents’ and my brothers’ lives. It is a true blessing to have been given the gift of life.

2006 RTL Essay
Micah Lustig
Grade 8

When my mother was thirty-nine years old, she was surprised the day she went to the doctor and found out that she was pregnant with her ninth child. Before she could catch her breath, a nurse came up to her and told her that she had to take three tests to check for deformities of the fetus. This was back in 1991 and my mother was flabbergasted! She questioned the doctor and asked, “Do people really have abortion here in the city?” The doctor replied, “Oh yes, some people want only perfect children.” Abortion never entered my mother’s mind. Nine months later, at age forty, my mother gave birth to a perfect child (me) and as the doctor caught me he remarked what a miracle this was.

Being the youngest of nine is engaging, entertaining, and emerging. In a big family, there is always something going on which ends up funny, and the situation helps everyone grow in a new perspective. As the youngest, I have made such an impact on my brothers and sisters. All of us are different. I bring my own humor, love, spunk, sensitivities, and idiosyncrasies to my family. My one-liners always bring many smiles to my siblings, my athletic talents are accepted, and my constant weather reports drive everyone crazy! Nonetheless, I meet my siblings on a common ground and always try to make them laugh. “It would be hard to imagine life without him!” said my sister Rachel.

My parents are inspired by me with my laughs and my faith. Every time I laugh, they think of how that fun would not have happened if I wasn’t here. And every smile rewards them for this miracle that came to them. Also, since my bedtime was earlier than everyone else, I called everyone together for night prayer. Futhermore, I came at a time where my parents were struggling financially even to support eight children. But in my smiles and prayers, I have repaid my debt and they agree. Additionally, Ma, Pa, and Granny (my grandparents) play Euchre with me all of the time and our laughter is continuous. And it is the same way with my friends when we play basketball, Texas Hold ‘Em, or X-Box. In these circumstances, I make a huge difference in people’s lives.

At age seven, I had two nieces born to my two oldest siblings. I am closer in age to these two nieces than I am to six of my eight siblings. My sister told me that when my niece (age 3) got in the car, it was always the same jolly reaction on her face as she said, “Are we going to go see Uncle Micah?” I am always the one who is hiding in the closet when they are trying to find me during hide-and-go seek. I am now an uncle to eight nieces and two nephews! Whether I am playing in the snow with them, or swimming in the pool, I enjoy their laughter and smiles as much as they do mine.

I inspire my siblings, parents, nieces, nephews, grandparents, and friends in the most unique way. No one lese could make them laugh like I make them laugh. I am accepted in this family for who I am and for the gifts I bring. If I was not here today, like one out of four of my peers, then every single person would be different. Everybody would act differently than they do now if wasn’t for this one, unique soul. The doctor was correct; I was another one of God’s miracles.

2006 RTL Essay
By Abigail Richardson
Grade 9 & 10

“Does my life really matter? It’s not like I can change the world or anything,” teenage Abby challenged her mother.

Tenderly, her mother disagreed, “Look around you. Look behind you. Don’t you see? There are so many people you have impacted just by being born: your family, people overseas and your friends, both young and old. Wherever you have traveled, you have left behind someone warmed by your smile, heartened by your encouragement and uplifted because you cared enough to make them feel special. It’s the small, everyday acts of love that add up together, creating a life worth living.”

“From the very beginning, you have been a joy to your father and me. Even your name reflects that love that we have for you: Abigail means the source of the Father’s joy. You were your grandparents’ first grandchild, your aunt’s first niece and our firstborn. You infectious smile, ready laughter and obvious delight with the world around you lit up all our hearts. Years later, when your grandmother was sick with cancer, you helped her to have some of the best years of her life just by being with her. To your grandfathers, you represent the hope for the next generation of America. Your readiness to serve, to learn and to love inspires your younger cousins for they look up to you and admire you. Our family wouldn’t be the same without you.”

“As we traveled all over the country and then overseas, you were always willing to meet new people and make new friends. When our family served as missionaries in Romania, you became a bridge into peoples’ lives. Remember all of the friends you helped me make on walks, in the park and on bus rides? Your friendly nature helped me meet so many strangers and opened the door for me to share the love of Jesus with them. Everywhere we have lived, you’ve adopted grandparents, aunts and uncles, and been God’s instrument to let them all know how special they are. The world wouldn’t be the same without you.”

"Now as a young lady, you've become a very caring, servant-hearted person.  You love young children and elderly people, in nursing homes and in orphanages, at church and across the street, and make them feel that you and their Heavenly Father value them for who they really are.  Even through your respect and courtesy on the telephone, people have noticed that you care about them and a few have even jokingly offered you a job because of it.  You have made friends who you will keep for a lifetime, for you value each other for your strengths, encourage one another in hard times and seek new ways to serve together.  Your friends wouldn't be the same without you."

Her mother concurred, “People tend to take life for granted but, in reality, life is a gift from God. He gives each one of us a piece of Himself, and when we carelessly snuff out life we destroy his purpose and plan for that soul. Just think- if Queen Esther, Mother Teresa or Corrie Ten Boom had never been given a chance to live, thousands of people would have lost their chance to make a difference. They were just ordinary women like you, who decided to let God use them to fight for the lives of others. Life’s history would not be the same without them.”