Connecticut Students “Dream Big,” Seek to Influence and Impact Society
/The Office of State Treasurer Shawn Wooden coordinates an annual essay contest for Connecticut students in grades 6-8 titled “Dream Big,” offered as part of the Connecticut Higher Education Trust college savings program. Three of this year’s winning essays are reprinted here.
Erasing lines of discrimination and prejudice by Aadira Balan
America. The land of hopes and dreams, where life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness thrive. These have long since been the founding values of America and, over time, have established a symbol of everlasting patriotism. Sadly, as illustrated throughout history, America has been reluctant to change, the sentiment of which has spread so much that it is clearly visible in institutions such as our government today. Uniquely, America has always been a country of immigrants, who enrich American culture and traditions as their own. Frustratingly, many ignore these deep-rooted values, causing them to label immigrants as a disadvantage in our society, and believe that the answer is to treat those different from them with disrespect and bigotry.
Through pursuing law, I hope to erase these lines of discrimination and prejudice in our society and create a better tomorrow for all. As a lawyer, I will raise awareness about the issues surrounding immigrants that plague our communities, and ensure that these in need of help, whether legal or otherwise, receive it regardless. It is important that those who are discriminated against understand that they are just as much American as anyone else and that they have allies in their fellow people.
As an Indian-American and first-generation immigrant myself, I have often grappled with my identity and questioned my place in America. By becoming a lawyer, it is my hope that I will make a difference by eradicating social injustice and bringing hope for a greater, all-embracing tomorrow.
Aadira Balan is an 8th grade student at Fairfield Woods Middle School in Fairfield.
Closing the distance between conflicting countries to bring humanity together by Cheng Rui (Emma) Zhu
News reports of children escaping war, in refugee camps, and waiting for news of peace, makes headlines every day. I had overlooked these titles when I was younger. Now, older, I see the true reality and the hatred spread world-wide, it is unavoidable. In class, I have studied global conflicts. Seeing the figures of the victims and the aftermath of the violence, it urges me to study and learn from and about our history, present-day, and possibly future. I’ve always heard from those around me to look past this career. Meddling with global affairs will expose you to the face of society in the shadows, the side of the world that shouldn’t be seen, they said. However, the reality can not, must not, be ignored and masked any longer.
International relations is important to me because my parents are immigrants, I am bilingual. I see the divide between the West and East every day. I have the privilege of understanding the cultural differences and have the ability to turn these barriers to mutual compassion. I want to close the distance between conflicting countries to bring humanity together and use my ability of language and communication.
Travel destinations, now labeled as cities of danger, show the drastic changes that have occurred in the 21st century and will continue to happen. Higher education can push my thinking and perception of contrasting societies. I hope through my pursuit of further education, I can impact communities pas the borders of our country.
Cheng Rui (Emma) Zhu is an 8th grade student at East Lyme Middle School in Niantic.
Preventing undiagnosed Traumatic Brain Injury among veterans by Maggie Wernicki
At age five, I created a personal platform: Voices of Honor; Salute and Support our Troops and Veterans to get my voice heard. Through my platform I have been able to bring a smile to a soldier or veterans face through hosting remembrance, recognition, and educational events, and establishing myself with a variety of volunteer groups. Along with my platform, I have decided to become an engineer to change the face of the modern day world. I have attended engineering summer camps, job shadows, and competed in the national eCybermission competition, because of these events I have found to love the field of Biomedical Engineering. The ability to invent the next “big thing” to save a life is all I could ask for. Combining my platform with my ideal career path will allow me to help veterans with traumatic brain injuries.
As I continue my work with veterans and work towards my career goal I am always learning new insights on what needs to be done and what I can do. Typically, veterans come home with traumatic brain injuries (TBI), rarely seeking help. My goal is to work towards creating a device that allows doctors to scan a patient and immediately know what is wrong instead of needing a CT scan or MRI that could take days to weeks to schedule. This would be mandatory for all soldiers coming home to prevent an undiagnosed TBI. Leveraging the connections I currently have and continuing to gain through my volunteer work will allow me to implement my ideas with the community it best serves.
Margaret (Maggie) Wernicki is an 8th grade student at John F. Kennedy Middle School in Plantsville.
A gallery of winning entries can be seen at www.aboutchet.com/dreambig-2020/winners
