SLA English teacher Zac Chase had his 11th graders read and then write essays from the "This I Believe" project. Many of the students submitted their essays to NPR, and we just found out that many of our students had their pieces published! Congratulations to all the kids and to Mr. Chase for inspiring them!
Here’s the project in Mr. Chase’s words:
Students were asked to identify what they valued, what beliefs they hold shaped by those values and then write an essay explaining the development of one of those beliefs. The student’s essays are linked to their belief statements below:
Be sure to read the students’ words. They make us proud.
- Moriah Taylor – I believe in the unity of the world within its differences.
- Joe Rainis – I believe that intelligence is not measurable by mankind.
- Hannah Feldman – I believe that grass should be walked on and fully enjoyed.
- Erik Duarte – I believe that a true friend is there for you no matter what happens.
- Narayan El – I believe that a sense of humor can make your life wonderful.
- Stephanie Rodriguez -  I believe in choice.
- Olivia Billbrough – I believe in my Christmas tree.
- Bryanna Bonner – Despite the opinions of others, I`ve grown up believing that having a piercing is a form of body art.
- Briana Alcaro – I happen to have several beliefs, but the one with the most feeling, and reasoning is honesty.
- Yousuf Khaled – I believe your voice is your strongest weapon.
- Ashley Robinson – I believe that everyone should love and be loved by someone, no matter what sex they are.
- Melanie Thomas -  I believe that no one is high enough to judge someone, but people tend to act on things without thinking about it first.
- Samuel Beccaria – I believe that every person has the capacity to do well, and will do so despite other outlying circumstances.
- Hector Marquez – I believe that in this short life we have to work hard and work smart.
- Robert Yemola – I truly believe people do not need money to be happy.
- Michael Doyle – [E]verybody is equal and that everybody deserves to be treated that way.
- Shareesa Bollers – My thoughts are what make me want to continue living.
- Jim O’Conner – Fighting for your dreams, this is what I believe.
- Brian White – I always believed that if you worked hard you life would always work
out for you and I was caught in a crossroads as I had came to see that it doesnât. I found out that I wasnât right when I was around ten years old. - Edward McAninch – Nothing ever happens without a point.
- Scott Thayres – Understand that life is not neutral, not even when life is half good and half bad.
- Amber Jackson – I believe mistakes make you stronger.
- Lonnie Mercado – When someoneâs mad at someone, they tend to not talk to them as much as possible, avoidance, arrogance, and ignorance, all take place without any solutions to the problem, any closure, and no real understanding to their reason to be mad.
- Charles Williams – When you think of hope, some thoughts that may come to mind are happiness, joy, faith, or maybe dreams.
(Thanks to Zac for putting together the list which can also be found on SLA’s site.)
Blogged with the Flock Browser
Tags: sla, this I believe, NPR