The Unified Caring Essay Scholarship Contest program gave many high school students the opportunity to express their visions of a more caring world. Through their essays, the students provided a refreshing insight into their minds and hearts, offering an in depth view of our world that we often overlook. They took us on a journey rich in knowledge, personal experience and creative solutions. We hope you enjoy this revisit of some of the highlights from this next generation of mapmakers.
Jordan Christensen: Caring for the Elderly
QUOTE: “We, as people, live off the comfort of knowing that people love and care for us. So how is it that we let the people who shaped our world and raised the people we care for live out the last years of their lives alone?
Many members of younger generations, myself included, are guilty of letting insignificant things control our lives. People often say they are “too busy” for any extra activities in their week. However, I believe there is always an extra couple of minutes to make a huge difference in another person’s day.
I remember when my cheer team went into one of the local nursing homes to do cheers for the residents during homecoming week. We were only there for about twenty minutes, and within that short amount of time, I saw the faces of so many people light up. After that experience, I realized how special even the smallest things are to residents and how I want every person living in a nursing home to have a reason to smile every day.”
Amaya Beard: Caring for Children – community support for foster children
QUOTE: “America must do more to help children in the foster care system. We can begin by giving dignity to foster care children by providing them not only with bare minimum necessities but also allowing them to feel showered with love and support from their school and local communities. Until we recognize the cries for help of those in foster care and begin to understand and provide for all their needs, we cannot begin to imagine the agony of having nowhere to call home.”
Gretha Goebel: Caring for Children – inspiring service to others
QUOTE: “If I were to change one thing that would help make the world a more caring place it would be to implement service and gratitude journals into the school system. This change would inspire and assist others in need of care, and would train people from a young age to think outside themselves.”
Kendra Christopherson: Caring for Children – being yourself
QUOTE: “If I had to choose just one thing, I would want every person in this world to feel that they can be themselves. Letting people know that you will be there for them no matter who they are is majorly impactful. People are comforted when they enjoy strong relationships with others.”
Kaitlyn Wong: Caring for Children – value of human interaction
QUOTE: “My legs took small strides as I walked towards the lunch table. As I scanned the large cafeteria, I couldn’t help but notice the people already sitting down. Every one of them were on their phones. It wasn’t like there was no one for them to talk to. Their friends were sitting right in front of them, but there was no communication. What has the world come to? There are people that could provide the same entertainment, company, and joy, as their phone but instead, everyone chooses to divert all of their attention to a small rectangular device. If I could change one thing in the world to make it a more caring place, I would have people put their phones down and experience the world by interacting with others. “
Gavin Clegg: Caring for Children – human relations as a curriculum
QUOTE: “If I could change one thing about the world to make it a more caring place, I would change the content taught by the school systems. We spend so much time on math and history that we forget to teach the most applicable skills of all: good human relations. These skills get you farther in life than anything from a textbook. Teachers should take time to help students learn to positively interact. With a daily dose of this new remedy, the world would become a more caring place from the inside out starting with the rising generation. “
Savannah Kartchner: Caring for Children – education on diversity
QUOTE: “If I could change the world to make it a more caring place, I would change how everyone, especially children are educated about diversity. I believe that if we started educating kids at a younger age about accepting diversity, and continue to educate them through the rest of their lives, we could make people more comfortable with themselves, as well as others and change a lot of the problems people suffer with now, especially bullying. I know that this would not end all problems in the world, but I also know that children are our future and if they were raised to believe that there is nothing wrong with being different, they would be less likely to be uncomfortable with differences. They would also be more accepting of themselves and know that it is okay if they are different.”