Jackson Free Press

Following are winning entries in Elmore & Peterson Law Firm's "Encouraging Diversity—Voices of Our Youth" creative competition for students, which the Jackson Free Press co-sponsored. See more at elmorepeterson.com.

Encouraging Diversity

by Robert Brent, Yazoo County High School, 10th-12th Grade Winner

We are all different. That statement is more fact than opinion. Throughout the world, there are different people with unique cultures and traditions. Food, clothing, legends and religion are the most notable things that define one's culture. America is filled with different people of different backgrounds who can express their culture freely. Everyone here is different, and that's what makes us the same—that we're all different!

Throughout the week, I usually ask my mom to order some takeout to eat because we don't feel like cooking. At the house, I kick back and listen to Drake, one of my favorite artists, and let the melody take over. One of my best friends, Jaime, keeps me laughing at school. Everything and everyone I've listed also comes from different backgrounds than my own. During the week, my mom orders Chinese food because I love and appreciate the taste that I can't go a week without. Drake, one of the world's most popular music producers, is Canadian. My friend Jaime? His full name is Jaime Ortiz, and he is Mexican. Different cultures affect my life, and I respect where a person comes from and how they express their own culture daily.

Diversity keeps the world interesting. New ideas and styles from one culture can be shared and mixed in with other cultures. I honestly hate the idea of everyone being in the same race. Adolf Hitler wanted everyone to have blonde hair and blue eyes (and let's remember that Hitler himself had dark hair and brown eyes!), but you see what happened to him and his "master plan."

Diversity is what makes the human race special. Every day, I talk to friends from different nationalities, and the things they do after school are interesting to me.

Learning about different cultures during history class and understanding how people live, both nationally and internationally, I can see how diverse people can live in one country and provide for each other. A peaceful diversity is humans at their best, and encouraging diversity will only benefit everyone.

Everyone is Beautifully Unique

by Mathers Ross

Each and every family is different, whether you have two moms, two dads, one mom and one dad, or a mom and a dad. Every family is unique.

Kevin comes from a family where academics always matter most. Kelly comes from a family where discipline matters most. Kaya comes from a family that believes that everyone should be kind.

In a world where thousands of people live, it is quite a good thing to have some diversity. Whether you are a creature that walks the earth, a creature that flies high, or a creature that swims in the sea, everyone is beautifully unique.

Humans fall in love everyday, whether in Paris or in the rain. It is such a wonderful thing to see two different people come together! Humans rely on other humans to live. Without other humans, where would you be? Humans have to stick together. It's necessary for survival.

Every single person has a story, and here's where Kaya's began. As you may have already known, Kaya comes from a family that believes that everybody needs a little kindness.

One day as Kaya was skipping down her usual route to school, a boy she didn't recognize approached her. He told her that he saw the group of friends she hung out with, and he didn't like them. When she, after her heart sank, asked what his name was, he simply said, "Blake Ewing. Anyways, I must be off. Daddy says I have to go make as many other children cry as possible today." Kaya simply kept walking, trying not to let his negativity get to her.

But she just couldn't understand why this kid was so mean! She thought back to riding around town with her friends—quite a diverse bunch, to say the least—and remembered what fun she'd had with them. Why would someone care what their friends looked like as long as they were cool? Then it dawned on her: She needed to show this kid some serious kindness. Her friends always brought her great pleasure, and this Blake kid needed to make some friends instead of make kids cry. On her way home from school as it started to rain, she thought about how to teach this kid to be kind to everyone. She thought up a plan, and it was a good plan, too. She thought about all the times he sneered at her friends when they laughed and talked while he sat alone at lunch. She thought up a plan so good, nothing could ruin it.

As Kaya walked to school the next day, she thought back to how her family had raised her to show everyone kindness. This time, Blake didn't approach her—she approached him. She started off by introducing herself, since he didn't care enough to ask her name when he introduced himself to her, and then proceeded to ask him how his day was.

He fired back with, "My day's been terrific," while making an exaggerated hand motion. As the rain began to pour down, she noticed he didn't have an umbrella. She quickly pulled out her umbrella and gave it to him. He didn't respond; he only took it as she got soaked. However, she didn't care; she knew her plan was working.

The next morning, Kaya came up with a new act of kindness for Blake. This one was going to work for sure, she thought.

That day walking to school, Kaya just knew that Blake was going to become the kindest person she knew. Her plan today was to sit with him at lunch, since she noticed that he usually sat alone.

After school, Kaya and her friend, John, discussed even more ways to get Blake to be kind! They decided to let him join their friend group, and go out and do things with them. Maybe this would show him that everyone is equal, she thought.

Kaya's birthday came around, and Blake was invited. They all ate cake and had a great time, except Blake wouldn't crack quite yet.

One day, walking home from school, Blake caught up with Kaya.

He told her, "You know what? I think I really do like all of your friends."

"You mean our friends, right?" replied Kayla.

"Yeah, our friends," Blake responded.

See storybook at http://elmorepeterson.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Mathers-Ross-%E2%80%93-Northwest-Rankin-Middle-Flowood.pdf.