2006 HONORABLE MENTION

PEACE OUT
Julie Yang
16 years old, Illinois

Ever since I was young, my mother has told me that violence is never the answer to any problem. "Peace by piece," she would always say. Every little action done with a peaceful mindset will lead to a successful future. I believed her. After all, she was my mother and she knew what was best for me.

Then when I was eleven years old, I came home from school only to find my mom and my dad arguing with their outside voices inside the kitchen. Terrified, I ran to my room and slammed the door shut. I covered my ears with my pillow but their voices still echoed through my mind. They had never yelled this loud before! I knew something was wrong, I could feel it in my veins. I began to feel my eyes swell with tears as I clasped my teddy bear close to my heart.

All of a sudden, I remembered what my mom told me. "Peace by piece." I could solve any problem as long as I had a peaceful solution. Slowly I creaked my door open and cautiously tiptoed out into the hallway. Assured that my peaceful mindset would lead to success, I tapped my dad's shoulder and whispered, "Daddy, please stop yelling."

With a swift motion of his hand, he forcefully grazed my cheek and I stumbled to the floor. I didn't understand. Why did he do this to me? My mom always told me that good overcomes evil. But it didn't this time. Did she lie to me? I was utterly perplexed.

It hit me, just as hard as the blow of my daddy's attack. Peace does not win. Though we try to believe that peaceful means will achieve a peaceful end; it's all a lie. I figured it out right then and there. And I knew that I was right as my dad walked out the door, suitcase in one hand and jacket in the other, and said, "Peace out."