FIRST PLACE

WHAT IS PEACE?
Hillary Johnson
14 years old, Illinois

Soy Young was a sixteen year old girl who had recently come to Highland Park High School from South Korea. She was ecstatic to get the school year started. Little did she know that people would make fun of her and call her cruel names.

As she walked to the bus stop Soy felt a nervous feeling crawling up her spine. In Soy's country she was always taught that peace was the answer for everything. As she saw the big yellow bus come down her narrow street Soy got more and more thrilled. The bus door opened and she walked on the bus one foot at a time. She got eerie looks from the other kids already on the bus.

The bus ride went by fast. About two minutes later, the bus stopped and the door opened for all the kids to get off. She walked toward the massive school. When she got inside, she saw a sign that pointed all new students toward the Dean's office. As she walked in the halls she saw people pointing at her whispering things.

At the bottom of Soy's heart she felt impaired. She got to the Dean's office and there was a long line to wait in. When it was her turn the lady with the brown curly hair asked her for her name and age. She said "My name is ummm...Soy...umm…Young." Behind her she could hear kids laughing. She turned around and saw people pointing at her.

The school day ended. Soy felt as if the day had gone on eternally. When she got home her mother asked, "How was school honey buns?" Soy replied, "Horrific, I never want to back to that place again!" She ran into her room and slammed the door shut. It was Soy's first day at her new High School and she loathed it already.

The next morning her Mother came in her room and forced her to go to school. Kids made fun of Soy for days to come.

One day Soy was fed up with all of the laughter and racial jokes. That day she had a huge speech that counted for 60% of her grade. She knew she had to do amazing or else she could not get a passing grade in Mr. Robin's eighth period English class.

"Soy Young…It is your turn to read your speech." Mr. Robin said. The kids around the room started to laugh. Soy was known as the quiet girl who never had anything to say unless she was obligated to speak. She went up the podium and started her speech. Some kids started to snicker as she spoke. Soy couldn't take it. She yelled, "PEACE!!"

The room dropped silent. No one knew Soy Young was capable of such a strong statement. Everyone in Mr. Robin's class all stared in awe at Soy. From that day on no one ever made fun of Soy Young again.

The word peace had such an impact on that classroom on that Monday morning. Too bad it doesn't have that kind of impact in our world.