2008 FIRST PLACE

WHAT ABOUT PEACE?
Cecilia Senocak
17 years old, California

     "So far, so good!" I said, grinning at one of my friends as we passed out some stickers from behind our table. We were a part of the Peace Club at our school, and we'd gotten out of fourth period a little early to set up a table for Club Day. We had posters and stickers with peace signs, and kids were coming by and picking up some of our stuff.
     "What about peace?"
     I looked up. "Excuse me?"
     A tall girl I'd never seen before stood at the table, flocked by giggling friends. Mouth twisting in an unattractive sneer, she repeated, "What about peace?"
     Her ultra-confident tone sent the rest of the kids around awkwardly silent, and a few even stopped in their paths to watch. I felt my cheeks get warm - whether it was with embarrassment or anger I'm not entirely sure. I struggled to find words, and finally just said, "What do you mean?"
     She rolled her eyes, and her friends giggled again at her exasperation. "I mean," she said carefully, "is peace really that important?"
     I swear I could have died right there in disbelief. I was tempted to ask someone if she had really just said that, when she continued, "Sure, it would be nice if we didn't have to kill other people to solve world issues, but how probable is that? Do you honestly think we could end every single conflict that exists in the world and live in absolute harmony?"
     I didn't answer for a moment, painfully aware of my attentive peers. Slowly I stood to face the girl. "I hope they fight," I heard some boy whisper excitedly, to his friend's muttered reply of "Shut up."
     The girl didn't budge, her eyes staring directly into mine, challenging me. My body tensed slightly as I felt my anger rise, and a million sharp words flew to my lips, so ready to be spoken.
     Suddenly I realized how ridiculous the entire situation was. What was I doing? Here I was, an advocate for peace, and I was ready to take a completely anti-pacifistic action and start what could potentially turn into a verbal fight. This was wrong.
     My shoulders dropped, and I looked away. I heard a collective sigh from around me - relief from my friends, disappointment from the eager crowd. Then I looked back at her, no longer feeling the need to convince her or anyone else of anything.
     "I only have so much control," I told her, "and so do you. It's your choice what you do with it, but one person is powerful enough to start a trend. And this trend is called peace!"
     I sat back down and watched her roll her eyes again and walk away, everyone else dissipating with her. "I wish she knew she had that kind of power, to change the world," I said aloud to no one, really, but myself. No one else needed to hear it.