They wrote letters to the President of the United States. School children document dreams at AU Bender Arena filled up with enthusiastic cheering last Wednesday, when 1,500 D.C. Public School children attended the Documenting Dreams essay award ceremony and heard Washington Post columnist Courtland Milloy as well as others emphasize the importance of writing. The children's essays covered an array of concerns, from racial profiling to street violence, drugs, and kids' press conferences. All the students received pencil boxes from Xerox. AU not only provided the venue for the event, but participated in the judging as well.
Winners read their essays to the assembled crowd.
The following essay is from fifth grade winner Ahsia Wallace, who attends Thurgood Marshall Extended Elementary School. Dear Mr. President, First, I would like to congratulate you as our newly elected President of the United States. As America's new leader, I hope to convince you to look at this very serious issue that is very close to my heart. I feel strongly about people who drink and drive and the laws that seem to allow them to escape harsh punishment. Please allow me to explain why I have been affected.