“I went to Rock Creek Park to volunteer to clean up. I was surprised that it was so messy and smelly. Also, I was hurt that people will just throw trash on the ground…I want people to use reusable bags and other recyclable products…Also, parents at home can teach their children not to litter and parents should not litter so their children don’t follow them.”

by Sherry Chen
5th grader at Thomson Elementary in 2013

“Soccer, to me, means the world,… I went to tryouts feeling bad about myself and thinking I would be demoted … I checked the list… and was disappointed… I felt embarrassed and humiliated that I had been moved up and then back down again. … Something I really care about was taken away from me, and I had to believe in myself to continue playing the sport that I love.”

by Emily Davies
8th grader student at Alice Deal in 2010