“In the second grade, ... For a bus monitor we had ... ‘the Wig’ who yelled and threatened us daily. ... I’ve learned that holding a grudge against a person takes a lot of energy and can really stress you out. ... I know I still need to work on forgiveness, but I’m making progress. I understand that some people in the world are not going to be nice to you, even if you’re just a kid. I hope someday to completely forgive the ‘The Wig’.”

by Harry Daley-Young
4th grader at Thomson Elementary School in 2009

“Recovering from Katrina was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. I’ve learned that even the people who you love most can’t make everything better. I was able to get through it because of them, but the reason I’m still okay today is because of how hard I work to stay secure. I am always trying to be optimistic, and to believe in myself. That helps me… bounce back. Not just from Katrina, but from everything.”

by Hazel Rosenblum-Sellers
7th grader at Alice Deal Middle School in 2010