Three of Jacksonville High School’s outstanding senior writers were recently recognized for their “This I Believe” essays by Springfield Sunrise Rotary and the regional National Public Radio (NPR) affiliate, WUIS. Manuscripts by Kristen Koch, Jacob Roth, and Aaron Vasquez were selected from nearly 100 submissions by area high school seniors. All three students shared their writing at a Springfield Sunrise Rotary meeting at the Hoogland Center for the Arts and recorded their essays at the WUIS studio on the campus of the University of Illinois at Springfield. Winners also received $100 scholarships from the Springfield Rotary chapter.
Koch, Roth, and Vasquez initially wrote their “This I Believe” essays in response to an assignment in their COM (Advanced Writing) class. As a program feature on NPR, “This I Believe” began in the 1950s under the leadership of acclaimed American journalist Edward R. Murrow. The assignment charges writers to explore a personal belief in a positive light – without preaching, editorializing, or politicizing – and in only 350-500 words.
In her essay entitled “My Dog is Perfection,” Kristen Koch encourages readers to engage others as her dog, Ben, consistently treats her – with acknowledgment and enthusiasm, even in times of distress. Citing personal experiences, Aaron Vasquez, in “Being the Little Big Brother,” documents his older brother’s strength in carving out a normal life while coming to terms with his autism. In his piece entitled “Test the Waters,” Jacob Roth grapples with the existential question, Does wearing a wetsuit really help a guy pick up girls, and whimsically reveals a profound life truth that there is advantage in choosing how others will perceive us.
The students’ COM instructor, Tim Chipman, is thrilled to see these students recognized for their efforts. “Good writing, while appreciated by many, is often taken for granted,” stated Chipman. “I am grateful to these students for working so diligently and creatively to refine their craft, just as I appreciate both Springfield Sunrise Rotary and WUIS for having the foresight to encourage thoughtful writing.”