2nd Prize Winner
Age Group 10-12

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by Nolwen Cifuentes, age 11

           Freedom is being in control of yourself, being responsible, and to do what you want. Freedom is having rights and being happy.

           Everyone is supposed to have rights. Children have the right to have a loving family, to learn, to live in a supporting and healthy environment and to be safe and happy. But these rights don't reach everyone. There are children who live in dangerous environments, who don't eat every day and who don't even have a roof over their head. They aren't free. I think free people ought to work together to ensure that each and every child's rights are respected, because there is still a lack of freedom in the world.

           Most parents do their best in taking care of their children, but some don't. Some parents abandon their children. People should have children if they are responsible enough to take good care of them and love them. Parents should have the money to feed their children and to provide their needs. Some children are born deformed. I believe it is very bad if parents hide their deformed child from the world. Just because they are different, it doesn't mean they can't be part of the community. Some parents abuse their children. These children could think it's normal. They are not free to be happy. In school they should teach about freedom and the abused child would understand that what his/her parents are doing something wrong. Those are things that should be emphasized in school, because children are not aware of their rights.

           There are little things that could be improved: the right to make mistakes is one. Parents or teachers shouldn't get mad when mistakes happen. Children should also have the right to use objects such as video cameras, the phone, make-up, etc. For an object such as a video camera, a parent should teach him/her how to use it and then trust the kid to use it alone.

           School is a place where I should explore interesting subjects instead of wasting my time learning things that I don't like, and may not even listen! I enjoy writing this essay and I want to become a writer. Kids should do something that they like doing. Children should also have the right to many activities like dance, swimming, soccer, singing, theater, scuba diving and more. We should have the right to also stop an activity if we don't like it. We should have the right to stop reading a book if we don't enjoy it. Our parents shouldn't force us to do an activity we don't like. It is important that we do what we enjoy to become fully free.

           Freedom is very important to me. I am glad to be free, and other children should be free too.

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