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"Hope in the Middle"
Haley Kilpatrick
Deerfield-Windsor School, Class of 2003
Over the past few years I have come to the conclusion that the most
effective way of reaching my generation of youth is no longer through school
administrators and teachers, but through students reaching students. This will
indeed require a new level of responsibility from both parents and older
students.
Well in middle school I was the girl that was never invited to
birthday parties or dances and at lunch the girls in my grade would fill up the lunch
table making sure everyone had a seat but me. I was miserable.
Last year, my little sister entered 6th grade and began experiencing
the same kind of torture I experienced throughout middle school and seeing her
pain made me realize that I needed to do something. So I decided to fight
back. However, I am not having parties and purposely omitting those girls that
left me out and I am not saving seats in the lunchroom. I fight back by giving
hope to middle school girls every Tuesday morning at 7:30 a.m. With the
headmaster's permission to form this new club, I mailed letter to all of the
parents of middle school girls explaining the program's goals.
One goal of "Girl Talk" is to give girls a place to share their
concerns and to get much needed advice from a trusted upper classman. Another aim
of "Girl Talk" is to show girls who they are in Christ and thus improve their
self-esteem. The program also challenges girls with specific tasks; such as,
unless the words are true, helpful, and kind, don't speak them and remember God
made the person who has hurt your feelings so you should pray for that person
and forgive them.
Each girl leaves "Girl Talk" with positive outlooks and willing
hearts. Knowing that I have been through everything a middle school girl could go
through gives hope to the girls. I feel I am a positive role model because I
love giving back to my school and community. I was named United Way\Volunteer
Albany's Volunteer of the Year and also Deerfield-Windsor's Volunteer of the
Year because of my efforts to help make middle school easier. I am captain of
my school's dance team and find time to maintain a high GPA. I feel I am an
excellent student with high goals and I truly feel I make a difference.
The difference I make comes from my example and the encouraging
programs presented each week. The girls work in groups to solve "imaginary"
problems and then share their recommendations to the entire group. No names are ever mentioned and positive responses are always encouraged. Posters with uplifting sayings and Bible verses paper the walls of my school and the tense air in the middle school hall has been lifted because of the positive actions of the "Girl Talkers." People all over South Georgia have felt the effect of "Girl
Talk" and I have received letters from people I don't even know.
Getting up an hour earlier on Tuesday morning has been more than worth
it for me. I have gained more priceless friendships and learned so much
about myself, I can only hope my concept will eventually help girls not only in
South Georgia, but help girls around our country.
· Click here to go back to the list of Fall Contest winners
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