Jodie Hilt Recognized For Writing
Jodie Hilt was recently recognized as being a state semifinalist in the Letters About Literature reading and writing initiative. Jodie's entry was selected as one of 106 semi-finalist letters from Kansas. The following are exerpts from the letter Jodie received honoring her achievement.
"Sponsored in Kansas by the Kansas Center for the Book, a program of the State Library, the Letters About Literature was immensely successful. Almost 56,000 students entered nationally, and about 1,300 letters came from Kansas."
"Nine judges who are Fellows of the Kansas Center for the Book and either authors, college professors or professional librarians, recommended several letters in each of three levels: grades 4-6, grades 7-8, and grades 9-12. The letter receiving the highest recommendations from three judges of each of the three levels became a state winner. Needless to say, competition was very tough."
"Every Kansas student who entered the Letters About Literature initiative has benefitted by reading a book and writing a letter to its author. The enclosed certificate celebrates your participation in the Letters About Literature and your achievement as a semifinalist in this reading and writing project."
Congratulations, Jodie!
Jodie's Letter to author Nicholas Sparks appears below:
Dear Nicholas Sparks,
Last year during my eighth grade year, I read your book for the
first time. Your book really changed my life because it helped me
to realize that I’m not invincible. Something could happen to me
much like what happened to Jamie Sullivan, a sweet girl, who always
carried a Bible with her to school. It changed her life
dramatically and it could do the same to mine.
A Walk to Remember stood out to me because as a child I remember my
grandparents fighting diseases such as multiple sclerosis and heart
diseases in some of the same ways that Jamie had to fight her
leukemia.
I remember sitting at the kitchen table listening to the nurses
say, “A few more steps, Linda,” to my grandma as she struggled to
make it back to her chair. Multiple sclerosis was taking over her
life. It was a very hard thing I had to go through when I was just
a little girl. Also, my Grandma Henderson has been like Jamie in
many ways. She struggles through heart diseases, during periods of
sickness and in health. She’s underwent many operations to cure her
breast cancer and help her heart.
Even though nothing of the sort has happened to me, I feel like I
know somewhat what Landon went through trying to care of his love
of his life, Jamie Sullivan. Because of this, I feel like we share
a sense of sadness towards our family members.
I noticed while reading this book that tomorrow is never guaranteed
and we need to live each day to the fullest. I learned this also
when my grandpa died in a car accident in 2004. My grandpa and I
were very close and we used to do everything together. When I found
out that he was killed in the accident, I felt very much like
Landon did after he found out that Jamie was dying. Hurt, angry,
sad, and not to mention depressed were some of the feelings if
felt. I wanted to blame myself for not being there telling him to
out his seatbelt on to keep him from getting thrown from the
vehicle. I still feel the same way now that I did on that I did the
day it happened. It was all an experience that will stick with me
for the rest of my life just as it will with Landon.
In conclusion this was one of the best books I have ever read
during the fifteen years of my life. It helped me to cope with the
catastrophes that have hit my family over the years. A Walk to
Remember helped let me know that I’m not alone and there are people
worse off than me. Thank you for writing this book for others and
for me.
Sincerely,
Jodie Hilt
Jodie Hilt
St. Francis Community High School
P.O. Box 1110
St. Francis, KS 67756
