"What Freedom Means to Me" Essay Selected in Local Contest
Launch the media gallery 1 playerThe Goodland Elks Lodge sponsored a local essay contest for junior high students. Students were asked to write on the topic "What Freedom Means to Me" as an assignment in Mrs. Gibson's English class. Clarice Neitzel, St. Francis 8th grade student, wrote an essay that was selected as one of the top three essays in the local contest. The top three essays will be sent on for district judging. The district contest winners will receive U.S. savings bonds. Congratulations, Clarice!
Clarice's essay can be found below:
“What Does Freedom Mean to Me?”
Have you ever thought about the meaning of freedom? To me,
freedom means to be able to learn from my mistakes. If I didn’t
have freedom, I would have to do what the top authorities always
tell me to do. I don’t have any room for mistakes so it would be
harder to learn about life.
Freedom also means having the time to do things right. No freedom,
in this case, would mean that I wouldn’t have any time for
fantastic, clever thoughts. I would have to do things extremely
precise and quick. When I don’t have freedom, I am under pressure
constantly. While I am under so much pressure, it makes it a more
stressful world to live in.
One last example of what freedom means to me is being able to do
many things without being forced into doing anything. No freedom
means that I might have to enlist in the army reluctantly. I might
even be forced to quarter troops and watch them take over my home!
If I didn’t have freedom, I might have to get married at a young
age and start a family which I have no intention of doing at my
age. My life minus freedom would equal being controlled with
everything. When I don’t have freedom I can’t do anything except
for what the strict laws tell me to do.
In summary, we are lucky to be in a society of freedom. Just
remember, we are the land of the free and the home of the
brave!
Clarice Neitzel
8th Grade
St. Francis Junior High
Goodland Elks
