Foreword by Sir John Templeton / xi
On Helping Others: In Truth, Giving Is Receiving
Kacey Mason, Winchester, TN / 3
On Optimism: Standing High on the Peaks of Life
Arjay Velasco, Bronx, NY / 6
On Love: Sometimes to Love Means to Sacrifice
Leah Webber, Crestline, OH / 8
On Forgiving Others: Nothing Should Keep Us from Forgiving Each Other
Ashlee Cook, Cleveland, TN / 10
On Honesty: Is Honesty Still the Best Policy?
Peter Blair, Nassau, Bahamas/ 14
On Courage: Let Me Show Courage in Everything I Do
Andrew Gilman, Troy, NC / 18
On Helping Others: Learning to Give
Claire Nettles, Clinton, MS / 21
On Honesty and Respect: Teaching the Values that Matter Most
Kwonneung (Stephen) Kim, Brooklyn, NY / 24
On Living by Your Values: The Laws of Life Will Guide You Through the Roughest Times
Ashley Cowan, Lima, OH / 27
On Kindness and Believing in Yourself: To Thine Own Self Be True
William Barrie, Fairfield, CT / 30
On Respect: What I Learned from Carl
Nick Maney, West Palm Beach, FL / 32
On Redemption: The Epiphany
Arliss Feathergill, Winona, MN / 35
On Integrity: Keeping Your Word
Peter MacLean, Port Glasgow, UK / 39
On Living Life to the Fullest: Last Day
Denise Signorelli, Plymouth, MN / 42
On Family, Honesty, and Believing in Yourself: What I Learned from My Family
Tamara George, Alvin, TX / 45
On Kindness: Go Out and Do Something Kind Today
Joanisa Tenreiro, Naples, FL / 47
On Having Faith: We Are Here by Grace
Andrew Wasuwongse, Media, PA / 49
On Family: Don’t Take a Loved One for Granted
Chelsea Rose, Bryn Athyn, PA / 53
On Optimism: Positive Thinking Is Contagious
Julie Johnston, Kingwood, TX / 56
On Not Judging Others: Look with Your Heart, Not with Your Eyes
Melissa Jackson, Rawlins, WY / 58
On Integrity: We Must Strive to Live with Integrity
Emily Garrett, Sanford, NC / 63
On Kindness: The Simple Hand That I Have to Offer
Mollie Barnes, Spirit Lake, IA / 67
On Helping Others: Learning a Valuable Lesson
Laia Mitchell, Tallahassee, FL / 70
On Optimism: The Only Person in Charge of My Attitude Is Me
Angela Ross, Philadelphia, PA / 72
On Believing in Yourself: When You Look in the Mirror, Do You Like What You See?
Elizabeth Cherry, Hickory, NC / 75
On The Importance of Learning, Faith, and Family: Reaching My Goals
Anitra Raiford, Gainesville, FL / 78
On Helping Others: I Can’t Forget and I Won’t Ignore
Tara Coughlin, Philadelphia, PA / 80
On Optimism: Accentuate the Positive, Eliminate the Negative!
D. Michael Reynolds, Jr., North Little Rock, AR / 83
On Love: Don’t Let the Chain of Love End with You
Alexandra Silverman, Clayton, MO / 85
On Love: Gone, Yet Not Forgotten
Melissa Young, Acton, Ontario, Canada / 88
On Compassion and the Pursuit of Excellence: Having a Set of Rules to Live by Is a Great Tool for Success
Sherrie Crouch, Kingston Springs, TN / 90
On Honesty: Honesty Will Help Me Achieve My Goals
Paulina Klinkosz, Mayfield Heights, OH / 93
On Love, Justice, and Compassion: Principles for True Freedom
Suzanne Schumann, Hixson, TN / 95
On Compassion: Judge Not Lest Ye Be Judged
Amanda Edwards, Cincinnati, OH/ 97
On Trying Your Hardest: Success Is a Journey, Not a Destination
Tyler Brinkmann, Carlyle, IL / 100
On Living Life to the Fullest: Enjoy Every Second
Wu Meng (Wendy Wu), Beijing, China / 102
On Having Faith and Living Life Simply: Life’s Precious Gifts
Genevieve Owusu Ansah, Kumasi, Ghana / 105
On the Importance of Learning: Half Knowledge Is a Dangerous Thing
V. Ganesh, Chennai, India / 107
On Believing in Yourself: The Perfect Life
Anne Saab, Beirut, Lebanon / 109
On Happiness: Life Has So Many Wonderful Things to Offer
Elisha Reid, Victoria, Australia / 111
On Living Life to the Fullest: Don’t Toy with Time
Lisa Jennings, Delta Junction, AK / 113
On Living by Your Values: The Laws of Life Will Continue to Influence My Life
Vassily Polyvianny, Ivanovo, Russian Federation / 116
On Courage: Overcoming Fear
Amy Schnelle, Medford, WI / 119
On Perseverance: The Greatest Law of Life
Jesse Gordon, Denham Springs, LA / 122
On Kindness: Say a Kind Word to Someone Else at Least Once a Day
Lindi Davis, Napa, CA / 125
On Optimism and Living Life to the Fullest: If Nothing Else, These Will Build Character
Katharine Boicourt, Trappe, MD / 127
On Helping Others, Passion, and Integrity: Eight Birds, Two Mountains, and One Big Yellow Chevy Malibu
Lindsay Braman, Point Lookout, MO / 130
On Love: Nurturing Love in a Flower Pot
Neil Diaz, Huntington Park, CA / 135
On Helping Others: Everyone Can Make a Difference
Jessica Atwell, Encinitas, CA/ 138
On Family: A Kind and Loving Family
Alexander Sorenson, Altadena, CA / 141
On Having Faith: Nothing Great Was Ever Achieved Without Faith
Desiree Eroy-Reveles, Oceanside, CA / 144
On Courage: The Essential Life Quality
Monique Jones, Oceanside, CA / 146
On Living Life to the Fullest: My Turning Point
Nadine Bastiampillai, Toronto, Ontario, Canada / 148
On Respect: Respecting Other People Can Make a Difference
Malieka Overton, Albion, PA / 151
On Living by Your Values: The Train to Attain Character
Kati Lestmann, Dayton, TN / 153
On Love: The Power of Love
Gloria Kung, Kennesaw, GA / 156
On Living Life Simply: I Experienced Giving with the Hands of God
Victoria Kintner, Shreveport, LA / 159
On Perseverance: What I Learned from My Grandmother
Anna Kopel, North Mankato, MN / 162
On Patience: Getting Past the Potholes of Life
Kevin Holloway, St. Louis, MO / 165
On Living by Your Values: A Recipe for Character
Margaret Therese (Terry) Bruns, Greensboro, NC / 168
On Compassion: Taking the Time to Smile
Nicole Kuncl, Jenson Beach, FL / 171
On Living Life to the Fullest: The Most Important Part of Life Is Life Itself
Lisa Avery, Omaha, NE / 174
Indexes
Listing of Contest Locations / 179
Listing of Contest Sponsors / 180
Listing of Essay Themes / 185
About Sir John Templeton / 189
