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Sophomores complete ‘This I Believe’ essays
- By Denise Keller
- Published 12/23/2008
- Front Page
- Unrated
A project based on a 1950’s radio series has helped students belonging to Selah High School’s class of 2011 identify their core values and beliefs. As part of their culminating project required for graduation, all Selah High sophomores recently completed writing “This I Believe” essays.
This I Believe, hosted by journalist Edward R. Murrow, was a radio program featuring people - from celebrities to common folks - reading their statements of belief.
The idea has been revived. Newly written This I Believe essays air on NPR and two books have been published containing a compilation of modern day essays alongside essays from the original radio broadcasts.
Selah High School English teacher Elizabeth Meissner bought a copy of one of those books. Reading it inspired her to ask her students to write their own essays, an idea shared with colleagues in her department. With support from principal Joe Jones, the project became a shared learning experience for all sophomores.
“It has grown bigger than just an assignment or a project,” Meissner said. “It has been amazing to see the critical thinking and the exploring of themselves that has taken place.”
Callie Witt began writing her essay about the idea that history is the future. Realizing she wanted to have a paper with deeper meaning, she started over. In the end, she chose to draw from personal experience and write about her belief that no one should be judged.
“This paper is more than an assignment. It’s really important. You’re finding yourself and who you want to be someday,” Witt said. “It helped us learn more about ourselves and who we are.”
Through the project, students began making a shift from writing to impress the teacher to writing to express themselves.
“Students realized that it’s not what you get, whether it be a grade or praise,” Jones said. “But it’s what you learn or what you become.”
The exercise also gave a voice to students who may not often feel like they’re heard, Jones said.
“I’m really quiet. I’m really opinionated, though,” said student Megan Beam. “I don’t usually speak up unless I’m asked about something. This was a way to put my opinion out there without worrying about what others are going to think about it.”
Beam wrote her essay about her belief that music is life. With the opportunity to write about a passion, Beam embraced new writing techniques and gained confidence in her skills.
“It started out as an assignment but when I finished it, I was like, ‘wow.’ I realized how much potential I had for writing.”
Topics of the sophomore class’s This I Believe essays ranged from reputations to shoes.
Mari Jones titled her essay, “Passionate Games.” The following is an excerpt from her writing.
“When putting this strong desire towards a common goal, I believe those people that choose to do so will receive uncommon results. I believe in the greater power of a desire… in the fact that that little bit of momentum from within is the difference between, not a loss or a win, but victory over defeat. I believe sports is passion.”
Brandon Riddle called his paper, “Everything Happens for a Reason.”
“I believe everything happens for a reason. Events happen because I believe that someone much greater than us acts in extraordinary ways, as in an act [to] do something to tell us if we are on the right trail in life or if we made a wrong turn three miles back,” Riddle wrote.
Students will be submitting their writing for consideration to be part of the national radio series, This I Believe. Some essays will also be featured on the school’s website.
Jones would like to extend an invitation to members of the community to write their own This I Believe essay and come share their writing with students. Writing tips and guidelines can be found online at www.thisibelieve.org.
This I Believe, hosted by journalist Edward R. Murrow, was a radio program featuring people - from celebrities to common folks - reading their statements of belief.
The idea has been revived. Newly written This I Believe essays air on NPR and two books have been published containing a compilation of modern day essays alongside essays from the original radio broadcasts.
Selah High School English teacher Elizabeth Meissner bought a copy of one of those books. Reading it inspired her to ask her students to write their own essays, an idea shared with colleagues in her department. With support from principal Joe Jones, the project became a shared learning experience for all sophomores.
“It has grown bigger than just an assignment or a project,” Meissner said. “It has been amazing to see the critical thinking and the exploring of themselves that has taken place.”
Callie Witt began writing her essay about the idea that history is the future. Realizing she wanted to have a paper with deeper meaning, she started over. In the end, she chose to draw from personal experience and write about her belief that no one should be judged.
“This paper is more than an assignment. It’s really important. You’re finding yourself and who you want to be someday,” Witt said. “It helped us learn more about ourselves and who we are.”
Through the project, students began making a shift from writing to impress the teacher to writing to express themselves.
“Students realized that it’s not what you get, whether it be a grade or praise,” Jones said. “But it’s what you learn or what you become.”
The exercise also gave a voice to students who may not often feel like they’re heard, Jones said.
“I’m really quiet. I’m really opinionated, though,” said student Megan Beam. “I don’t usually speak up unless I’m asked about something. This was a way to put my opinion out there without worrying about what others are going to think about it.”
Beam wrote her essay about her belief that music is life. With the opportunity to write about a passion, Beam embraced new writing techniques and gained confidence in her skills.
“It started out as an assignment but when I finished it, I was like, ‘wow.’ I realized how much potential I had for writing.”
Topics of the sophomore class’s This I Believe essays ranged from reputations to shoes.
Mari Jones titled her essay, “Passionate Games.” The following is an excerpt from her writing.
“When putting this strong desire towards a common goal, I believe those people that choose to do so will receive uncommon results. I believe in the greater power of a desire… in the fact that that little bit of momentum from within is the difference between, not a loss or a win, but victory over defeat. I believe sports is passion.”
Brandon Riddle called his paper, “Everything Happens for a Reason.”
“I believe everything happens for a reason. Events happen because I believe that someone much greater than us acts in extraordinary ways, as in an act [to] do something to tell us if we are on the right trail in life or if we made a wrong turn three miles back,” Riddle wrote.
Students will be submitting their writing for consideration to be part of the national radio series, This I Believe. Some essays will also be featured on the school’s website.
Jones would like to extend an invitation to members of the community to write their own This I Believe essay and come share their writing with students. Writing tips and guidelines can be found online at www.thisibelieve.org.