Good Life Award - Winners
2007
Good Life Award Writing Contest
Honorable Mention
Katy Steele
9th Grade, Centerville High School
| A good life; a simplistic phrase with more complexities than we may care to know. Sought after by the millions and achieved only by those with a firm grasp on what the ambiguous phrase means to them. Unfortunately, we live in a society that thrusts the idea upon us that a good life means possessing wealth, shiny cars and a beautiful appearance intended for others to envy. While we struggle in this atmosphere, all ages experience the want for a good life, but in high school the need for it is intensified by the desire to conform to superficial and sometimes dangerous standards. So, as a high school student I am often confronted with choices to make about how to find happiness in my own way.
The high school environment reflects a wide range of people; with such diverse beliefs it’s common to witness people making decisions I disagree with. A daily high school student’s path may encounter things as big as drinking and as small as skipping class. Voices in your head may seem to say “Why shouldn’t I do that?” Temptation brushes against you and it would be easy to make the wrong choice. Let us stop and think about this. Making a wrong choice may seem right in this moment but what about in a year or in ten years? When I’m grown, I want to look back on my life and be proud of what I accomplished. I have multiple goals, for instance attending my dream college and pursuing a career I’m passionate about. I will not allow my future to be hindered by poor choices from the past. Looking ahead helps me abstain from wrong decisions, because I know that achieving my goals will bring me that much closer to the good life I dream of reaching. Every person in this world has both someone they look up to and someone who looks up to them. Some of us choose to admire parents or a religious figure because they have qualities and traits we someday hope to acquire. At the same time, while we may not even realize it, teenagers are in a delicate position as we fulfill the role of admirable figure to the little eyes surrounding us. I have a little brother, Brandon, and despite the age difference we are very close. A younger sibling can at times be referred to as a burden, but Brandon is my source of motivation. I remind myself that he’s looking at how I live as an example, and I would never want for him to be disappointed in his big sister’s choices. The journey through high school takes us all through twists and bends. When we find ourselves at a fork in the road, we must take the path that leads to a future with no regrets. Walk straight ahead toward the horizon, never steering left or right, never compromising your values, only look into the distance where true happiness is waiting to be found. |