In December, 45 local students entered papers into the Grand Rapids Right to Life second annual Prolife Essay Contest.
The competition, open to students in grades 7-9 in the junior category and students in grades 10-12 in the senior category, required participants to answer the question “What Can I Do to Build a Prolife Generation?”In the senior division, David Bridge, a senior, won first place and Clare Lindgren, a sophomore, won second place. In the junior contest, Jack Schichtel and Breanna Quinn, both freshmen, won first and second place respectively. Their essays demonstrated strong writing skills, thoughtful ideas, and a firm belief that they truly are part of the “prolife generation”.
“In order to create a prolife generation, we must first envision what a world without abortion is like,” Bridge wrote. “Envision is the key word. Not dreaming, not imagining, but realizing this idea has the potential to become reality.”
Lindgren wrote, “The way to transform the society is to transform the people who live in it. Teaching others to love and respect life will help transform the culture of today.”
Judges Susan LaBarge and Jessi Engelsma were impressed and encouraged to see so many students thinking seriously about the issue. “It gives the older generation faith in the future when the youngsters have such firm moral beliefs,” one commented.
The winners received monetary prizes and their essays will be submitted to the National Right to Life competition in January.