Grade: 4

1st Place
We are all different
By: L. Schaleigh Davenport
School: Falls Valley Elementary

People are different in many ways.  Like if you're blind and you can't see.  I have a girl that goes to my school and she has to have a cane so she can go where she needs to.  Also, I have a friend named Frankie and he's deaf.  I have learned to sign with him and I help him out.  People are different if you're taller or shorter and if your skin is different.  People have different colors of hair and size of body.  They even have different color of eyes, ear, and different nose sizes.  People have different accents and talk different languages.

Some times you go to different types of churches.  Some of my friends are different because they can't play on Sunday or don't go to church at night.  That's alright because I have other friends to play with on Sunday and when we go to church at night.

I am different also because I am black and white so I put grease in my hair and other people don't.  You can be different if you have long hair or short hair or long eyelashes or short, it is still good.  Another reason I am different is because I am black and white, I don't have to curl my hair but I don't have to straighten it either.  I think that is a good thing.

I am different from my sister because she has blue eyes and I have brown eyes.  But I like that.  Most people at my school are white and I am not.  People have different ways of thinking like if they think white is a good color to be or if they think mixed is good or black or brown is good.  I don't care.

I don't care that I am not the same as everyone else because nobody is the same.  Everybody is different someway.  I don't care how they look and what they can not do; it's just if they are nice.  I think different people are great!  It's good to not be the same because it would be lame.  I'm not deaf, but I like my friend and I like doing sign language with him.  I am the only mixed person in my class and I don't care because they treat me the same and I treat them the same.

2nd Place
We are all different
By: Logan Burtenshaw
School: Iona Elementary

Hello, my name is Logan Burtenshaw.  Let's talk about diversity.  I have blue eyes and blond hair.  My skin is tan and I was born in Cleveland, Ohio which is in North America.  I am very different than you.  You might have brown eyes and black hair.  Your skin may be peach or brown and maybe you were born in South America.  I might speak

English and you might speak Spanish.  These examples make us diverse from each other.  Diversity is very important because you wouldn't like to see the same things every day all day.  It is important to feel special and being different than everyone else makes us special. 

I went to a friend's birthday party and they have traditions that are different from my traditions.  It's exciting to break open a pinata and eat steak and beans from the barbeque.  When I have a birthday party, I might take my friends bowling or to a movie.  It is fun to try something that is different from what I do.  We can learn new things from other people.  Diversity is what makes me want to travel to other countries and see new things.  We can learn from each other and communicate in different ways.  Diversity is very important because it makes us what we are and everyone is special.  And that's how diversity works.

3nd Place
We Are All Different
By: By Flavio Avida
School: Fairview Elementary

My family is different from others because we speak Spanish.  I have to learn two different languages and that's not easy.  We live on a farm, and we live in a trailer and others live in houses.  I think it is good for everyone to be different languages and we learn how to write different ways, Indians using pictures and Chinese write in symbols.

I think being different is good because we learn from each other.  We make new friends. 

Honorable Mention
We are All Different
By: C.J. Hansen
School: Hope Lutheran School

We are all different because there are different states and countries.  One way we are different is our cultures.  Our culture is what we are, our skin color, what we wear.  I am a quarter Indian but I'm still American.  There are many skin colors, black, white, tan, and other colors.  Sometimes if you are way Indian you wear special clothes, piercings, and sometimes bengals.  Another thing that is different is our hair color.  There are many colors of hair.  Being different is good cause if we were the same there wouldn't be a lot of color or personality.

Honorable Mention
We are All Different
By: Jordin Clements
School: Fairview Elementary

We are all different.  We have different names.  Some names are long and some are short.  Some have family names.  Some have new and different names.  We are various sizes and looks.  Some of us are very tall while others are small.  Some of us have freckles while others don't. We have  different skin colors.  White, tan, yellowish, and brown skin can be seen.  Those living an easy life will have soft skin.  People who work outside have hard, tough skin.  We have different likes.  Some like Star Wars or army toys.  Girls would probably prefer dolls.  People may like pizza, salad, or hamburgers while others like Chinese, Mexican, or French foods.  I think being different is good because we can learn from other people.  If everyone were exactly the same, life would be boring.

Honorable Mention
We are All Different
By: Andrew Jue
School: Hope Lutheran School

Everyone is different.  Some examples of being different are people who are American and people who are Chinese.  We also have different skin color, gender, size, birth place, and preferences.  Sometimes it is good to be different. Some examples are you can learn a second language easier and when you go to someone else's house, they won't have the same toys, books, instruments, pets, and bed as you.  Sometimes it is bad to be different.  Some examples are you get picked on, called names, and get teased.  Everyone is different and sometimes it is good and sometimes it is bad.

Honorable Mention
We are All Different
By: Carlie Prouse
School:

Hello.  My name is Carlie Prouse.  I am different from other people.  I am an American.  I have tannish skin.  My other friends have white and brownish skin.  We are all different because....if we were all the same the world would be dull and boring.  Besides we are glad that we are different.  People should be themselves.  That's how we are.  We have different tastes.  For example, I prefer Chinese food.  My mom prefers Mexican food.  We also have different religions, languages, home lives, and many others.  I'm really glad that we are very unlike each other--thank goodness!  Here are some more examples, we all live in different places like I live in Idaho.  Other people live in Japan and California.  We also have different hobbies.  Like I love to do ballet.  My brother likes to do basketball.  My dad likes to hunt.  Mrs. Herbst my teacher likes to teach.  So does my other teacher Mrs. Ricks.  People also like to go on trips.  Some citizens like to go to Lagoon, Disney Land, and their cabins.  Everybody's glad that we are different.  Even pets are!  That's how diversity works!

Grade: 5

1st place
We are All Different
By: Austin Isom
School: Westside

We are all different, but what does that mean to me? Well, as I sit in my fifth grade class surrounded by other kids, this means that I'm not the same as everyone else. Some wear glasses, some wear braces, some wear dresses and most of the boys wear jeans. Some kids are older than ten and some kids are younger. Some speak different languages, some are shy like me, and others are loud. Several speak Spanish as their first language; one girl sitting next to me is from Russia and does not speak English very well. Sometimes I help her with her language and she laughs, then I get into trouble from the teacher, but I'm more than happy to help her. I like to make people laugh; I don't like to get into trouble from my teacher, though.

I used to think it was sad that I was so different from everyone else. Kids used to laugh at me because I have mole on my face and my teeth are not as straight and white as other kids.' This used to really bother me. They would tease me about it constantly once they knew that it bothered me, but now I realize, hey, I am not the same as everyone else, so it should not bother me. Do I really want to be like everyone else? My mom says that it is a good thing we are not alike, that we are all so different in the United States, that we can voice our opinions and our likes and dislikes. My dad says that things have changed a lot from when he was a kid, that religion and skin color were large issues way back then. I am glad that it is not that way today.

Things would be boring if we were not so different. We couldn't learn as much about other countries if we didn't have such diversity in school.

So what does diversity mean to me? It means that my friends are all my friends no matter what language they speak or what color of skin, hair, or eyes they have and that we are so lucky to live in a country that allows diversity.

2nd place
We are All Different
By: Samuel Berrett
School: Roberts Elementary

I think we are all different and it is a good thing, because if everyone looked the same, we would not know who is who. My father is American and my mother is Japanese, so I look like both of them.

Besides how we look, we are all different inside, too. If everyone thought the same, we would not learn anything. My parents believe in different religions, and I believe in both, and they always support me.

I think what it means to not be the same as everyone else is to look different and think different. Being different doesn't mean we should fight over whose culture or religion is better. We can't live together if we fight over who is better. We should respect other people even if we believe in different things because we are all equal.

3rd Place
We are All Different
By: Karissa Huntsman
School:

Everyone is different. Everyone has his or her own personality and everyone looks different. Identical twins look the same but there are not the same. Each one is unique. I have two pairs of friends that are identical twins. I have grown to be able to tell them apart because of their personalities. Being different means that everyone is unique and special in his or her own way.

People used to use being different against you. For example, there was segregation. Segregation was when black and white people couldn't go to the same schools, restaurants, or even drink out of the same drinking fountains. You could get in trouble for going in the same restrooms. People turned black people into slaves because they were different. Luckily, it isn't the same anymore. Now blacks can do all the same things.

Some people say if you're different, you're weird, but I say being different is great!

Honorable Mention
We are All Different
By: Kaleb Judy
School: Woodland Hills

Everyone is different. Whether it be how we dress, how we live, what language we speak, or our religion, we are all different. Some of us are similar, but no one is exactly the same. Not even identical twins are exactly the same. This is because we are all individual people with unique personalities.

Various religions have a major effect on who we become. What we are taught may be different. Some of us might not even have a religion or go to church. Since there are so many religions, lots of people have different beliefs.

Another example of how we are different is what language we speak. People speak many different languages, and therefore have a difficult time communication with each other. Furthermore, some people dress differently than others. Some of us may wear t-shirts and jeans, while others might wear blouses and skirts. Some (depending on where they're from) may wear something totally different.

Most people live differently than one another. For example, people may have different jobs, such as ranchers, professional football players, teachers, or engineers. These are a few of the many examples of how we are different.

You should never make fun of somebody because he or she is different from you. If everyone was exactly the same, the world would be a very boring place, but since people are all unique, it makes the world a very interesting place. These are some of the reasons "We Are All Different."

Grade: 6

1st Place
We are All Different
By: Isaac Hassel
School: IDVA

Red, yellow, black, and white: there are precious in His sight. Many countries, one family. Our differences make us unique, but we are like any other family: bonded with love. We are an international family with the same last name. I guess you could call us a bunch of Hassels, since our last name is Hassel.

It wasn't always like that. A few years ago, I was the only child, but my parents decided to adopt someone. They signed some papers, and in a little bit, Mom, Dad, and I were boarding the plane to Guatemala.

We went to Guatemala in 2003 and came home with baby Miriam. Next, baby Sarah-my second sister-came home from China. On the third and fourth trips, we adopted 8-year-old Isaiah and 6-year-old Elijah from Guatemala. Our family was complete.

We are all different. Sarah is the animal lover. Miriam wants to be an astronaut. Elijah and Isaiah like to play basketball. I like to read books and play legos. We are no different than any other family, yet we look different, so people wonder if these are my brothers and sisters. Some people ask if these are my brothers and sisters and I say, "Of course. They certainly are."

Sarah has almond-shaped eyes and straight black hair. Miriam has big brown eyes and wavy brown hair. Isaiah has black hair and brown skin. Elijah has wavy, thick, brown hair and tan skin. I have blond hair and blue eyes.

We are all home schooled. We have the same teacher, Mom. However, we are all in different grades. We learn at different rates.

Dinnertime is a time to argue over who gets to do what job, like pour the milk, spoon the fruit, and make the girls sit down. Once we are all seated, we talk about our day. Each child talks about what is important to him and what he plans to do tomorrow.

We are the same in other ways, too. We kids all hate chores and love play. We love Christmas and birthday parties. We like to wrestle Dad.

In heaven, it is said that all people and all the nations will live in unity. I see my family as a little bit of Heaven on Earth.

2nd Place
We are All Different
By: Courtney Berdrow
School: Iona Elementary

Diversity is a good thing. We wouldn't all want to look the same. That would be boring-very boring.

What do you think of Rosa Parks? I think she was so brave and intelligent. In reading we are learning about Rosa Parks and how unfairly blacks were treated back then. Now, I think the way blacks were treated was cruel and mean. What I don't get is why they did that. The only difference between whites and black is the color of their skin.

Rosa Parks was a black woman who would not give up her seat on the bus to a white man. She ended up getting arrested. I think that Rosa Parks was very brave to stand up for herself, to stand up to segregation. From now on, I will think of her as strong and able to stand up for herself, unlike all the others who gave up their seats.

So always keep in mind that the way you look doesn't matter; it is how you feel about yourself and how treat yourself. Always remember that diversity is a good thing because we don't all want to look alike; that would be boring and weird. Feel good about yourself now, no matter what.

3rd Place
We are All Different
By: Madeleine Coles
School: Midway

In the animal or plant kingdoms, can you find an exact replica? Certainly not. They are all different for a reason, just like the human race. I am different. Being different means a lot, but does it mean you are an outcast? Of course not! There are simply some people who think being different is sometimes bad.

Ugly. This is a word that many people use if someone is not the same as them. Everyone has different races, but who defines ugly? If someone's face is covered in zits, it simply makes them different from someone with smooth skin. Is someone with smooth skin pretty? Pretty is exactly like ugly, despite them being antonyms. They are both silly words that have no more or less meaning than "blibberish!" God made us all like snowflakes. We can be similar, but no one is exactly the same.

I think a lesson about differences can always be learned. Countless times I have witnessed people being teased and discriminated against for being different. The people who do this obviously have no idea how important it is to be different. I used to be in speech because I couldn't say my "R" sounds properly. I was badly teased about it. Last year, a boy in my class made fun of me when he saw my speech homework. It made me very ashamed because the homework was reading stories, similar to first grade decodable books, with proper "R" sounds. I was on the verge of tears at that moment, but looking back on it, I wish I had told him that I was proud I went to speech. I was not stupid; I just needed a little push to keep me on track. I am happy I went to speech. It made me appreciate the people who are not like me.

Of course, you can see some of the same characteristics in families. If a father has brown hair, it's likely that at least one of his children will have brown hair. But children will also have traits of their own, marks of the differences. Some people may be snide about your differences, but if you have frizzy hair and a squashed down nose accompanied by thick glasses, hold your head high, because we are all different!

Honorable Mention
We are All Different
By: Gabrielle Styhl
School: Iona Elementary

We are all different. Everyone comes in different shapes and sizes. It doesn't matter if I'm tall and she's short or if she has blue eyes and he has brown eyes. We are all unique. The culture of one person may be different from the culture of another person.

Sometimes we forget that if someone is different from everybody else, we shouldn't make fun of him; we should make friends. I think in a way, we're all related not by blood, but by heart and by God.

I think we should all think about what some people say about other people who have different colored skin. Just because some people have different colored skin doesn't mean that they should be treated differently.

Diversity, to me, means that we are all different and unique. Everyone has their likes and dislikes. We may not agree with what a person likes, but it's the way they are and we need to accept that. Everyone is special in their own way.

Honorable Mention
We are All Different
By: Sadie High
School: Midway

Some people may look at twins and think that they like the same things and are capable of doing the same things. They're actually different. My brothers are twins and my mom puts them in separate classes at school because of it. Yes, twins are different, and we are, too! It doesn't matter if we look different or are identical. On the inside, we're still different.

Do you remember learning about the time when whites and blacks were completely separated? That's a time when people took differences a bad way. Blacks would go to different schools than whites. Blacks would even have to sit at certain places on the bus. Of course, then Martin Luther King, Jr. came and changed that. Now we see blacks and whites mixed everywhere! We need more people like Martin Luther King, Jr. in this world to tell people differences are good!

People are different in looks, abilities, and likes. You could be friends with a rich person if your family isn't rich. It doesn't matter what people say. You can ignore it, you know. At times it may seem that differences are the worst things to happen in your life, but differences are needed to make life fun!

Grade: 7

1st place
What Diversity Means to Me
By: Caleb Coleman Child
School:

In my early childhood, I had a "best" friend.  Jon and I were introduced to each other at about 3 years of age.  He lived 2 houses away from me and over the next 4 years we were inseparable.  We spent every day, that we could, playing at each other's houses and imagining our futures as astronauts, cowboys, great hunters, and veterinarians, but most of all best friends.  It was not until our kindergarten year that we were attending school and some other students pointed out that Jon looked different.  The difference is, Jon is Korean and his skin color is different than mine.  But it didn't make any difference to either of us then or now.  When we talk of Diversity, I can honestly say that I was raised in a home that I was taught that we may have different colors of skin, or we may believe differently, or may even speak a different language or have a different walk, but we were all created equal.  Thank goodness for a difference in all of us.  An American Proverb quotes, "Variety is the spice of life."

Could you imagine the most beautiful bouquet of flowers sitting on your kitchen table?  When you look at it, are there not different flowers, colors, textures and lengths.  The bouquet would not be as beautiful if it was all the same.  Just because someone may look different from us, does that mean we exclude him or her, or ignore him or her?

The opposite of diversity is prejudice.  Yes prejudice exists, but it doesn't mean that it has to exist in my world; it doesn't mean that I have to exclude others. We need to be more tolerant of others and accepting of their differences.

As I attend school and participate in sports and activities with other students I am glad that there is diversity amongst everyone.  It adds to the topics and helps us all recognize that others opinions, choices, thoughts, and beliefs can make for great learning.  I hope that I can always appreciate my friend Jon for teaching me at a very young age that neither he nor I are any different because of the color of our skin.  Together with our DIVERSITIES we make a great team.

2nd place
What Diversity Means to Me
By: Steffany Snell
School: White Pine Charter School

Diversity can be many things.  According to the American Heritage dictionary, diversity means the fact or quality of being diverse; different.  If you look around, there is diversity everywhere, and it is not hidden.  If you walk around in a mall or a supermarket, there are all different kinds of people.  Black, White, Asian, Hispanic, and even Native American.  I think that diversity means just being different.  From race to religion. It is not always about what color you are, it sometimes is about what style you are.  For instance, you might see a person with jeans and a button-up shirt, but if you look to your other side, you might see a person with all black on.  Black fingernails, black lipstick, black hair, everything.  That person just wants to be different.  Sometimes I think that if diversity was not here, I could imagine everyone looking just the same.  Not only their faces, but their ways.  I can imagine a long corridor with thousands of doors and each time you open one, expecting a different person, they are just the same as the person that opened the last door you knocked on.  The same religion, the same family values.  All of the above.

My life is full of diversity.  Living in Idaho Falls, the majority of the people here are LDS Caucasian people.  Being African-African American and Christian, I am very diverse.  I am the only 7^th grader that is African-American in my school and the majority of my school is LDS.  At school, my peers would be talking about what is going on in their ward, and I would be talking about what is going on in my Pentecostal church.

To me, being different is a good thing because if I wasn't different, I wouldn't know what it would be like to be different and know how it feels.  I like who I am and what I am, because to me, being different and diverse is a really good thing.

Like any average American teen, I sometimes feel that being diverse makes you weird. I like to talk about good books that came out, what my favorite movies are, and what kind of swim meets I like to attend.  Not everybody likes to talk about those kinds of things.  It is hard sometimes to be diverse, but I find that being your self is a lot easier than trying to be like everyone else.

In my community, in this case my neighborhood, we have all different kinds of people.  From White to Japanese.  We have all different kinds of ethnic and religious backgrounds and we are all okay with it.  I have all kinds of friends and we are all diverse in many different ways.  What I really love about my neighborhood is that there are not judgments just because you don't have as much money as the other or you don't have the same religion or even if your skin is a little darker than your neighbors'.

My views of diversity may be different from the person next to me, but you know what?  I like being different and I will always be different.  Being different is always a good thing because if everybody was the same, there would be no diversity.

3rd Place
What Diversity Means to Me
By: Shay Cordona
School: Rocky Mountain Middle School

What diversity means to me, is having the same or different ethnic, religions, age, language, homes, and a lot of other things.  To me, none of that matters.  Well, I better introduce myself.

My name is Shay Cardona, I'm 13 years old.  I live in Idaho Falls, Idaho in a nice 2-story house.  I have 2 brothers, Nathaniel, and Kyle.  And a Shih Tzu, named Samantha.  I'm Hispanic/Latino.  Spanish in the speaking.  I'm not very different from everybody else.  I'm a person! I am me.-

What diversity means, is, being the same or different.  Different like blue is to red, dog is to cat, rain is in snow.  It's kinda like our world, everything in it is different, even a set of twins.  They look alike but they're not the same.  A while ago, I didn't like being the race I was.  I thought that I was the only one of my race that was around me. I found it difficult to live with myself because I thought that people hated the color of my skin, my language, my race.  But I soon figured out that I liked what race I was.  That's diversity for you, I knew what it was, and I figured out, no one's the same no matter how hard they try.  I've lived in diversity, I lived thinking that everyone hated me by my race, but then the word diversity pops up, you read it, and it tell you everyone is different.

Honorable Mention
What Diversity Means to Me
By: Fine Taufatofua
School: Rocky Mountain Middle School

To me, diversity means being different in a unique way.  For example, I am Polynesian.  Most people I know aren't Polynesians, so that kind of makes me unique among other people.  I used to live in Indiana.  No body could ever get my name, first and last, right the first time.  It took most of my teachers at least 3 weeks to get my full name right.  Many other kids get their name right the first day, whereas, mine isn't as easy.  If my name isn't different, I don't know what is.

Diversity, to me, is very good considering how boring the world would be without it.  If you have ever read the book, The Giver, you know that in this alternate world in this book, everyone is the same. If everyone was the same and not different, that's how our world would look like. I surely don't want to be the same as everyone else.

Our differences can help reveal more about each other.  For example, if my friend likes reading all day, whereas I don't even pick up a book, that probably means he enjoys reading, whereas I don't.  If we show more of our personality to others, we can find out our similar traits and our different ones.  We can do this by inviting those people to local events, activities or projects.  I'm sure if people would look past each others differences, the world would be a better place.

Grade: 8

1st place
What Diversity Means to Me
By: Kelli Nelson
School:

Different.  It is what most fear of being; it is who most fear of knowing.  It is what we all are.  Short and tall, white, black, or in between.  Latino, Mexican, male or female; we are all different, but we are still human and should be treated like it, no matter who we are.  In this diverse sea of humanity, where no two are the same, we have created a race of conformists - society tells us what to look like, what to put on, what to do, who to be.  And we, in the endless quest for acceptance among the human race, conform and become everything the world wants us to be.  It is those who don't have the money, beliefs, language, customs, appearance, ability, or those who simply cannot change the color of their skin who are called "different" because they don't have the means to conform.  From this is born discrimination.  Something that, even now, occurs far too often in our community.  Something that I have seen and experienced in my life.  Being different affects me in my community in how I behave, what I do, and how I view myself and others.

No one wants to be the one who never quite has a place.  It seems as though to have one, you must behave a certain way.  The way many other people do.  I might feel like I need to treat someone else badly because everyone else does.  I need to laugh at things that aren't funny because everyone else is laughing.  I find myself behaving differently at home than I do with my friends in the community because there, I don't have to be anything but myself.  There is nothing to be, no reputation to maintain at home, so I can act the way I am.  Each week, before attending a church activity, I dress carefully so I can look like the other girls.  Once I get there, I talk about boys, shopping, shoes, and various other things I'm not really interested in, carry myself like the rest do, and use the same diction.  Once I get home, I can relax once more into the behavior that is who I am.  The behavior that is different than that accepted by others my age in the community.

If I always felt I had my way, I might read, write, swim, do math, listen to classical music, and watch the Discovery Channel all day.  But it seems to me like anyone who's popular isn't interested in those things.  In the community, if I want to be included in groups, I have to do what a "typical" girl my age would do, or at least appear to have similar interests.  I need to have heard the latest song, seen the most recent episode of American Idol, and have Facebook page that I update daily if I want to be part of the circle.  Since I go to White Pine Charter School rather than the local middle school, I am limited to topics outside the reach of education in conversations with people in my community.  So, to fit in, I have to do the things they do: go shopping on Saturday, be concerned with how cute David Archelletta is, and look delighted at the prospect of painting my fingernails.  I want to do what I want to do, and not be any different for it.  To be able to fit in and still watch the Discovery Channel.

What makes people "outcasts"?  The outcasts are the nonconformists, those who don't dress the same as everyone else, talk the same, or seem interested in the same things.  Everyone is different, but often, those who don't hide it, or don't have the opportunity to, are the ones left out.  I don't want to be that person.  Everyone wants to find themselves liked and included - it's just human nature.  Because I am different and struggle to be like others, I view myself and others differently than I would without the classifications that divide humanity.  When I say I don't look good, I never ask myself "Says who?", even though it's society's norm that does.  When someone else doesn't look the same, I think their clothes are ugly, or that they look weird because of the perception of those negative words today.  Perhaps the kindest, most amazing people are hiding beneath that clothing or skin and remain friendless simply because they look different.  In some ways, the fact that I "should" look and be a certain way makes me dissatisfied with who and what I am, and with what others are.  Being different changes how I view myself and others - and lowers my self-esteem, even thought it shouldn't.

We are all different, but many of us hide it.  Just so we can fit in.  Even though I'm different, I still feel like I have to act like most people act, do "what everyone else is doing", and change my perception of myself and other people to fit in the community.  Diversity is the essence of the human race.  It is what sets us apart, but at the same time, it is what unites us.  It means I have the right to act how I want to act, be who I want to be, do what I want to do, and to not have to be anything more or less than who I am.  In our community, and in our world, there has risen up a generation of conformists.  And I don't have to be one, no matter what the world says.

2nd Place
What Diversity Means to Me
By: Jana Hill
School:

I sat down to write this essay and had no clue what to write.  I did my first draft and thought it was no good.  I tried another one and that one was terrible, too.  Then I found out what was wrong.  I was writing not what I felt, but what people wanted to hear.  So here is my next attempt and it comes from the heart.  This essay was about how diverse people can get along.  We shouldn't be telling people who are different to get along but we should just get along.  It shouldn't matter!  People are different and even if there are big differences they should be treated equally.  I don't care about differences because there have been things in my past that have made me come to the understanding that people are people and it doesn't matter what they look like.  I have had friends who were different and they were just as equal as me.  I have been part of the minority so I know how they feel, and I think all people are equal and should not be treated like inferior beings.

When I was in elementary school I had a best friend who was black.  He was an amazing friend and had an incredible personality.  I could not have had a better friend.  He and I were kindred spirits, but the only thing that was different about him was that he was black.  He was shunned.  Hated.  Despised.  Even loathed by some of the kids and parents.  Nothing was wrong with him.  It was only his skin color.

I have also had a friend who was despised for her difference only it wasn't her skin color.  She looked a little different than everyone else.  When she was a baby she had a cleft palate and there was some scarring on her upper lip and she was very short.  Her nose didn't work either.  People would make fun at her behind her back and I would defend her because she was a wonderful person with a fiery personality.

At the beginning of last year all of the other girls in my neighborhood were going to Claire E. Gale, and I was going to White Pine Charter School, where there was a uniform.  There was no one else going to my school in the neighborhood either so I felt left out when they talked about their school.  And even at the charter school if you were to look in the lunchroom there would be a defined "popular area" and a defined "nerdy area".  Students separated themselves by differences and treated each other unequally.

I am not that good at spelling and I want to be a writer.  I give people my essays or my stories to read and they can't get past the spelling.  They focus on the spelling errors and not what I am trying to say with the words.  It is just the same with diverse people.  People can't get past the part that is different.  They focus on that and not the person they are inside.  Then when the roots of diversity are planted firmly the plant of discrimination grows and flourishes.  The day that we had to write about diversity for a contest was a sad day indeed.  Why write when we can act?  Look past the differences!  Yes people are different but is one person better than another?  No!  People are people and are equally so and difference shouldn't matter!

3rd Place
What Diversity Means to Me
By: Hector Liester
School:

What does diversity mean to me?  To answer this question, I first went to the dictionary to find the "official" meaning of the word.  I discovered that the word diversity has many meanings.  According to Webster, diversity is defined as: ethnic variety, as well as socioeconomic and gender variety, in a group, society, or institution.  To me diversity means being different from the majority of the people around me.  I am a diverse person; my major difference is my skin color.  The color of a person's skin can, and has caused some uncomfortable situations in my life as well as in the lives of others.

My skin color is brown because both of my birth parents were Mexican.  I have had many prejudicial remarks made toward me just because of the color of my skin.  The interesting thing is that both people with white skin as well as those with brown skin have made prejudicial remarks.  To some people, if you have Mexican features and skin color, it automatically means that you should speak Spanish.  I can't.  I speak English.  The problem arises when other Mexican people, who don't know me, assume I know Spanish and try to speak to me in their native tongue.  I have to say that I don't understand and some of them look at me like I'm crazy.

Many people think that I am Mexican because of the color of my skin and my name.  The reality is that I am an American.  I was born and raised in the United States of America.  I was adopted into a Caucasian or white family.  That is why I can't speak Spanish.  I enjoy having a different skin color from the rest of my family.  They have to work hard all summer long to get a tan, I have a perfect tan all the time.  In family photos, no one confuses me for my brother, who is also adopted, and who is very white.

Sometimes diversity in a person's skin color leads to discrimination and stereotyping.  For example, a friend of mine was riding his bike while carrying a small box.  He was in a parking lot behind a dental lab when he was stopped by a police officer.  The officer asked him what he was doing back there.  My friend explained that he was a dental lab technician and he was going to work.  The police officer was not convinced and asked him if he could see what was in the box.  The man showed him the contents of the box.  Inside was a set of dental impressions.  My friend, like me, has brown skin and Mexican features.  I doubt that he would have been stopped if his skin color had not been brown.  To me that was an example of diversity that was turned into a prejudicial and stereotypical situation.

What does diversity mean to me?  It means being different.  I am diverse because of the color of my skin.  This diversity has caused awkward moments in my life.  However, these moments have made me a more tolerant and accepting person because I have had to deal with and resolve awkward situations caused by my diverse skin color.

Honorable Mention
What Diversity Means to Me
By: David Losinski
School:

I think that diversity is very important to have a strong cultural sense.  Whenever I hear the word diversity, the first thing that comes to mind is wildlife diversity.  When you have dissimilar types of plants and animals together you have an ecosystem.  If the different species of nature collaborate well, you have a healthy ecosystem.  This is the same with different cultures.  If the different types of people co-exist then the community is strong.  If the species of flora and fauna don't work together well, the ecosystem can go down the drains.  The same can happen if cultures discriminate against each other, everything starts to fall apart.

In Idaho, there are lots of different types of ecosystems, which strengthen our value and uniqueness.  Without the diversity of culture, plant, and animals we would be in a lot of trouble.  In our community, there isn't a lot of racial diversity, but we are able to understand and accept the beliefs and cultures of those who are different than us.  Think what it would be like if the whole world only had one species of plant and one of animal, and only one type of ecosystem.  What if the world had only one culture?  We would have nothing to learn and no one to share our cultural differences with.  But we do have lots of different wildlife.  This is an example of a healthy diverse ecosystem.  The world is also full of many races, cultures, and different types of people.

In conclusion, diversity is something that every ecosystem and community needs.  Variety in wildlife is just as important as cultural diversity.  If you have lots of wildlife, then you have a good chance for survival.  If you have people who share different beliefs and cultures you have a great society.

Honorable Mention
What Diversity Means to Me
By: Jacob Marsden
School:

Imagine a world where everyone looks the same all over the world, a world where everyone had the same mind, a world without war or anger because everyone is you.  No one has a different mind or opinion.  Everyone works perfectly together.  The entire world is one country.  No one hates the people in power.  You are the people in power.  The word utopia would count here I think.  This world sounds more like an ant colony than the human race.  Still that isn't so bad is it?  This is a nightmare.  This place is the opposite of earth.  This world is completely void of humanity.  The word 'uniqueness' is missing or maybe the word 'diversity'.  Why would diversity be so important?

Diversity is the essence of humanity not just race and color but every single difference is diversity and without it there is no reason to live.

Diversity is more than just your race, religion, or the color of your skin.  Diversity is every little difference.  A nervous twitch, a different way of thinking, blue eyes, a scar, anything that makes you different from everyone else.  Anything that makes you, you.  The reason diversity is so important is because man was meant to be one person not all people.  Every person being one person is against human nature.  Not just that, it's also against the human soul.  No man should be all men.

The reason why I think that diversity shouldn't be just ethnicity is first, because then you start into racism, second, because it's very narrow-minded.  There are many different reasons why a person isn't everyone else.  Apart from that someone can't be someone else.  No one thinks, looks, talks, walks, or anything else the same way.

The world that I mentioned earlier has a name, normal.  What is so evil about this thing?  It's because normal means that the majority of something is one way.  Man shouldn't ever be exactly the same way in anything except maybe in the case of people killing people.  In that case, I think it's better for normal to exist on not killing people.

A world full of people, every one of them unique.  Sometimes wars start.  People hold grudges.  There are "crazy" people.  There's much more good and bad but there is diversity.  This world may not have the same charms as the last one, but it is the way man needs to exist.  Diversity is the essence of humanity and mans reason for living.  Diversity is an essential part of man.  Maybe it's the most important part.

Grade: 9

1st place
What Diversity Means to Me
By: Trevor Lenz
School:

The glare of the sun, the glint of the moon, and the flickering glow of candles all cast light on us.  These lights vary, and some may cast shadow, while others light your face with an inner fire.  Still, even with these lights, they do not change who we are.  We remain the same people, even when our outside appearance is temporarily altered.  Basically, we remain as unique as can be.  When I think of being unique however, I can't but help think of the division of views among today's society.  In other words, diversity is what I'm speaking of.  There are many diversities, usually stemming from disagreements.  And where do those disagreements come from? From differences in age, customs, religions and beliefs, race, etc...  Difference, a word to me that is synonymous with diversity.  In this essay, I'd like to focus on a particular diversity, or difference.

High school is the epitome of teenaged socializing.  It's a place of ever changing morals, views, and personality.  And yet, an invisible web divides many of us, whether that web keeps us alone or with people you may be similar to, it leads to the question: Who spun this web in the first place?  The answer is the students, who will openly talk about their views on virtually everything, and brashly disagree with those whose views conflict with theirs.  One of these conflicts that cause diversity is religious beliefs.  It's one, ironically, that teens are not so keen to discuss normally.  Nevertheless, despite one's best efforts, that underlying conflict whispers the religious differences into our minds.  While this may seem a bit scary to some, others easily silence these doubting whispers forever.  I'm one of them, and so are my friends, particularly my best friend.  We both share different religious beliefs, but that has not stopped us from being friends for roughly ten years.  Just this past summer, I attended an activity at my friend's church.  He said there would be no strictly religious activities, saying it was more of a party.  Still we did end up opening some religious, modern texts.  And while my beliefs might've conflicted with some of the things spoken during that meeting, I realized that I was willing to see some of the things both of our beliefs agreed upon.  I was willing to look past the one of the deepest and most personal diversity between my friend and myself.

Still, past the walls of high school and the boundaries of friendship, there is a community encasing it.  I live in the small town of Ashton, Idaho, which is something I will always be proud of.  There are roughly four different religions in our town, and I know people that have put their beliefs in the hands of these religions to be sculpted into an image of belief.  That underlying trigger, those doubting whispers, can still be sensed, and touched by the fingertips of your consciousness.  Yet, it seems that those whispers have been extinguished by the majority of us "Ashtonites."  The people of Aston are willing to jump into oblivion of trust and socializing, willing to interact with different people of different beliefs.  We may be a small town of only roughly 1,200 people, but all those people, along with the people of the world, have the ability to jump over this particular diversity.

In conclusion, I view diversity as a broken bridge.  These bridges are built that way, and the builders believe them impossible to cross.  They are not.  There are people courageous enough to leap over that gap of oblivion, and forever burn those broken bridges to the ground.  I've burnt a few myself....Have you?

2nd place
What Diversity Means to Me
By: Karly LaOrange
School: Clair E. Gale

When I was about five years of age I had and eye exam.  In my right eye I did just fine, I passed.  But in my left eye I couldn't see anything.  They changed the slide a little bit and I could see a light, a dot, that's all.  I had to go see eye doctors and all nine yards.  The doctors said that I would have to wear an eye patch, the patch would cover my right eye, the one I could see out of, and I would have to wear glasses.  They were hoping that doing so would improve the vision in my left eye.  Now I will admit that for the first little while wearing that patch was difficult.

I hated the way people looked at me. They would just stare not even trying to hide it.  Some would point. Others would ask their mothers what was wrong with me. Some would just come up and ask what had happened to me.  In the beginning I would just explain what happened to me, but as the question grew old I would come up with more creative answers like telling people that my eye had fallen out, but that was OK because that way I could itch my brain, or if I stuck my finger up my nose you could see it where my eye was supposed to be.  I would make up a new story every time because that made me feel better and the look on the kids faces was priceless! (Afterward I would explain what really happened.)  The kids at school would make fun of me, and because of my age, I just got my feelings hurt.  I didn't understand that if I lightened up and laughed along with them, that eventually they would leave me alone.

Now even though I didn't like it then, all those things taught me that no matter what you look like, we all have feelings.  This can be compared to people of different races, cultures, beliefs, rituals, age, gender, ability, languages, etc.  No matter what differences we have, we all have one thing in common and that's that we all have feelings.  Every person that you know has feelings.  No matter how a person chooses to show those emotions, they all have feelings.

3rd place
What Diversity Means to Me
By: Eryn Tracy
School: Clair E. Gale

To you, diversity can mean a lot of things, but to me it means not being able to fit in or being very different from one another.  There can be reasons why you are not able to fit into certain "social" groups such as being a new student at school, you cannot speak a language very well, or just that people don't take the time to get to know you because they judge you by the way you dress or by the people you hang out with.  Everyone is different in their own way, so take the time to get to know them, be nice, or even help them around a new school.  This does not just help a single person but it also helps your community in positive ways.

Being a new student can be very difficult for some people.  Some are able to make friends their first day but others can have troubles "fitting in".  Problems with that are that the student could be a really neat person but others choose not to befriend that person because they stand out from everybody else.  It's good to be different; it makes you who you are.  I have been a new student many times before so I know what it is like to not be able to fit in the very first day.  Let them take their time to get used to you, join a school sport or club. You also need to take a stand and get to know them.

Speaking a new language isn't easy; especially being a foreign exchange student.  It is just the same as taking a language class. People will make mistakes; laugh at yourself for them, it only helps instead of getting frustrated over every mistake you make.  It's not right for people to make fun of the way you speak because I'm sure they would not like to be made fun of if they moved to a different country or even continent.  It is definitely something to think about next time you're learning to speak a language other than the one that already makes sense to you.

One other thing that makes it hard to make new friends is that people like to judge you by the way you dress and by the people you hang around.  It's difficult for students to make new friends just because they dress different.  Dressing different can reflect your personality which is a good thing, it only makes the other people more curious about getting to know you.  You should also be very grateful for the friends that like you for who you are, not by your looks, not by what you wear, just by being you.  You shouldn't have to change your appearances just to impress others that don't really like you for who you are.  Others will accept you for the way you are, just by being yourself.

In this essay I hope that you have learned that not everyone is the same.  They can all have a different personality, but one that you should get to know.  If someone is having trouble finding a class because they are new take the time to show them around.  If a student is having trouble speaking a language, help them out maybe you could become friends you never really know till you take the tine to get to know them.  You shouldn't judge a person by their looks or by the people they hang around if you don't even know who they really are, you should get to know them, because everyone is unique in their own way.

Honorable Mention
What Diversity Means to Me
By: Aubree Doten
School: Clair E. Gale

Diversity to me is my family; we are a perfect example of this.  My family and I are different in many ways I have four sisters and two brothers, which include races such as African American, Mexican, Indian, Irish, Pakistani, and American.  I know all of my brothers and sisters very well, and we all get along great!

Now that I've covered the basics, I will tell you why we relate to diversity.  Since we all come from a large variety of cultures and races we understand better than the average person would how easy it is to get along with each other.  We get along even though we all know we're not the same.  We are showing the world that Americans and African Americans can get along just as well as every day people do.  I believe that's how everybody should act.  War would not be an option if we all considered each other as equals.  We are all the same no matter what we look like, and no matter what happens peace, love, and harmony should always come first!!!

Grade: 10 - 12

First Place
Balkanization
By: Madeline Magnuson
School:

True diversity is not a rainbow. In a rainbow, each color remains sharply segmented-red, orange, yellow, green, blue, violet-interacting only at the tentatively-blurring edges. In diversity, the factions of society intermingle, still perhaps maintaining their essential natures but growing by the experience and enriching each other-infinite shades of burgundy, tangerine, wheat, emerald, teal, lavender-an Impressionist painting of vibrancy and color. Achieving that, however, requires more than passive tolerance. Drawing from my experiences of local diversity in race, sexual orientation, and religion, I have grown to realize that our community's diversity is a rainbow, not a melting pot.

Racially, our community mainly divides itself between Caucasian and Hispanic. As many other white community members would protest about themselves, I insist that I am anything but a racist. Still, I can recall having only three Hispanic friends at school my entire life. With a few exceptions, usually Hispanics at my high school spend time with other Hispanics, and Caucasians spend time with other Caucasians. We sit at different lunch tables, frequent different clubs, cluster in different classes. De jure segregation no longer exists, but de facto segregation is alive and well. Until I took a required P.E. credit in junior year, I was never even aware that racial tensions existed at Skyline, simply because I very rarely had exposure to different races.

In that same P.E. class, I heard a truly revealing sound bite: "You're racist. That's so gay!" If all we do is substitute one type of discrimination for another, have we really made any progress? However grudgingly, I respect that people have the right to believe that homosexuality is immoral. However, I cannot accept the notion that homosexuals are sub humans or that a disturbing majority of high school students use the terms gay and stupid interchangeably. The daunting level of prejudice about sexual orientation in our community means that I cannot name a single homosexual resident of Idaho Falls. In fact, the only homosexual person I know only felt comfortable enough to come out once he was in college, two states away. Surely any rational member of the community can agree that gays and lesbians can still be worthwhile human beings?

This aspect of our community touches closely with another: religion. Here, we can at least claim more widespread and intermingling factions: LDS, Protestant, Catholic, Agnostic, Atheist, and others. Still, very few people feel comfortable discussing their religious convictions with an open mind. Members of one belief system usually try to persuade members of another instead of trying to understand each other. As human nature seems to dictate, we are always wary of being persuaded, of being changed, because growth and development is always a painful and uncomfortable process. However, since we will never reach omniscience, our beliefs and perceptions should be in an almost constant state of flux. There is no better way to temper our opinions than exposure to different ones.

So, in order to become a truly diverse community, we cannot remain insular, in monochromatic stripes. We must blend and approach other kinds of people with open minds, not fearful that our preconceptions might be proven wrong. Studies cited by author Bill Bishop show that when like minded people are grouped together, they will not settle at the average point of view but become more extreme in the direction towards which they are already inclined.  As such, our segmented community is predisposed towards polarization. Our only hope for true diversity rests in listening to people who are different than us.

2nd Place
Diversity (or Lack Thereof)
By: Lynn Wolfe
School:

An acquaintance of mine dated an LDS boy for three months. They got along fine, but they broke up after she met his parents. It wasn't due to religious differences or because his parents thought he was too young to date. It was because they wouldn't allow their son to date an African American.

Sadly, it has happened to her more than once. Despite the fact that she was born and raised in Eastern Idaho, she frequently has to endure prejudice simply due to the color of her skin. She manages to have a sense of humor about it, but in actuality it is not funny at all.

Idaho Falls (and Eastern Idaho in general) does not only lack diversity; it rejects it. This is not limited to ethnic and cultural diversity. Religion, politics, values, and even languages that differ from the norm are also frowned upon.

Idaho Falls may claim to endorse diversity, but these claims are superficial. 90% of the population is Caucasian, and the majority of them practice the same religion. They consistently vote Republican in each election. The few openly gay individuals who live here are subjected to harassment. The general attitude toward immigrants is hostile and xenophobic. Nearly 10% of the population in Idaho is Hispanic, but most Idahoans do not speak Spanish. Most local people strongly believe that "if they come here, they should learn English". They fail to see the value in learning Spanish as a second language.

But the xenophobia isn't limited to foreign immigrants. Another common complaint is about people moving here from California. It is said that Idaho is a beautiful secret, and if people from California start flocking in they will somehow destroy its natural beauty...and that is precisely the problem. Idaho Falls does not desire change, growth, or progression.

Idaho Falls is a tight, clannish community. Many people have spent their entire lives here, and some families have lived in this area for generations. It is a small city, so there aren't many newcomers moving in each year. When I first moved here I felt left out because everyone seemed to know each other from school, church, or mutual friends and family members. They seemed to be content with this and had no desire to include someone new. Since then I've managed to make some friends who agree that Idaho Falls is in need of drastic change.

Diversity should be welcomed in Idaho Falls. Exposure to diversity helps individuals and the community as a whole get beyond their fears and prejudices and learn acceptance, tolerance and respect for others. Multi-cultural restaurants, music, festivals and entertainment could benefit everyone. However, until we are willing to be open to new people and their ideas, customs, ethnicity, and values, the city will remain stagnant.

3rd place
How My Community Reflects the World
By: Amber Gray
School:

Together we laughed, sang, and danced to the restless beat of childhood. We didn't care what color our faces were. We just wanted to smile. We didn't wish for alikeness. Each day was spontaneous and rich with adventure. It was the color of our friendship and diversity of our world that united us.

She didn't have a mother or father. She lived with her grandpa across from my grandpa. On afternoons when my parents were at work, we ran in between the two houses and played.

Often, we sat at her grandpa's feet and heard stories of Africa or family members struggling through hardships. In Africa, they had to walk three hours for clean water with no shoes across deserts. He told us it was more likely a baby would die than live, and even if he did survive a horrible monster named poverty would snatch him up and eat him. I learned on that old wooden floor sorrow of the heart and body across the world.

Then as if nothing happened, we trotted to our fort in the backyard and laughed for hours. We loved it together.

Today, I walk up to the register counter at work with the heavy burden of adulthood slowly easing itself on my shoulders and still remember my friend; although, she moved away quite sometime ago. She opened my eyes to Africa even as I sat in Idaho. My world exploration didn't halt as she left, however. Even daily and through all stages of life we are seeing a little more of the world though our encounters.

The beautiful music of different languages fills this crisp Idaho air and the masterpiece of creative ideas paint the streets. Tomorrow, as our community wakes the world will be just outside longing for us to hear and see it. We reflect it as a mirror reflects light, illuminating its brightness.

Together we can travel the world without the expensive air fair and hotels. Our community offers us the world. We can change it for the better and explore its mysteries through our union. 

Honorable Mention
How My Community Reflects the World
By: Kelly Prue
School:

Diversity. It was something I had been so immersed in, and yet hadn't appreciated, until I left it to move to Rexburg, Idaho right before starting my freshman year of high school. Compared to Los Angeles, Rexburg didn't seem that diverse. I didn't need to look at school demographics to realize that an overwhelming percentage of the population was white. And if there was one fact people couldn't seem to get enough of, it was that Rexburg, at the time, was estimated to be 98% LDS. I was floored. I thought I had seen it all, but I had to admit, that as diverse as Los Angeles was, I hadn't quite seen anything like what I saw in Rexburg. If Los Angeles was the epitome of diversity, then Rexburg was a paragon of conformity (which, ironically, sounded diverse in and of itself). But once again, the old adage "you can't judge a book by it's cover" proved true. Because diversity is more than just skin color or religion. Since I have moved here, I have come to realize that Rexburg is a melting pot of people who have had different experiences, have overcome different challenges, and who have different, but equally cherished, hopes and dreams for the future.

Our is a growing community. It welcomes people from all walks of life, from all parts of the globe. I have made friends from other cities, other states, and even from other countries. Each one has offered me their own unique perspective on life, shaped by their personal experiences. I find that as I learn more about different people, I learn more about myself. And as I learn more about other cultures, I learn more about my own.

Diversity isn't what pulls us apart, but rather what pulls us together. I have learned that it is because we are so different, that we come to value our similarities. Similarities such as the ability to love, the ability to inspire ourselves and others through our successes and failures, and our ability to overcome and succeed despite our challenges. These things transcend all that divides us, and so, are able to connect us. Diversity is about our differences and how they can unite us, not only in our communities, but around the world.

Honorable Mention
How my Community Reflects the World
By: Mark Tobias
School:

America was born out of immigration by those determined to succeed in a new world. Old-world government restrictions encouraged citizens to emigrate for survival. Some wanted to move and obtain new freedoms they had never had, while others chose to stay where they were and not risk starting a new life in an unknown land. Many people sacrificed much of what they owned, and worked very diligently in order to be able to travel here. With nothing but dreams and hope, immigrants built up the nation that we know today. In present-day society, anyone can see just how multicultural and diverse communities across the United States have become, even in small places like Idaho Falls.

Within this small Idaho city, diversity has made leaps and bounds. A majority of people are Caucasian, but over the years different ethnic groups have emerged and become prominent, such as the Hispanic population. The Spanish language is also starting to be more prevalent. There are many religions such as Jehovah's Witness, Lutherans, Baptists, Catholics, and the LDS Church having the majority of people. In our schools, ESL programs have been established in order to teach English to Spanish-speakers. The Hispanic culture has grown so much that even a summer school ESL program has been established by School District 91 to further English learning and assist struggling students. This community continues to flourish and become more culturally diverse every year with unique people, ideas, and understanding.

Diversity, like a fabric within each person, defines all sorts of people, places, and traditions. Even today, America continues its tradition of being an immigrant nation. Different languages, a variety of customs, and new ideas are the foundations of this great nation. But, with all things there must be an inevitable opposition and intolerance of one another. Sometimes no one likes "different": the fact that people are who they are and were born to become. As a diverse nation in the world, we must not succumb to such ignorance and hate. Acceptance is where peace comes from, bringing people together through times of sorrow, war, or disaster. Diversity means a fresh way to view and experience life; a blending of old traditions and new ideas in today's society. A multicultural society impacts life because of a connection and understanding people must know in order to further our society.

With time, America will become even more diverse than it is today. There could even be the possibility that a bilingual language of the people is used and accepted. Just imagine, two languages spoken in a household. As we become more globalized and advanced, we will continue to be a symbol to the world of how we have become; not just because of one specific group of people, but by hard work and perseverance from many diverse and different people who had chosen to come together and be one.

As far as our nation has come, progress still has to be made for tolerance and acceptance. We must bring down those walls between us and begin to accept one another for who we are.

Although different languages and customs set us apart, everyone has to make that conscientious decision to say, "I will accept and respect you for who you are." Even in Idaho Falls there is strife between ethnicities and language, but we must put that aside and respect each other for our differences. My community reflects the world because of our diverse people, cultured society, and a growing understanding of the differences that we have with each other.

Honorable Mention
Diversity in the City
By: LaChelle Jackson
School:

Everyone is distinct in their own special way. Some are short, others are tall. There is something unique about every single person in this world. When you stride into a grocery store, restaurant, or even just walking down the street, every person is special, whether it be their race, personality, gender, religion, or even their values. Each person represents something different.

At my school, Skyline High School, we had Diversity Week. During this week, Student Government encouraged everyone to participate and recognize that everyone is equal, even though we are all very different from each other.

I was asked to play a part in Diversity Week by wearing a bright yellow shirt that said, "Don't talk to me, I'm different." The purpose of this was to put some of the leaders of the school in someone else's shoes. I couldn't associate with anyone the whole day, and everyone was expected to act like I was invisible. At lunch and in every class, I was aloof and sat by myself.

By the end of the day, I was awfully sad. It was depressing to be alone all day and not be able to talk to anyone. Putting myself in that position made me realize that people actually go throughout their day withdrawn from all of the people around them.

Some people saunter through the halls at school, work, and other places, and are never accepted because of their differences. Most people don't recognize these people, because they try to only salute their friends. Others don't acknowledge them because they think these timid people are very peculiar.

Our community consists of a variety of people. Our differences can either amalgamate us or divide us. Society has a tendency to put people into the typical stereotypes depending on what people do, say, or look like. Every person is different, and we need to accept the diversity such as distinctive personalities and outward appearance. When we accept all unique people, we can work together as one. As you understand others, the community becomes more unified, and it can grow to be a better place to live. Accept the diverse people in the community, no matter how different they may appear.

Honorable Mention
A Walk Down Emerson Halls
By: Jaylea Borron
School:

If you were to open a door, what would you expect of the people on the other side? How would they look, or act, or speak? What kind of attitude would they have? Would they scowl and glare, or would they smile and laugh? What kind of diversity would await you beyond that door? Well, it really depends on where you go to reach that door.

If you were to go to a high school, Idaho Falls High School for example, you would come across stereotypes and judgment. Many teachers are strict and unfriendly, students are separated into groups, groups that exclude others based on how they look, act, or if they're poor or wealthy, and you would be faced with hostility and distrust. That was my personal experience at IFHS, but now I am a proud student of Emerson Alternative High School.

If you walked down the main hall of Emerson High School you wouldn't walk far, but it would take a while. There are friends, both students and teachers that can be found everywhere. Looking is barely necessary. If you took the time to look around at all the people who dwell in these halls you would find an array of diversity. There are the pierced kids and the sharp dressers, there are the "preps" and the "weird kids," there's black, brown, and white all in a group. There is no such thing as a "clique" at Emerson High School. We have all types of shapes, sizes, colors, and personalities, all together. There is no judgment or stereotyping, we accept everyone.

I believe that everyone could learn from Emerson and its students/teachers. If we wanted to truly achieve any type of Peace and coexistence, then a step Idaho Falls could take is to learn from the students and faculty at Emerson. We have our disputes, as does everyone, but it's how we handle those disputes that makes us different from other schools. There are also the claims against us, the reputation that we have been given. If one were to ask a stranger about Emerson the response they would receive would be something along the lines of "Those kids at Emerson are bad, there's a reason it's call an alternative school, because the kids are bad and can't stay at a mainstream school." They might even hear that we are not a real school. That is a lie. Emerson High School is an accredited high school where students can earn a real high school diploma. It is things like that though, rumors that try to discourage us that usually make us even better. It is because instead of discouragement we are filled with determination to better ourselves, and to prove them wrong.

Emerson can help our community, because with our diverse and accepting setting is an example. It is an example of how everyone should be. We coexist and get along, taking it stride by stride instead of worrying about what other people think of you. Peace, Love, Happiness: An Emerson way.