Editor’s note: The Rotary Club of Corvallis invited students at Franklin School, grades four through eight, to submit a short essay to the club’s annual holiday essay contest.

Here was the question for this year’s contest: President-elect Barack Obama is in a position to reach billions of people with a holiday message in December. If you were President-elect Barack Obama, what message would you want to send to all of the people of the world during the holidays?

More than 200 entries were submitted; five winners, one for each grade level, were selected. Here are the winning entries:

One quick note to sharp-eyed readers: The word “brumal,” in the first paragraph of Sam Greydanus’ essay, is correct — and, yes, we had to look it up ourselves.

By SAM GREYDANUS


Eighth Grade

Across the world’s many religions, we have entered a season of benevolent feeling and confidence in the human race. During this brumal time of year, religious hope lights our lives. Hope also illuminates our world in the midst of physical, economic, and environmental strife. Now is the time when we shed our customary pessimism and unite in anticipation for a better world. This is the season to hope for a planet free of starvation, oppression, and injustice. As we celebrate during this holiday season, we glimpse a positive future amidst the current turmoil.

This is also the time of year for service. Use your anticipation for a better world to make the one we already have into a more perfect place. Become a better citizen in your community, your country, and your world. Whether you give a donation to the Salvation Army bell-ringer or begin a crusade against carbon emissions, every contribution from every individual makes a difference. On each level there is much work to be done and on each level there is the capacity to accomplish that work. In each person there lies the ability, and therefore the responsibility, to make the world a better place. Every day, strive to give as well as take and to help as well as be helped. In this time of challenges, welcome your responsibility of stewardship as a privilege.

Finally, these months are a time of tranquility and goodwill. Accomplish your goals without violence and make your points without intimidation. Favor diplomacy over force and peace over war. Remember that those who seek to accomplish their goals through weapons, fear, and tyranny are the enemies of all of humanity while those who solve disputes through compromise and conversation are the cornerstone of a free and just society. This does not mean, however, that we will back away from any injustice standing in the way of progress toward freedom. This time is a season of opportunities. Respect the basic rights of your fellow citizens and join in the effort to improve the world.

By MANJU BANGALORE
Seventh Grade

Dear fellow citizens of the world: It is important for all of us to learn to live in harmony and peace. For this we have to learn and understand the various religions, races and cultures of the world. If everyone could maintain peace, it would be a great help to the world. Just imagine, when there are no fights or wars there will be no unnecessary and unpleasant high taxes to pay for the destruction anymore. Instead, we can be using the same money for children’s education and health care.

The second thing would be that children should be able to express and share their ideas every now and then. Annually, children should meet in one place, learn to understand and respect each other. Every country would send a few representatives over the age of 14 to the convention. This could be called the United Children’s Organization. If the adults and leaders can’t solve some of the big problems, maybe children can at least help out! When the children grow up, they’ll have more respect for each other’s culture, race, religion, and nationality.

The last section that should be controlled is global warming and human overpopulation. Because of these two things, over 30,000 species are dying each year. We are creating the sixth major mass extinction! The previous mass extinctions were due to natural causes. These things could be hard to stop, but if we are careful something could be done about it.

As children are the future citizens of the world, I suggest dedicating a particular day in a year as “International Children’s Day.” If moms and dads can have a day for them, so can children! If people put more thought into the proposals they will be able to see the advantages of the message. There are many other problems in the world, but these are probably the biggest issues the WORLD is facing (not just the United States).

By HAILEY SOUTHER
Sixth Grade

I would like to send a message of hope to the world. My being elected to the presidency of the United States of America shows that this is a remarkable time in history! People are ready for change in a way that has rarely been seen before. The dream of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. has taken a step closer to becoming a reality. In the same way, now is a time when every person can feel hopeful that their own dreams have a renewed chance of becoming realized. When I say every person, I mean every person in the entire world as we continue to rise above our differences and support each other’s hopes and dreams.

It may be a dream of a person who doesn’t know from day to day if they’ll have food or water for themselves and their families. It may be the dream of a person who doesn’t know each time they or their loved ones leave home, whether or not they’ll return safely — or even whether they’re safe inside their own homes. It may be the dream of a person who has no place to go to call home. It may be the dream of a person who faces prejudice and discrimination because of their nationality, gender, age or simply the color of their skin.

I would say that this holiday season there is more hope for the dreams of each of these people, and all people, than there has ever been before. Only a century and a half after the abolition of slavery, the people of the United States of America have now chosen a man of color to lead their nation. This fact renews my hope for a better world, and I want the world to share in that hope.

By ANDREY KORNILOVICH
Fifth Grade

The holidays are a very special time. In these times, however, people have become nervous and scared. Families are struggling to provide food and basic needs for their loved ones. It is very important to keep home and happiness and spread it to others less fortunate. I have found that the most valued gift anyone can give is providing help for others to attain vitalities. Food, water, shelter, health, safety, and education are only a small fraction of what is needed in life. I am certain that American families will continue to assist others so that every year holidays will be special for everyone.

Americans who do that very thing every single day are our soldiers. Soldiers in Iraq and Baghdad are longing to be home for the holidays. They call home, send cards, and some of them even come home for some time to be with their family. We spend our holidays here at home, while they are serving our country. People from all over this world, of all races, religions, and ages will come together and realize the blessings we have. Peace, love and joy will fill us up with the one true gift of the holidays.

By RUCHI AGARWAL
Fourth Grade

I would like to wish each and every one of you a Happy Holidays. Holidays are about being together and enjoying the time with your family and friends. During the holiday season we all get together to celebrate different things with our families and friends and enjoy their company. We have good food and good times which we remember for a long time. We also enjoy the weather by going out and playing.

But in today’s world there are lots of wars and fights. The people who fight cannot enjoy the holidays. We need to have a peaceful world to have everyone enjoy the holidays. Also, with the pollution and global warming we will destroy our planet Earth that we all depend on. We need to take care of it and protect it.

While we celebrate and enjoy holidays for different reasons, we all want the same peace and happiness. My message to you for the holidays is that we need to be more peaceful and take care of our planet so we can enjoy the holidays for a very long time in the future.