null

Venture Student Wins Writing Competition

Carolina Mendez wins YES! Magazine Competition

Carolina Mendez, Venture Academy Family of Schools Foundations Academy 12th grader, won the Yes! Magazine National Student Writing Competition.  Her essay, "To Be Determined," describes her experience of coming to terms with a skin condition called Vitiligo.  Carolina wrote: I know I couldn’t throw away my Vitiligo, but I could throw away the negativity that I let get under my skin. All I really needed was hope. With hope, I gained much more than positivity. I gained security, trust, and confidence. This realization has been life-changing and eye-opening in more ways than anyone can understand.

Please visit the link to read the entire essay:  http://www.yesmagazine.org/for-teachers/writing-competition-essays/winter-2015/letting-go-of-worry-powerful-voice-winner-carolina-mendez

All Foundations Academy students submitted essays for the competition, writing with a remarkable blend of truth, grace and storytelling.  Three top essays were selected from each class to enter the contest, competing against over 1,100 middle school, high school and college students from across the country.  While one winner was selected from each school level, Carolina’s essay was selected out of all of the submissions as the single “Powerful Voice” winner.

The judges said her essay “stood head and shoulders above the impressive crowd.”  They applauded the risks Carolina took with her writing and gave this encouragement for her and all student writers:  "I appreciate that you not only shared your opinion and experience, but also opened yourself up to having your essay judged for this competition. That’s what good writers do.  With an honest voice and a storyteller's touch, you shared your struggles  — and yourself.  It's amazing how life can change when you are open to change.”

Posted: 4/2/2015