“I have a challenge in my life and that challenge is dealing with a family without a dad. Every time I hear the word ‘dad’ I feel there is a hole in my heart. ...to make it even worse, I don’t hardly ever see my mother. ...I love my mom dearly, but...I want a dad to love and when I get one, I will be the happiest kid alive.”

Mary Dingle wrote that as a 5th grader at Key Elementary School in 2001

“I was diagnosed with cancer(leukemia) when I was eight. ... To this day I don’t know half of what other kids know, but I’ve learned that you have to keep on going... and that is exactly what I am doing ...my friends have helped me and I owe them that. Playing the piano has made me feel like nothing was wrong with me. Those were the worse years of my life... If I’m a bit strange it’s because of the three years of the blues.”

Zoe Hall wrote that as a 6th grader at Hardy Elementary School in 2003