greenlight
Dear high school seniors ... by Jeff vonKaenel
je ffv @ ne wsr e v ie w.c o m
In a few very short months, nearly all of I am reminded that my generation has you will be experiencing one of life’s a long way to go if we want to leave a most important milestones—leaving high better world for these students. But their school and going out into the world of hope and optimism is contagious. work and college. Congratulations! The idea for our college essay contest But before you go, we have a favor to came from my watching my daughter, ask those of you who put your heart and Natasha, spend so much time and energy soul into your college essay. Could you crafting her college essay. The questions please send it to us? were designed to capture her essence. There will be some prize money And she used the opportunity to think and some fame, for those of you whose deeply about herself. Her essay went essays are selected for publication in the through many revisions. Sacramento News & Review. One of you Reading her essay, I was struck by will be on the cover of this newspaper! how seriously she thought about things But I am not asking you to submit your and how insightful her perspective was. I essay for your benefit. I am asking you to became even more proud of my daughter. send us your essay for the benefit of the I thought her essay deserved a wider rest of us. audience. And I realized that every year This will be the 10th year that there would be thousands of Sacramento SN&R has dedicated an issue high school seniors whose essays to Sacramento high school deserved to be read by more students’ college essays. people than just their We publish about 10 parents and the blearyThe stories essays in print and post eyed college review are moving and more online. committee members. so real. And through The challenges So in 2010, we faced by many of launched our first them the human spirit these young essayists college essay contest. shines brightly, with have been daunting: And we’re happy to hope for a better overcoming autism, the announce that we’re death of a parent, being continuing this tradition future. of mixed race, experiencagain this year. ing poverty, escaping war to The rules are simple. All come to the United States, being Sacramento-area high school gay, facing bullies, living with an abusive seniors graduating this year are eligible. parent ... and much more. Their stories The essays need to be no longer than 650 take us to places we haven’t been, or words. Students should send their essays perhaps remind us of experiences we had as a Word document, a PDF or in the when we were younger. The stories are body of an email to collegeessay@newsmoving and so real. And through them the review.com with the subject line “College human spirit shines brightly, with hope Essay Contest.” The deadline is Tuesday, for a better future. May 7 at 5 p.m. Each year, when I read the college So, high school students, please send essay issue and then meet the students us your essay. Think of it as a community who wrote these essays, I feel energized. I service project. Ω feel more willing to take on the everyday challenges of life and the struggle to deal with global warming, political polarizaJeff vonKaenel is the president, CEO and majority tion, income inequality and all the rest. owner of the News & Review.
8 | Sn&r | 02.21.19