[LIT] moments of pride

[Ginny White]

We participate each year in the Patriot's Pen essay contest sponsored 
by VFW.  The essay theme always focuses on a facet of patriotism, this 
year's "Citizenship in America."  As we did some prewriting activities, 
one of my 7th graders discovered she was not an American citizen as she 
had always thought.  Her parents are in the long naturalization 
process, and somehow she was not aware of this.

Having always lived in the US, my student was totally surprised ... and 
dismayed.  Thank goodness for the right words coming at the right time 
- I said, "Oh, what an opportunity you have.  You have a unique 
perspective for your essay."  Interestingly, her dad had told her the 
same thing the night before.  My student rose to the challenge and 
wrote a beautiful essay, which the class cheered when she read it aloud 
to us.  Not only did she learn a valuable lesson, but so did everyone 
else as we looked at complex immigration issues now with a personal 
investment - our classmate about whom we care deeply.

Just this week, I learned that my student's essay came in first in our 
VFW district and is now being judged at the state level.  She and her 
family will be honored at a VFW dinner in Orlando later this month.  
Seeing her chagrin change into facing something she didn't know and 
then into sharing her feelings of "being an American all but legally" 
became a moment of pride that she, her classmates, and I all shared.  
When middle school students want someone else's efforts recognized more 
than their own, you know that "all's right with the world."

Ginny White
Fernandina Beach (FL) Middle School