“Make Your Mark” – 2016 MLK Essay Contest Winners
Ciara Matthews – Hedgcoxe Elementary School
Our school Hedgcoxe Elementary was named after a famous man named Henry Oliver
Hedgcoxe. In the eighteen hundreds, Henry Hedgcoxe was a land agent for the Peters Colony.
His attempts in 1852 led to the colonists’ armed uprising in what we call the “Hedgcoxe War.”
Martin Luther King, Jr. is like Henry because he’s famous for solving his problems with peace,
NOT violence, and both men have G.R.I.T.
Martin Luther King, Jr. made a mark on MY life because he never gave up and fought for what
he believed in even if it meant he could get arrested, hurt or even die. Martin Luther King will
have an impact on me for the rest of my life and for everyone else, too.
I’m going to make my mark by doing something big just like Henry Hedgcoxe and Martin Luther
King, Jr. Do you know what I am going to do to leave my mark? I could do anything. I could be
the president of the United States; I could be in the Army, or Marines. As long as what I am
doing is making the world a better place.
“Make Your Mark” – 2016 MLK Essay Contest Winners
Leah Comisar – Centennial Elementary
“How I Was Inspired to Make My Mark”
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. made his mark on the world in an important way.
His brave actions still have an effect on the world today. He felt everyone should be treated
equally no matter if they are brown, black, or white.
Not everyone agreed with him and many put up a fight.
He had a dream that everyone would live together in peace and harmony.
He would be proud to know that his dream came true and people of all kinds live, work, and play
together happily.
I learned from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. that I have the power to make a difference. I am
not too small. I can make my mark by making the world a better place. It’s not hard to do at
all! For example, I donate food and clothes for those in need. I also help make sandwiches and
boxed lunches for people to feed. I raised awareness of childhood cancer by organizing a drive
to collect hats. My Girl Scout troop gave these to sick kids, as well as some books, games, and
crafts.
We can all make a mark in this world by simply doing one good deed a day.
Imagine the changes we could make if we each made a difference in our own unique way.
“Make Your Mark” – 2016 MLK Essay Contest Winners
Samuel Paiz – Mendenhall Elementary
First of all, I want to thank you for your honesty and valor and helping black people. I would
like to leave my mark in the world the same way you did. My mark would be that all people
would be able to travel to different states and countries without problems at the borders or
without being asked for documents. When I grow up, I am going to fight for civil rights, and I
will not forget that I must use my words and not my fists. I have a dream. My dream is that
we can all have a country that is free and without violence. Thank you for being a hero in the
United States. Thank you for being a leader for the black people so they can live a better life.
Farewell from your admirer, Samuel Antonio Paiz Trejo
We love you, Martin Luther King!
Querido Martin Luther King,
Primero que nada te quiero agradecer por tu honestidad y valor para ayudar a los morenos. Me
gustaría dejar mi huella en el mundo como tú lo hiciste. Mi huella seria de que las personas
puedan viajar en diferentes estados y países sin problemas en las fronteras y que no les pidan
documentos. Cuando yo sea grande yo voy a luchar por los derechos civiles y no me olvidare de
que debo usar mis palabras no mis puños. Yo tengo un sueño, mi sueño es de que podamos tener
un país libre y sin violencia. Gracias por haber sido un héroe en los Estados Unidos. Gracias por
ser el líder de los morenos para que vivieran una vida mejor.
Se despide tu admirador Samuel Antonio Paiz Trejo
Te queremos Martin Luther King
“Make Your Mark” – 2016 MLK Essay Contest Winners
Keira Hines – Centennial Elementary
Dear Martin Luther King, Jr.,
You have inspired me to make my mark at my school and in my neighborhood because of the
wonderful things you did to fight for equal rights.
I treat all of my classmates in an equal, respectful way, and I don’t give negative attention to
skin, color, or race. I am a combination of races, so I know how important it is to be respected
by others and how valuable it can be to hear an opinion from different cultures and
backgrounds. I also thank you for writing as much as you did (five books and many articles)
about the topic of equal rights. It has made me want to make my mark by writing essays and
poems that are important to me. I am proud to make my mark by using a strong voice through
writing since it is hard for me to use a strong public speaking voice.
Finally, I thank you for setting a wonderful example of standing up for what you believe in. I
make my mark by doing that, too.
Sincerely,
Keira Hines
“Make Your Mark” – 2016 MLK Essay Contest Winners
Maya Comisar – Centennial Elementary
Martin Luther King, Jr. was a good man who believed in human rights.
A lot of people disagreed with him and this topic caused many fights.
Kindness, fairness, and niceness are qualities that all good people share.
Even though we don’t look the same, we all have the ability to care.
You should have the courage to stand up for yourself and other people when the world does not
seem fair.
Our job is to do what we can to help and to not stay on the sidelines and stare.
Until people all over the world start treating people equally,
Real peace in every country can never be.
My mark that I just made that makes me feel really good is that I just donated eight inches of
my hair.
A person can hopefully use this to make a wig that they can proudly wear.
Reaching out to help other people is something that everybody can do.
Kids should know that they can make their mark – it all starts with you!
“Make Your Mark” – 2016 MLK Essay Contest Winners
Victoria Catin – Daffron Elementary
Dear Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.,
Thank you for everything you did for all children of color. Now we are able to play
together in the same place and share the same dreams and fight for them.
I also want to leave my mark and continue what you did so that we can have a place for
everyone and where all children can be happy without being treated differently, because we all
have a heart with no color.
Thank you Dr. Martin Luther King because you fought for all of us, and you were able to
have your race respected. Today we work together, play, and live together, making much of
your dreams reality. Today we can say that we are one united nation. If you were here, you
would know how much your efforts were valued and how your dream was made real. Today I
can hold my fellow brothers, who are black and white, by the hand.
Sincerely,
Victoria Catin
Querido Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.,
Gracias por lo que hiciste por todos los niños de color. Ahora podemos todos jugar juntos
en un mismo lugar y compartir los mismos sueños y luchar por ellos.
Yo también quiero dejar mi huella y continuar con lo que tu hiciste para que tengamos un
lugar para todos; donde todos los niños podamos ser felices sin ser tratados diferente porque
todos tenemos un corazón que no teine color.
“Make Your Mark” – 2016 MLK Essay Contest Winners
Gracies Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. porque luchaste por todos nosotros hasta lograr que
se respetara a tu raza. Hoy trabajamos, jugamos y convivimos junots hacienda muchas sueños
realidad.
Hoy podemos decir que somos una misma nacion unida. Si tu estuvieras presente darias
cuenta de lo mucho que valio tu esfuerso, por que tu sueño se hizo realidad. Hoy puedo
agararme de la mano con mis hermanos blancos y morenos.
Sinceramente,
Victoria Catin
“Make Your Mark” – 2016 MLK Essay Contest Winners
Sahasra Davuluri – Hickey Elementary
Did you know that you have a bucket on top of your head? It’s an invisible bucket that
holds all of your good and bad thoughts throughout the day. Every time you say something nice
or encouraging, you fill someone’s bucket. When you say mean things or hurt people’s feelings,
you dip out of their buckets. So who has these buckets? Moms, dads, strangers,
teachers…..everyone has a bucket. Every time we help someone else, we are filling their bucket,
and every time we say a mean thing, we take something out of their buckets. So what are you…
a bucket filler or a bucket dipper? Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “If I can’t do great things, I
can do small things in a great way.” He was a bucket filler. He said we should treat people like
we want to be treated. He said to use words to make changes in the world. He got his legacy
from Mahatma Ghandi in India, and I can get my legacy from Martin Luther King, Jr. I can’t
stop a war and I might be only 8, but I can do little things. For example, I could help a new
student with their homework and give a friendly letter to a classmate. I could bring a surprise
treat to my teacher or just smile at someone who looks sad. Martin Luther King, Jr. also said,
“The time is always right to do what is right.” We need to have the courage to do the right
thing, even if it is hard to do. Standing up for a classmate who is being bullied is hard, but
that’s what he was talking about.
Our school pledge is called, “The Hickey Pledge”. Every day we promise to do our best at
everything we do. We also promise to be the best we can be each day. It is in honor of Mrs.
Loretta Hickey. She served our Plano community for 40 years and is still serving today. She
tried to be the best she could be. She is a bucket filler just like Martin Luther King.
Martin Luther King left us a great legacy. What is a legacy? It is what you want to be
remembered for. As I said, I may only be 8, but I can fill buckets all around me!
Martin
Luther King, Jr. once said that anybody can be great. I know that I can do great things one
bucket at a time.
“Make Your Mark” – 2016 MLK Essay Contest Winners
Elise Nelson – Centennial Elementary
Martin Luther King once said…
“The time is always right to do the right thing.”
That’s how I want to make my mark
I want to hear those words ring.
I want to live my life
Always do what’s right.
I want to help people
Even if I have to fight.
I’ll help a stray dog
I’ll help anyone I can
I’ll hold my grandma’s hand
Because that’s who I am.
To be a good person
You have to do what you can
You have to know right from wrong
And always lend a hand.
Be proud of who you are
Don’t live your life in the dark
Don’t be afraid to make a mistake
And this is how you make your mark.
Imae Mbede, Davis Elementary
“Make Your Mark” – 2016 MLK Essay Contest Winners
Imae Mbede, Davis Elementary
Do you ever feel like you will never change anything? That everything will stay the same?
That’s probably how Martin Luther King., Jr. felt. He was only one man; how could he change
the nation?
King didn’t see everyone as black or white, he saw everyone as a unique and different color.
When people tried to hurt him, King would continue to be cheerful and march on. He impacted
many people, both with what he believed and being merry most of the time. Since his
assassination, his legacy is important more than ever now. People don’t see each other as black
or white anymore. We see each other as equal.
So when you feel discouraged because you feel everything will never change, that you will never
make your mark, just remember, Martin Luther King felt the same way sometimes. And you,
yes you, all of you can make your mark in any way. Maybe you can make your mark in a
tremendous way like Martin.