When you have 71 teens from across the country writing about what matters, the result is a kaleidoscope of concerns, ranging from the global to the intensely personal. But a few themes came up over and over again.

The War in Iraq.

The war in Iraq was without a doubt the most popular subject among the 71 teen essayists. Through these essays something became apparent—these young Americans are growing up in a time of war, and for the most part, they don't like it. While no essayist took a position in support of the war, the reasons for disapproval spanned a series of concerns, ideological differences, and personal stories.

Some contestants opposed the war for its detrimental effect on our own country. Many chose to discuss the death of loved ones, while others saw war as a drain on our nation's resources. Specifically, teens thought the money could be better spent on funding for education, healthcare, and other social services that benefit the poor. And there were those who viewed the war as injurious to the welfare of people in other countries. Fourteen-year-old Stephen Chau summoned the president to "teach us that we are a part of a greater community, not just the United States, but also of the world."

Other essayists seemed to project schoolyard relations onto a broader canvas by using the concept of bullies to explain their objections to the war: "We teach children why bullying is not right, to know how to stand up to and report one... and why it is better to stop them than let them continue. The president should make a decision to stop this war," Jamie Sutton, 17. The message coming from this bully-sensitive cohort was not simply that using war is a rash way to solve problems, but that it sets a bad example. "[War] teaches children and teenagers to handle situations using violence," and coaches youth to "assume that others are wrong, and put themselves in front of everyone else," asserted Lucas Dan, 14.

Education

Another theme of many essays was education—and at least one essayist brought these two ideas together: "It saddens me that my education is second to War," wrote Alex Morse, 16. Some essays were entirely devoted to sharing the writers' experience with today's educational system. Contestants expressed outrage and deep frustration with the situation in their schools, and there was an over-arching sentiment that American children are being shortchanged... literally. "Books are without pages and some are not up to date. The money keeps being taken away from schools. What are students left with? Not much," wrote Morgyn Hall, 14.

Several writers deplored the increased emphasis on standardized tests that is being driven by the No Child Left Behind legislation. The students say they are losing out on other activities, and many found testing to be degrading; "We are more than our test scores," declared Lucas Dan. Teens also criticized the tests as unreliable indicators of academic standing: "...all a test can show is how well a student can take a test and how well the teacher was able to prepare the student to do so," wrote Keisha Mitchell, 16. Essayists said that from their perspective, all the testing has made it harder to graduate, but hasn't improved the quality of education.

Suggested solutions included more funding for schools and scrapping NCLB. But improving the quality of teachers was a central concern. Tim Pullisetty, 14, proposed a pay raise for all teachers "to attract those that have higher education." More specifically Tamara Dean, 16, advised the president to "...pay inner city teachers more..." in order to pull higher quality educators into the schools that need them most.

The failing grade teens are giving education is a source of stress not only for the here-and-now, but also for the future. For some, college is approaching quickly and skyrocketing tuition bills are a cause for concern, "College can cost $50,000 a year. Many American families don't even make that much," pointed out Ellen Kipp. Countless essayists called for the president to use his powers to put more money into scholarships and other financial-aid programs to give youth from lower-income families a slice of opportunity.

Social Services

Experiences with poverty, hunger, and homelessness inspired articulate affirmations of the need for social services. Some use personal stories of survival to illustrate the success of government programs: "Food stamps are a staple of my childhood memories. I have been on Medicaid my entire life because my single mother was not able to afford apple juice, let alone health insurance. I am a success story. Without the continuing support and help from the US, we could have ended up on drugs, starved, or worse," wrote Tiffany Ward, 16.

A good share of contestants, especially those currently involved in the juvenile justice system, spoke in the voices of those who feel their country has failed them. Many of these teens argued that they got into trouble because of efforts to help their hungry families, and ended up in detention centers. They lamented the lack of after-school programs, the holes in the programs designed to provide low-income families with housing they can afford, the shortcomings of welfare, and the absence of police in their neighborhoods. They said that they had not been empowered with the resources humans need to thrive. "We need to think that there is a life out there for us," pleaded Tasha Sinseros.

"I am in a juvenile detention center, and once I became part of the city, I became part of its trash," Whitney Allen, 15. Allen and other contestants writing from juvenile detention facilities bitterly described being removed from their homes and placed in confinement instead of being given the help and direction they need to function as something other than a delinquent. "You all say you want a better community, then you lock everyone up. How is that making things better? There has been nothing to better my chances of getting my life on track," asserted Troy Berry, 18.

Rather than simply requesting that the president use his decision-making powers to shift funds in the direction of better education, more recreational centers, job training and social services, contestants often urged the president put on someone else's shoes, to make sure that, as Caitlin Hillyard, 16, put it, "...the sculptor is competent for the job." Ashley Wheeler, 17, advised government officials to "live as though they were poor for a couple of weeks and then make some decisions."

Other Concerns

The environment was a top priority for several entrants, who made a generational argument that today's leaders must do more to make sure they leave a healthy planet behind. "Time after time, big business beats out nature. We, the next generation, will suffer after you are gone," wrote Katelynn Wilton, 16.

Voices from the foster care system recounted dizzying stories of what it's like to change families on a regular basis. It was these teens, who have experienced all different types of families and schools, who wrote most powerfully about the importance of a good home, education, and social support. Unfortunately, for most the luxury of a stable family never lasted long, leaving many feeling like Christopher Tate, 14: "When I have formed strong, positive relationships, they have been ripped from me..." As one contestant put it simply, "the foster care system needs to be fixed."

Several essayists spoke up in favor of greater respect and more legal rights for gay and lesbian Americans. Even though the ban on gay marriage might not seem to directly affect teens, many wrote in accordance with Kori Sierras, 18, who said, "It almost feels like [the President's] saying it's un-American to be homosexual."

Yet another set of common concerns dealt with issues of teen sex and pregnancy. Contestants both opposed to and supportive of legalized abortion wrote to the president to discuss this deeply felt issue. Essayist Tamara Dean, 16, called for a strong emphasis on abstinence in public service campaigns aimed at teens: "use less condoms' commercials and more "abstinence from intercourse" commercials would be a good start."

Reasons to Listen

Our contestants made the case better than we could that they deserve a hearing from the powers that be. As Angelica Cesari, 16, pointed out, "We endure every ramification, both good and bad... just like those of the population who can vote. Though our voice might not always be heard, we have something to say."

Resources:

Read the four winning essays.

Julie Garfield is a recent graduate of George Washington University. She was an intern at Connect for Kids for the summer of 2005, and is now working in the nonprofit sector.