SUMMER 2008Amandi Patti
Friends School Mullica HillWhen I heard about this essay, I thought of many different things I could write about, but this is one story I thought would influence you the most. It is a story about a little girl I know named Lauren. When I first met Lauren, I saw this pretty innocent five-year-old girl. She loved to play outside and liked animals. I found out that her father and mother had split up and she had two older half brothers. As the years passed, her grandmother brought her up while her mother worked all the time. Lauren had basically started her life with her father rejecting her and her mother trying to make ends meet. Once Lauren started going to school, her mother realized she had a problem concentrating.
Suffering with the pain of not having both parents together, combined with not being loved by her father, in addition to her learning disability, was just the beginning of Lauren’s inner battle. Three years after splitting up with Lauren’s father, Lauren’s mother met and fell in love with another man. She soon got married to this man, and they lived together as a family. Lauren’s mom did not have to work as hard and could stay home with Lauren. Within a few years, Lauren’s mom and stepdad decided to add to the family. With two more children in the house, Lauren was not her mother’s number one concern any more. She soon felt like an outsider who was not cared about by anyone. To get her mother’s attention, she would instigate problems between her two younger siblings. Lauren’s mother and stepdad did not know what to do with her, and would send her away to different places whenever they could. As I continue to watch Lauren’s story unfold, I cannot explain how horrible I feel to watch her suffering.
The word “peace” is something we all dream about every day. Everyone is fighting a different battle, but most people do not realize they are fighting in the wrong way. We could learn so much from Lauren’s story. Lauren lives in a world of hate where her voice is overlooked. There would be a real difference if Lauren could just speak with her mother and her stepfather about the way she feels. She would not have to undergo the rejection and hurt that she has been feeling for so long. Then she would not add to the hate, but instead she could choose to be helpful. If Lauren would feel more loved and would work with her parents, she would live a more peaceful and happier life. What is sad about Lauren’s war is that she is fighting at a very young age, and the hurt and pain she feels will never go away. Many children are facing similar battles like Lauren’s. If we could stop for one minute and realize how our choices are affecting other people, we would be one step closer to winning the battle for peace.
This essay won an honorable mention in the Helen Glass Peace Essay contest, which is held annually at Friends School Mullica Hill, which is sponsored by Mickleton and Mullica Hill Monthly Meetings. It is copyright © 2008 by Mickleton and Mullica Hill MMs.
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Tuesday, May 20, 2008 at 11:55 PM
