Dear Ms. Segraves,
When I first received the news that I had won a National Gold Medal at the Scholastic Competition, I was relieved. After two years of attempting to even be recognized by Scholastic, I had finally won something. However, the true greatness of this feat hadn’t sunk in for me or my family. Scholastic was merely a competition that I participated in annually but never received any award for. We were excited, but we did not fully grasp the situation (especially considering my sister had been accepted into M.I.T. the preceding day). I had assumed that many of my friends had won, as well, similar to what had occurred when our entries were still at the regional level.
However, when my Language Arts teacher emailed my mother the following day to inform her that I was the only Gold medalist at my school (there were two other Silver medalists), I began researching Scholastic, and I reviewed the email Scholastic sent my mother. My excitement grew as I read names such as Truman Capote, Lena Dunham, and Stephen King (the author of Carrie, an amazing novel); if incredible writers like those could win this competition, what did that make me? And what did that make the thousands of other students who also won?
To be able to go to Carnegie Hall (Carnegie Hall!), the place where these amazing legends perhaps once stood to accept their award would be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Writing is a skill -- a habit -- that I have had all my life, and to be able to be awarded for something I have spent years harnessing and perfecting is truly an honor. Also, to be even considered as one of the most creative middle school writers in America is not only inconceivable for me, but for all of the students who were also awarded.
The city of New York may be a novelty; however, for me, to be able to accept this award, to be told that I am as good as incredible writers who were awarded before me, is the biggest prize of all.
Sincerely,
Melanie Menkiti
The Village School
Houston, Texas
