We are pleased to announce our Essay Contest Winner:

Portland, Oregon Homeschool Student, Abigail Justen!

How Manners and Polite Behavior will change the World
by Abigail Justen

Our country is a great place to live. It could even be better if everyone were polite. If everyone were polite the world would change because there would be no rude talk, no cheating, and no hitting. The first way the world would change is that there would be no rude talk. Instead of children trying to get their own way through rude workds, they would politely ask their parents or friends for what they wanted. The second way being polite would help is that there would be no cheating. Everyone would know that isn't fair to get credit for something that someone else knew and they didn't. The third way being polite would change the world is that there would be no hitting. When a person did something wrong he or she would apologize instead of losing his or her temper and then hitting.

I change the world when I am polite. When I'm polite to my friends and use good manners toward everyone, I really make a difference. My polite example can inspire my friends to be considerate toward others. I can also make a difference by having good manners toward everyone. When I go to another person's house and say "please" and "thank you", and "excuse me" they see that when people are polite it makes them feel good. THere are lots of ways to make the world a better place, but I think that by being polite and having good manners is the best.

- Thank you, Abigail!