Show parowan carowan student wins elks essay contest florian matheson Mat hoson a senior student brought a distinct honor to tile the parowan carowan high school when her essay what uncle sam means to me won first place and a prize ut of twenty five dollars in the sponsored by the benevolent protective order of elks of this district I 1 seventeen students of the high school of this district entered essays in the finals this contest is under the auspices of the national committee of the the winner of the national contest will win one thou thousand sana fl dollars ollars second place five hundred dollars and third place two hundred and fifty dollars only state winners winners will enter the national competition only dittri district ct winners will enter the state slate competition the essay by miss matheson will now enter the state competition with a chance to win further honors for both the author and the paro pare wan high school editors note this thia is the second time a senior student from the P i 1 S and in roy morriss english class has won honors with an essay last year harriet anderson won a 2500 prize with an essay on banking on a contest sponsored by I 1 the e national bankers association A cappy of miss Math esons esons winning essay is printed below dear uncle sam today to day I 1 went to for twelve years I 1 have gone at an average total cost of two thousand four hundred dollars to you I 1 have had an opportunity not one of my own forefathers had their supervised education was so limi limited but it is because of them jand other people like them that I 1 have had this opportunity they had the desire for better conditions for their children you gave them the tools for realizing the fulfillment of that desire now I 1 want even better conditions in the future for my children thus does america grow in school I 1 was taught to read not because reading is important in itself but because I 1 I 1 grow row and develop by what I 1 read you know it would be thwarting that purpose it if you told me what to read I 1 am guided but I 1 am never forced I 1 was also taught to express my thoughts for what purpose is my reasoning if it cant be eap exp expressed r essed how could I 1 grow into an individual who would be intelligent enough to help govern a nation otherwise in any situation I 1 can look at both sides of the issue my ability to grasp the truth is respected uncle sam you have a great influence on every one of your million nieces and nephews you mean so much to me such personal things things such as the songs I 1 sing they are not the songs somebody else says I 1 must sing i t may warble 1 I hear a rhapsody 11 or 0 r lustily lu atily break forth with toreador and not encounter your reproof though one song is not written by a fellow countryman the music I 1 dance to is of my own choice be it waltz swing or jazz I 1 can listen to any radio program I 1 care to and it may come com e from any country in the world you believe and trust my understanding tand you let me have friends when more than twenty of us young people gt get together tp gether we doritt break any of your restrictions by doing so you let me live with my parents who teach me the tried and true principles of honesty truth and virtue not by nature but by nurture am I 1 tolerant most of all you mean the prayers I 1 say at night tor for you let me believe in the supreme goodness of god and the brotherhood of man what makes my eyes fill with tears and my heart happily burr lurr lurch h when the stars and stripes go up and I 1 join with others to sing oil S say y can you see its with gratitude to you uncle sam YOU yot ARE I 1 MY LIFE I 1 I 1 appreciate the opportunities and privileges you have given me but b ut I 1 am not content democracy is great but it perfect our forefathers have made mistakes in the pas past t and we will in the future but we will build in the light of the lessons of those mistakes you have im bedded in me the desire and gi ven me a chance to gain knowledge now give me wisdom to build on this fi firm I 1 rm foundation an even better americal america your affectionate niece florian |