Second Place
CARA WARGOCKI
Jackson Academy
of Math & Music
4th Grade, Mrs. Gallegos
Third Place
SOPHIA CHIANG
El Toro Elementary
5th Grade, Mrs. Miceli
10
If I could give America a birthday gift, I could give it many things: like a year without bullying or a
country with respected laws. Maybe I could give it seas without pollution or skies without smoke. But
most of all, I would try to make America a country without war, a country full of peace and freedom.
“America, Land of Freedom” has had a history of battles and wars that drove families away and
people apart. If this land had no wars, history would be more peaceful and its title would be true.
When people entered this country, they believed they would live free, but long ago when explorers
came, they drove people out of their homes. Later on, with slaves, diff erent states were driven apart
through unlike opinions and diff erent beliefs. War sprang up everywhere.
If we had no wars, think of what we could do. Our country united as one together and unique, we
may be looked up to more, and thought of as a role model. If America had no war, it might be the start
of a peaceful world. That is why the best present ever given to America would be peace.
If I could give America a birthday gift, I would give her happiness. Everyone deserved to
be happy, from the smallest child to the oldest person. Everyone deserves at least a chance to
feel happiness, whether it’s with family or friends. Loss of happiness can lead to many terrible,
miserable and illogical things, such as bullying and depression, which can lead to harm to self and
others, suicide even.
If everyone could just be happy, so many horrible things and negativity will be gone and
the world would be so much better, and, well, happier. Research also shows that being happy
increases the strength of one’s immune system, and therefore, it also increases one’s life span. Not
to mention that a lot of people can’t think straight when they’re clouded with sadness and anger.
Such things can lead to car accidents, and accidents in general, getting into fi ghts, getting hurt and
other things like that. If we could all be happy, the world would be happy, it would be incredibly
benefi cial both for people and the world. A world without any more negativity and sadness –
wouldn’t that be a beautiful place for all of us?
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
America ★ Morgan Hill Freedom Fest 2018