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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 3, 2016)
24 Wednesday, February 3, 2016 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon What Freedom Means to Me By sydney Wilkins Patriot Pen Essay photo by beCky aylor Bill anttila, John Miller, and Jack Kinsey of VFW Post 8138 presented sydney Wilkins with her award. ESSAY: Middle school student plans military service as adult Continued from page 1 everyone, not just in certain places, people, races, and reli- gions,” Wilkins wrote. Wilkins told The Nugget that she developed her writ- ing skills under the tutelage of Carol Dixon at Black Butte School. The topic of the Patriot Pen essay moti- vated her to jump in to the competition. “If you’re going to do an essay, it might as well be something important,” she said. “I like to write; it’s fun.” And freedom and patrio- tism — and the will to defend it — are very important to the Sisters youth. “I want to go into the mili- tary when I grow up,” she explained. “My dad’s family has almost kind of a legacy.” Her father, Jay Wilkins, served in the U.S. Army as an Apache helicopter pilot. And the legacy goes way back, at least to George Wilkins who, Sydney says, “was in the Civil War. He was a general and he died fighting.” Now that combat roles are opening up to women, Sydney has a big ambition: “I want to be the first woman Navy SEAL,” she said. She’s inspired by the example of Shay Haver and Kristen Griest, who com- pleted the grueling and pres- tigious U.S. Army Ranger School (as did her father). “A Ranger is a high point in the military, and soldiers have to go through a gruel- ing 62-day course, sometimes more,” Sydney wrote. “These two extraordinary women did just as well as their 94 male classmates.” Determination is key to fulfilling ambitions, and it is apparent that Sydney Wilkins has plenty of it. It’s reflected in her essay, where she knew just what she wanted to accomplish. “I knew I wanted to say something about Shay Haver and Kristen Griest, and I knew I wanted to say something about the Syrian refugees — and my dad,” she said. She said it well, earning honors and the $100 check. She noted with some chagrin that she was unaware that she had been tapped as the win- ner, despite the fact that her parents showed up at the pre- sentation ceremony, and her teacher Becky Aylor told her to be ready. “I (didn’t) put any of that together,” she said. Sydney has plans for at least a portion of her prize money. “I promised my friends milkshakes,” she said. “They ate my lunch while I was up there, so they owe me a lunch.” Freedom. That single word triggers so many dif- ferent emotions. Some people might be overjoyed, knowing they can be who- ever they choose in reli- gion and career. Others, in countries or religions that prohibit some types of free- dom, might be saddened that being free is not for them. When I hear the word free- dom I am proud because my father was in the military and I want to be a soldier myself some day. When I hear “freedom” I am happy, reenergized, and hopeful. Freedom is powerful. While freedom brings joy and happiness it can also bring negative emotions. Many people have lost their lives for freedom. Soldiers fought and died in the revo- lutionary war for America to have freedom from Great Britain. Many black men, women, and children died trying to earn their freedom from slavery. In total, 2,144 American soldiers have given their lives fighting in and around Afghanistan because of the Operation Enduring Freedom. Freedom has a price. I believe freedom is a force that should be for everyone, not just in certain places, people, races, and religions. One great exam- ple of this is the Syrian Refugees. They are citizens from the Syrian Civil War who don’t believe in the strict rule of their Muslim government. They fled the country going to many of the regions bordering Syria, mainly Turkey. These people are men women and children, some my age, and it made me think about how lucky I am to be in one of the places that enjoys the rights of free- dom. Freedom should be for everyone. I think that one of the big- gest fights for freedom today is that of women’s rights. While this is not a life risk- ing concept, I do not think that it is any less impor- tant than any other issues. This summer women had a important breakthrough. Two women, Shay Haver and Kristen Griest became America’s first women rangers. A ranger is a high point in the military and soldiers have to go through a grueling 62-day course, sometimes more. These two extraordinary women did just as well as their 94 male classmates. While women are still not thought of as equals to men, they are fighting. To me, freedom means everything. We keep you up-to-date every day! Photo by Kathy Krause Become a fan to receive notifications of breaking news, events and more! Facebook.com/NuggetNews
