ESSAY WINS NATIONAL HONORS
Local Student’s State-Winning Essay Continues
to Gain Recognition
by Jim Evans

Left to right: Joan Shoff, Vice Principal Clark Magnet High School; Victoria Sahakian (second place); Janet DeSantis, English teacher Mountain Valley Academy; Jessica Davidson (first place); David Green (third place); Jim Harris, English teacher Mission Viejo High School.

Jessica Davidson of Julian already was being honored May 7 in Sacramento as the first-place winner of the statewide student writing contest sponsored by the California Medical Association Alliance.

The contest, designed to encourage students to communicate openly with parents, faculty and law-enforcement agencies when they hear conversations or threats of violence, was aptly named "When Not to Keep a Secret."

Much to Jessica’s surprise, her winning entry also captured third place nationally among several thousand entries and garnered her another $500 savings bond — in addition to the $1,000 savings bond she received from the state organization — at the awards presentation ceremony. She was further honored by being asked to read her essay aloud to the several hundred attendees at the luncheon who, twice, gave her a standing ovation.

Her essay, titled, "Please Don’t Go," describes the relationship between two young friends and how they coped with the suicidal thoughts of one of the girls who was depressed by personal tragedies in her life.

"Please don’t go, I’d miss you," says Jessica’s principal character to her fatalistic friend. "You may leave your pain, but you’d cause a lot more for others... don’t give up on life...live life so you can be hopeful."

The full text of Jessica’s powerful winning essay will appear on the CMA Web site at www.cmaa.net in the coming months.