By Essay contest winners,

“The White Rose
First Place $50
Caroline Park, 14, John Burroughs Middle School

One cold and windy night, I was digging through my old collection box, just bringing back old memories. As I took out rocks, marbles, pictures and other old stuff, I came across a journal. I smiled and took it out. As I fumbled through, murmuring the words in it silently while frowning, laughing and getting teary at the same time, a flat, pressed white rose dropped out. I was at first surprised, but then I picked it up and put it back in the page it fell from. I saw the word in the journal entry that suddenly made me terribly sad. Matthew. I couldn’t help it. I just burst out crying.
Matthew and I were inseparable, along with my other friend, Katie. Matthew was a popular little boy around his school because of his big innocent blue eyes that always sparkled. His blond hair always covered his eyes, which really irritated him. But people never let him cut it. They liked it a lot. Katie was an average girl with short brown hair and hazel eyes. She was a tomboy who always wore jeans and a T-shirt. All three of us used to do everything together. Going to the movies, playing a fun game of basketball or just lazily lying on the grass, staring up at the sky and telling stories. At school, whenever I got into a bad situation, Matthew was always first to be there (Katie got mad sometimes). And I was always there for him.
About two years later, Katie had to move. For about two days I was totally sad. The day she left, Matthew and I gave her a big plush teddy bear with a bow on it that read “To Katie. Love Matt and Carol.” She just smiled through tears and gave us a big hug. After she left, we stayed in touch for a long time. Then, Katie drifted away. I had heard she had moved again. We missed her.
As time passed by, I felt closer to Matthew. But that was when it happened. Something horrible. Matthew had cancer. I wondered if it was because his mom had a bad habit of smoking everywhere. But the doctor told me something ‘bad” happened when Matthew was born. When I asked Matthew why he didn’t tell me before, he just smiled and said, “I guess I was too happy with you and Katie to notice.”
That really broke my heart. I wish I could do something but the doctors said there was nothing they could do. Matthew was going to die. I grieved at home until my stomach and throat hurt. My mom was worried about me and I just blocked her out. The next day, I went to Matthew. He didn’t look like the Matthew I once knew. His face was pale, his lips were cracking and his hair seemed to be falling out. I was scared to talk to him, but he called me to him. I gave him his favorite, chicken soup. He grinned and gave me a gift in return—a white rose. I got a small vase and put it in. We talked for hours until it was time to go. I said goodbye with a kiss on the cheek and left the room.
At 5 a.m., Matthew left. He left to a better and safer place. He had died of cancer at the age of 10. It was weird because after he died, I didn’t cry. I knew Matthew was watching over me and he knew I needed him in my heart. Now, when I feel sad or lonely, I always open my journal to the white rose. I stare at it, fingering its petals and I talk to Matthew. Because I know he’s listening and is always there for me, as I am there for him . . .

Mom is my friend
Second Place $30
Amber Ellis, Culver City HS
First, I guess I should start by saying thank you. Thanks for being a friend for nine months. You didn’t give me up like the others. Instead you let me stay and grow with you for 9 months. You didn’t even know one thing about me. I made you throw up every morning. I even made you have a big tummy but love stepped in, and you still decided to be my FRIEND.
You told everyone about me, so happy and overwhelmed you couldn’t help but to tell. I am happy too. Can’t you tell by all this kicking I am doing? It’s not long before we meet. I can see all these people and doctors waiting for me at your feet. I finally see your face and I cry tears of joy. How do I begin to say thank you for giving me life? And for using your heart, and not your head. September 5, 1982 was the day you and I became FRIENDS.
Thank you for being a friend when he broke my heart. You told me it wouldn’t last; it would just fall apart. I should have listened to you. Thank you for being a friend when those mean kids at school said things that just tore me apart inside. You put your loving arms around me. And told me I was beautiful and God made me and molded me in His own image. And He gave me to you to protect and watch over me until death do us part. And you’re doing a great job, my friend. Thank you my friend for giving me my beautiful brown complexion, long strong hair and my thick bushy eyebrows. These are gifts that can only come from you and God above, who is so great. Thank you my FRIEND.
A true friend is what I found in you. I can open my soul and heart to you knowing my true feelings and thoughts are safe with you. You accepted me and looked past all my flaws and my mistakes. You forgave me when I hurt you and caused pain. I never wanted to see you cry and see those tears come out of your precious eyes. You have shown me unspeakable and unbelievable love and friendship for the last 16 years. Please promise you will never ever take your friendship away no matter what. You’re a real FRIEND.
I know it’s going to be a long ride. But your encouragement makes feel like I can do anything. You give me a smile and kiss before I go and then I know that after the snow the sun will shine. It’s so hard to express the way I feel about a friendship so real. I love you my friend until the end. Thank you, MOMMY for being a FRIEND!

A true friend was there in my time of need
Third Place $20
Juan Franco, 18, Morningside HS
An individual may consider many people to be his friends. True friends are the people who will stand next to you and support you in times of hardship and great necessity. True friends do not come in large numbers. I know that this is very true, because I have experienced it firsthand. I had always considered many of my peers to be my close friends. My belief was that these individuals would give me their support if I was ever in need; however I was mistaken and had a rude awakening.
Ronald* and I met in the seventh grade through mutual friends. I just said “hi” when I ran into him at my school’s hallways. I never wanted to get close to him because he had a negative reputation. Don’t get me wrong—I’m not popular, yet I felt that hanging around with someone with a bad reputation would only worsen my reputation.
The years went by quickly and so did my acquaintance with Ronald. I no longer spoke to him. My friends disliked him so much that they always said negative things about him and “punked” him around. I wanted to stay close to my friends so I always joined them on saying negative things about him. I would “bag” on his clothes, the way he spoke and any other little thing that my friends didn’t like about him.
In the tenth grade, all that changed. We no longer picked on Ronald. We had become very close friends and always said that we would be there for each other.
On March 17, 1997, right before my siblings and I left for school, my mother came out of the shower and couldn’t keep her balance. She lay down on the bed, threw up and complained about something that struck the inner part of her head. She repeatedly said, “Oh my God! Oh my God!” as she lay on the bed and grabbed her head. My siblings and I were very scared and we called an ambulance, my father and close relatives that lived in the area.
My mother was taken to the hospital in very serious condition. The doctors told us that she had an aneurysm and that she needed to be operated on immediately. The doctors couldn’t operate on her because her blood pressure and body temperature kept rising and falling. That night, the doctors were able to calm her down and operate before she lost too much blood.
After the operation, we were told that she had lost too much blood and that she was going to pass away in a matter of days. We were also told that she was diabetic, that she had suffered a nervous breakdown and that she had gone into a coma. The next day we were told that she had three consecutive heart attacks and that she was brain dead. The only way she could live was on life support. Her condition got worse and she continued to bleed internally. On Thursday, March 20, she passed away. My family and I were grief-stricken.
During this very difficult period in my life, I expected my close friends to visit me and give me their condolences. The days went by and the only person who visited me was Ronald. I was surprised since I had not treated Ronald nicely in the past. My mother’s funeral, mass and burial came around and once again I was stunned to see Ronald there and none of my so-called friends. Ronald was there for me in the times when I needed my friends most, and I was very thankful for that.
After my mother’s burial I began talking to Ronald more and less to my “friends.” I apologized for everything I had done in the past and he forgave me, simply saying “Don’t worry about it. If you can forget it, so can I.” Ronald and I continued to talk and then I suddenly realized we were best friends. We always gave advice to one another and were there whenever we needed help. As for my other friends, I no longer spoke to them. I realized they were not my friends and that I almost passed up having a best friend for hanging around with them.
Now, two years later, Ronald and I are seniors and the best friends that have ever existed. I will always remain grateful to him for being there for me when I was in need. You see, many people consider their peers to be their friends; however, friends only come in small numbers. I learned that true friends are those individuals who will be there with you in good times and bad and will support you in times of great necessity.

*name of friend has been changed”