By Angela
By Sarah

Winner - High School Division
"How Project Wisdom Has Made A Difference In My Life"
By Mellori, 11th grade
Bainbridge, GA

Imagine being stressed over discord in a student club meeting. A community service project must be completed in the coming month, but club members cannot agree on a venue for the project. Tension mounts between the members and the meeting ends abruptly. The next day, many members are disparate because not much was accomplished. But, as they sit meditatively in their class, a familiar voice comes over the PA system. An excerpt about understanding great ideas and the value of diversity and cooperation is read over the intercom, and the antics of the previous day seem quite silly. Many of the club members decide to meet again. One member tells the impact of the morning's Project Wisdom message had on their vision for the community service project.

As a result, my school made history on Make A Difference Day 2003. At least fifteen different clubs attended the day and dramatically improved the landscape of our school. These students had the choice to attend that day; however the character building program stories and proverbs instilled through Project Wisdom each day was definitely a motivator or driving force in their decision to help. The outcome of the problems encountered by high school youth today is usually determined by how they deal with them. Project Wisdom has influenced the way I think, and how I cope with adversity. I realize now that my anger and panic do not solve anything. Only rational thinking and optimism make things happen, and things have been happening.

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Winner - Middle School Division
"How Project Wisdom Has Made A Difference In My Life"
By Tara, 8th grade
Mustang, OK

Middle School. Everyone goes through it, and, somehow, everyone makes it out. But when you're right in the middle of it, making it out seems impossible! How have I made it this far amazes me and I would like to think Project Wisdom has something to do with it.

Every morning we all hear a few Words of Wisdom announced over the intercom and although none of us want to admit we're listening, we are. Believe it or not, those words actually help us!

The Words of Wisdom have impacted my life in many ways. I have learned to respect others and myself, to stand up for what I believe in, to encourage others and to have confidence in myself.

As I am going through the day a circumstance may arise where a few Words of Wisdom may pop into my head. I ask myself something like, "Am I belittling this person?" or, "Am I making a wise decision?" Then I think to myself, "Hey, Words of Wisdom. They really do help! Who knew?"

We all have something called a conscience and Project Wisdom just makes it louder. I am thankful we have Project Wisdom and that it can help me make a difference. I will always try my hardest to be kind, responsible, and be the best I can be.

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Winner - Intermediate School Division
"How Project Wisdom Has Made A Difference In My Life"
By Kaitlin, 5th grade
Tabernacle, NJ

The words of wisdom are important to me because they remind me what I can do to stop bullying, to respect others and myself, to make life better, make good choices, make a difference, live to learn, empower myself, and they give me words to live by. Sometimes I forget these things. Every morning, I look forward to hearing the words of wisdom. I always try to make it a great day because the choice is mine. I try as much as I can to do all of these things. The words of wisdom could change your life because they sure are making me a better person. This is what I think about the words of wisdom.

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Winner - Elementary School Division
"How Project Wisdom Has Made A Difference In My Life"
By Luke, 3rd grade
Tyler, TX

Project Wisdom has changed my life because I now believe in myself. Before Project Wisdom, I didn't believe in myself. It also has made me care for a lot of other people because I used to only care for myself. Project Wisdom makes me have better character because if I do something bad, it will help my heart feel better and then I act better.

Project Wisdom helps my brain work and helps me set goals. The most important thing about Project Wisdom is that it makes me a good person and then my beauty shines.

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Honorable Mention - High School Division
"How Project Wisdom Has Made a Difference in My Life"
By Christopher, 9th grade
Floral Park, NY

Everyday I go to tutor people instead of going to my lunch period. Instead of eating lunch with my friends I help people with their studies. I think that this is a good way to contribute to my school instead of asking my school to do something for me. I enjoy helping people get better grades and learn more. When I am helping these people I always think of those inspiring quotes I heard that morning in my homeroom. I know that I am making a difference in the world just as others have done before me. I feel satisfaction in helping so many people make their lives better.

My favorite quotes are the ones said by John F. Kennedy and the Hebrew proverb "Who is mighty? One who makes an enemy into a friend." I think this proverb expresses the need for people to be more understanding of others and to care for everyone. I am learning how the United States helps others by being in the Model United Nations. We practice diplomacy and devise ways to help other nations with problems ranging from mass destruction to economic and social problems. I relate the quotes I heard to my speeches about the different problems we are discussing. When J.F.K. said, "Ask not what your county can do for you, but what can you do for your country," he told people to help others not just care about themselves. While many people agree with him most people don't actually help anybody by themselves.

This program gives students a way to think about their lives and the lives of others. Students will become more aware of how others feel and become more caring. If kids start helping others with their problems the world will see less problems. The program offers a way to make many different lives better.

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Honorable Mention - High School Division
"How Project Wisdom Has Made a Difference in My Life"
By Emma, 11th grade
Paris, KY

Throughout the week of October 27-31, the Words of Wisdom discussed drugs, the consequences, and the effects. These were the set of words that had the greatest impact on my life. Actually, they changed the life of a close friend, which lifted a huge weight and a lot of stress off of me.

Discovering that a friend you thought you knew well was on drugs is a big surprise. You feel betrayed almost because he kept something from you. This is exactly how I felt when I heard through a mutual friend that my closest friend was taking drugs.

After hearing this, I confronted him. The truth was admitted and I was stunned. I tried to explain to him how much I loved him and why drugs were going to mess up his life. Of course he refused to listen until he heard it elsewhere.

On the first day of Drug Awareness Week and after hearing the "Words of Wisdom," I saw my friend in the hallway. He looked me in the eyes for the first time in a long time. I knew right away that those 30 seconds of words that morning had changed his mind. For the next four days we listened to the Words of Wisdom and discussed them each night. He finally realized how life threatening and altering drugs of any type could be. My friend made a decision to stop using drugs and I committed my time fully to supporting him.

Even though I was not able to be the one to reform him, knowing that his life would be better soon was just as great of a feeling. I love my friends so much and I feel their pain and their stress. Since the Words of Wisdom impacted his life, it changed mine as well.

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Honorable Mention - Middle School Division
"How Project Wisdom Has Made a Difference in My Life"
By Lisa, 8th grade
Pasadena, TX

Project Wisdom ends every message with one statement…make it a great day… or not, the choice is yours. In Jr. High, kids don't get to make very many choices on their own. We are told what to wear, what to do, where to stand, where to sit, and now, we even have people dictating what we can or cannot eat. Sometimes we feel like we have no control whatsoever in our own lives.

We want some say over what happens in our lives. What's different about Project Wisdom is that it isn't telling us what to do, it's giving us a choice. Kids are capable of making good choices; we just need to know that there are other alternatives out there. Project Wisdom gives those alternatives without getting preachy or being too condescending. If you want a kid to grow up to be a responsible adult, you don't tell them what to do you give them the tools to make the good choices on their own. Project Wisdom offers us these tools. The choice is ours on how we use them.


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Honorable Mention - Middle School Division
"How Project Wisdom Has Made a Difference in My Life"
By Nataliya, 7th grade
Eatontown, NJ

Project Wisdom is important to me. It has made me think before I make a decision, whether it is in or out of school. I have learned to be grateful for all the little things in life that make every single moment worthwhile.

Every time I hear Project Wisdom in the morning, I try to unlock the lesson it holds. Sometimes its about being kind to everyone, or staying drug and alcohol free, or sometimes it is about making rational decisions and controlling my anger. However, there is always a lesson to learn from it.

Project Wisdom manages to teach me all of these lessons in less that five minutes every day. Still, most of what it has taught me can be summed down into a simple phrase: "the choices you make today, shape the world tomorrow." This basically means to me that I must decide on my choices wisely because they will affect my future.

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Honorable Mention - Intermediate School Division
"How Project Wisdom Has Made A Difference In My Life"
By Christian, 4th grade
Hayden, AL

Everyday I walk into school and I see faces. Happy faces, sad faces, and angry faces. Then I hear the intercom come on and I know Mrs. Wilemon is going to teach me a lesson. One time she said, "You use your self-control to calm down." And then, "Make this a great day or not, the choice is yours." That is where real Words of Wisdom come in. Will I be wise and make good choices?

Words of Wisdom have changed my life because sometimes I come in mad. But when Mrs. Wilemon comes over the intercom, it calms me down and makes me happy. I know you may be saying, "Yea, right, that is crazy." But I really do think about calming down and making good choices.

I am glad there are Words of Wisdom everyday at my school. Because if there wasn't, I would not know about so many things I do now!

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Honorable Mention - Intermediate School Division
"How Project Wisdom Has Made a Difference in My Life"
By Kyle, 5th grade
East Stroudsburg, PA

The Words of Wisdom program is something that is very important in my life. I always try to reflect on the Words of Wisdom. The most important line to me is, "Make it a great day or not, the choice is yours." This line is true and it has real meaning to me.

Have you ever had a time that you did something wrong and you knew it? This happened to me once. There was a kid who everyone made fun of and I once saw a group teasing this one child. I was afraid to stand up to this group of bullies because they were all older than me. This fear caused me to have a terrible day since I regretted not saying what I wanted to.

Now I have learned how to change. Every time I hear teasing, I always tell the bully that it is wrong to insult others. This feeling allows me to have an excellent day, knowing what I did was right. I think that Words of Wisdom gave me the courage to stand up to bullies.

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Honorable Mention - Elementary School Division
"How Project Wisdom Has Made a Difference in My Life"
By Angela, 2nd grade
Danbury, CT

Words of Wisdom helps me to be a better person. They help me to not gossip in a bad way. It is like the Golden Rule. We should accept everyone for who they are. They help me to treat others as I want to be treated. They help me respect others and to share with others. Each of us is different and we all can learn from each other.

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Honorable Mention - Elementary School Division
"How Project Wisdom Has Made a Difference in My Life"
By Sarah, 3rd grade
Tomball, TX

Project Wisdom helps me solve my problems in a better way. Project Wisdom has taught me that you can become better at anything by practicing. I have also learned not to make a big deal out of small things. I have learned how to not get angry and go tell the teacher when someone pushes me. It is better to talk to the person and find out why they pushed you. Sometimes you find out that it was really an accident. Project Wisdom is like a substitute teacher to me.

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