West Bend News 1st Annual Writing Contest Winners
West Bend News was thrilled with the positive response we received from our 1st Annual Writing Contest! We had five high school entries and 17 junior high entries from around the West Bend News readership area!
These students exemplified superior writing skills to articulate their thoughts on the topic of this year’s contest “What Does Home Mean to YOU?”
The judges chosen for this first year had an arduous task before them. They used a rigorous rubric with which to evaluate objectively each essay that was submitted. There were four categories of judging criteria: Understanding the Topic; Original Thinking Relative to the Topic; Effectiveness in Presenting a Point-of-View; and Literary Style, Grammar and Spelling.
The winning Essays were from the following students (of which their essays are the following and photos are on page 1).
JH Division:
1st place Perla Reyes, a 6th grader at Paulding Junior High School. 2nd place Sophira Partin, a 6th grader at Antwerp Middle School. 3rd place Rosa Blalock, a 7th grader at Imago Dei Christian School.
HS Division:
1st place Caitlyn Mead, a Junior at Wayne Trace High School. 2nd place Claire Miller, a Senior at Wayne Trace High School. 3rd place Raymond Hagerman, a Sophomore at Paulding High School.
These young people are an excellent example of dedicated students ready to serve their home, their families, their friends and their community. Their use of imagery and personal stories made their words leap off the page and into the judges and WBN editors’ hearts. Our future looks very bright if this small sampling our the next generation is an indication of the kind of leadership and servanthood that will abound as they come of age and start taking their place in the communities that they choose to live in.
West Bend News wants to thank all the schools who promoted this contest to their students — we see you teachers & appreciate all you do to buoy the minds of these young people. Now … take a few moments and read “What Does Home Mean to YOU?”
JUNIOR HIGH:
1st PLACE:
What Home Means To Me
By: Perla Reyes, 6th grade, Paulding Jr High School
Home is not just a place where I live; it is where my heart feels the happiest. When I think of home, I think of my family, laughter, and the smell of my mom’s cooking. Home is where I can relax, feel safe, and be myself. It is the place where I build memories with the people I love the most. To me, home is a special and warm haven that makes me feel loved and cared for every single day.
However, home is not alway perfect. Sometimes, my siblings and I argue over the smallest things, like who gets the last piece of cake or control of the TV remote. These disagreements can make our house feel less cozy and more like a battleground. There are moments when my parents get stressed about work, and it creates a tense atmosphere at home.
But even when conflicts arise, we always find a way to come together and solve our problems. It is during these challenging times that I learn the importance of patience, understanding, and forgiveness, making our family bond even stronger.
One day, a huge storm hit our town, and the power went out. The wind howled outside, and the rain poured down like never before. It was dark and a bit scary, but that is when I truly understood the power of home. My family gathered in the living room with candles lit all around us and prayed. We told stories, played board games, and snuggled under blankets. Even though the storm raged outside, I felt safe and happy because I was with the people I love most. This experience showed me that home is not just about a physical place, but about the warmth and security of being with my family during tough times.
As the storm passed and the power came back on, everything returned to normal, but I felt a change in my heart. The experience reminded me of how important my family is and how our love can make any place feel like home. Now, whenever we face small challenges, like a bad at school or a disagreement, I remember the stormy night and how we came together as a family.
These moments of unity and love have made me appreciate my home even more, knowing that it is a place of strength, comfort, and endless support.
In conclusion, home is much more than just walls and a roof; it is where my heart finds its true happiness. Through the ups and downs, my family and I come together, sharing laughter, or facing challenges. The bonds we share make our home a special and unique place. Home is where I find comfort, strength, and joy, and I know that no matter where life takes me, the memories and love I have experienced here will always stay with me. To me home means “Home is the starting place of love, hope and dreams.
2nd PLACE:
HOME
By: Sophira Partin, 6th grade, Antwerp Local School
Home isn’t just a physical place; it’s much more about our feelings and connections with the people we love. To me, home is filled with joy and warmth, especially when I’m with my sister-in-law. Every time we share a laugh or tell a fun story, it creates an atmosphere that feels so cozy and safe. Those moments with her are like a little escape from the rush and noise of the outside world. Whether we’re watching a movie, making dinner together, or just chatting about our day, I can’t help but feel this deep happiness that fills my heart.
When we laugh together over some silly joke or reminisce about funny family memories, it brings us closer in a special way. Sometimes, after a long day at school, just being around her makes everything feel lighter. It’s like the worries of the day fade away, and all that matters is enjoying each other’s company. Her laughter is contagious, and I can’t help but join in, creating a joyful bubble around us that I never want to end.
Home also means spending time with my mum. She has this amazing ability to know exactly what to say to make me feel better when I’m having a tough day. It’s almost like she has a superpower for understanding my feelings. The comfort of her love and support transforms any place into a home. Whenever I feel down or overwhelmed, it’s her hugs and sweet words of encouragement that give me a sense of security. I treasure how she always seems to know when I need a little extra care, and those moments mean the world to me.
But it’s not just about the laughter and hugs; it’s also about the everyday little things we do together that help create our strong sense of belonging. Whether we’re playing board games, cooking family recipes, or just talking about our dreams and worries, every single moment adds to the feeling of home. Making my grandma’s famous lasagna or trying out a new recipe for cookies becomes a way to bond with my family, and I know these experiences will be cherished forever.
Our family game nights are another highlight—there’s something magical about gathering around the table, cheerfully competing, and cracking jokes. It’s during these times that we share plenty of laughter and sometimes a little friendly rivalry. We make memories that I know I will hold on to for the rest of my life like the time my sister-in-law accidentally knocked over the board and sent pieces flying everywhere. We couldn’t stop giggling as we scrambled to put everything back together!
In the end, home is really about the connections we build with the people who truly matter in our lives. It’s those special moments—the quiet conversations, the shared experiences, and the love we share—that create a place where we always feel welcome and at ease. No matter where I am, whether we’re at home or somewhere else entirely, as long as I’m surrounded by the people I love, I know that I am truly home. It’s the love and support we give each other that turns any place into something special and meaningful.
3rd PLACE:
What Home Means to Me
By: Rosa J. Blalock, 7th grade, Edgerton, OH, Imago Dei Christian School
What does “home” mean in the first place? There are many definitions. My perception of home is voiced best by this definition: “Feeling an easy competence and familiarity” (from The Second College Edition of The American Heritage Dictionary). Places and people make up this “easy competence and familiarity” for me.
For some people, home is a happy place. An example of this is if someone feels most energized at work with an assignment he or she loves. It could also be a special place, like the vacation spot someone visits annually. For me, this happy place is my house. The frequently-seen nooks and crannies provide comfort on difficult days. The ease and peace that can be felt by just sliding into a chair and closing my eyes is rarely found anywhere else. Though these are the major aspects of home in this sense, there are countless smaller details contributing to it that are not tangible enough to put to paper.
Good relationships with others can be home as well. They are people with whom it is easy to be around, including family, spouses, co-workers, or friends. For me, it is my family and close friends with whom I have those meaningful relationships. The ease of being in the company of these people is as reassuring and comfortable as slipping on a favorite jacket. Going with my family on “adventures,” as we call them, and being silly with my friends is part of who I am. These are the reasons why people and my relationships with them are an essential part of my definition of home.
Whether home means a dictionary definition, or whether it is a heartfelt truth, the feeling or place it is will always bring good memories to mind. No matter how a person defines “home,” the safe feeling that is hard to put into words is there. Good relationships with my parents, siblings and friends, and the cozy feeling of being in my house are my definition of home.
HIGH SCHOOL:
1st PLACE:
My Home
By: Caitlyn Mead, 11th grade, Wayne Trace Local School
As I have aged, home has carried many different meanings. Being young, it carried the definition of simply being the place where I lived. As I aged through my youth group at my church, home became where I would go when my time on Earth was over, and it was time to return to Jesus. Coming to my life now, home is a very complex term, carrying all of these meanings and more. I can find home in my faith, in my family, and in the community that supports me.
From the time I was very young, my mother and great-grandmother taught me my love for Jesus. My faith has been, at times, my only constant in my life. I learned that Jesus would never abandon me and that I could always rely on my faith to carry me through life. It was when I learned this that my faith became my home. Not only have I found a home in my relationship with God, but it was this relationship that has also led me to a home I found in a community. At my church, I have a whole community of people who care for me and who will always look out for me. I have found immense support in these people, and I believe that it was God who led me to this home.
Of course, I will always have a home among my family also. Regardless of what life brings me, I know I have my family to look after me. Whether it is sitting around the table, laughing at dinner on Sunday nights, or getting together for the holidays, I know I will always have a group of people who will stick by me and help me through unpredictable life.
More recently, I have found a home among one of my sports teams. I have participated in basketball for the majority of my life, but this year, the group of girls I was able to play with changed the sport for me. We created a closely bonded relationship, and playing basketball was no longer just a task on my schedule. It was being with my family. My teammates became my sisters, and through this, I found another home. Even though our season has now ended, I can take away friendships made stronger. I know every one of those girls would be there for me if I needed them. We all have a common understanding of this. It was through this newly formed home that we were able to have such a successful season this year. We truly learned how to play together as one successful unit. We ended the season undefeated in the Green Meadows Conference and had a record of 18 wins and only 5 losses.
What I have taken away from all of the places I found a home in my life is that home is found in places of reliance and trust. I can trust my family to lead me through life, striving for graciousness. I can rely on my team to stand behind and support me among my peers. Above all else, I can rely on God and my faith to help me through all of my struggles in life. Home is not simply a place where I reside anymore, home is where I find security, trust, support, and reliance.
2nd PLACE:
I Am A Pilgrim Passing Through
By: Claire Elizabeth Miller, 12th grade, Paulding High School
And I saw in horror the abominations around me, so savage you could not believe such heinous crimes could be committed by another human being.
There were thin, shrill noises as missiles streaked toward the earth, beating down upon the ground like thunder. Bullets sprayed around me like rain. Fire and smoke hid the sky behind pillars of black and red clouds. And like lightning, bright flashes from bombs detonating the nearby buildings – the rumble of collapse that followed knocked me off my feet.
The only sounds I could hear were those of destruction and fear – the wails of the people around me crying out to anyone for help. I searched desperately for relief, my body broken, my mouth drier than the ill dust that oozed out from the empty shell of an atomic bomb. Heat scorched my skin in waves, rolling over me in great swells. I wished desperately for water, even just to wet my tongue.
And the only thing I could do was drop to my knees, hands clasped together, and cry, “Why God!? Why!?”
And in a still, small voice that RANG IN MY HEAD LOUDER than everything else, “This world is not your home!” And the pandemonium around me was SILENCED – as the world held its breath, searching for who spoke to me.
But it does not matter that I could not see the face that had spoken to me because faith was NEVER about seeing.
I realized nothing in this world will last, including us. This world is not our home but a journey to it.
The world around me did not cease its brutality after my experience. It only began to get worse. Not only did I now see the physical battles around me, but the spiritual war as well. The battle for each soul – the reality of the evil around me so frightening I wanted to hide away forever.
But that is not our purpose in the world – to cower away in the face of trials and tribulations. Our job is to work and to serve, to help those in need, to show love and kindness the way Jesus would, and to share the gospel – to help each other on our journey through this world to our heavenly home.
Home will be a place of peace, happiness, and love. There will be no more sickness, sadness, suffering, or shedding blood. When we reach home, there will be no more goodbyes, pain, hate, or death. We will have a deep love and understanding for one another, a peacefulness so tranquil that we cannot comprehend it while on this earth. It will be a perfect, holy place where we can reside with our creator forever.
This is what home means to me.
3rd PLACE:
What Does Home Mean to You?
By: Raymond Hagerman, 10th grade, Paulding High School
If I were asked a few years ago the question “What does home mean to you?”, I would have probably said that home is the place I go to every night after school or practice; Or I would have said it’s the area I was raised in. That is my 13-14 year old self’s answer.
When I was 13, I was a very troubled kid. I would get into a lot of fights in school and at home. I would project my insecurities into hostility on my peers around me. I would carry a burden of oppression and make it other people’s problems. This hostility and anger would be my everyday life up to that point at 13-14.
Today, at 16 years old, home has an entirely different meaning to me. I used to view home as a place, but now I see home as a person. That person to me is Jesus Christ. You see when I was that troubled kid, I didn’t have anything going for me. I hated my life and who I was, I hated going to school and hated my home life. I hated everything I did and was surrounded by, and not just my home life, but I hated my life overall. As a result of this hatred, I started to be angry with everybody I knew and talked to.
Even the few friends I had were victims of my cynicism, and when I had a girlfriend at that time, I treated her the worst. I would take advantage of her financially, physically and mentally by telling her things she wanted to hear so I could get my way. I could go on and on about just how awful I was to her and everyone. This kind of selfish living leads only to a fall. After the first 14 years of my life, I lost myself. I had broken up with my girlfriend and distanced myself from my friends and family. I felt this strong discomfort in my heart and a dryness in my spirit. After living so long in anger and repressing all my other feelings, I couldn’t continue in that path anymore. I had hit rock bottom.
I once found comfort in playing video games and gossiping. I had once found a sense of home when I smoked weed or looked at pornography. But when I lost myself, all those things meant nothing to me. When I once found smoking weed comforting, it then became draining. When I was once always angry, I was then constantly in despair. My appetite was gone and deprived of desire; Not just for food but my appetite for life was thin. You could tell me, “Raymond, I will take you to the nicest restaurant in the world, just name the place.”, and I would tell you that I don’t want to eat. You could say to me, “Raymond, I will take you anywhere on Earth that you want to go, just name the place.” and I would tell you I wouldn’t want to go anywhere. I felt like a walking zombie or a dead person walking at my lowest because of how I lived my life. I thought about taking my life, or doing hard drugs; because life didn’t feel worth it anymore.
When I was a few weeks into this deep despair, I had a spiritual encounter with Jesus Christ. Jesus flooded me with so much love and comfort! He filled a hole in my heart! When there was a void in my heart filled with shame, disgust, anger, despair and discomfort; He filled it with glory, with love, with peace, with hope, with guidance! He brought life back into my heart! He saw my crushed spirit and gave his spirit up for me! He gave me a plan for my life when I didn’t even have one! I had no dreams, no desires, no plan but he encountered me with his plan for me! Plans for me to prosper. Plans for me to thrive in suffering. Plans for me to meet people. He told me “Very truly I tell you, you will do many great things in this life.” He told me “You did not choose me from this world, but I chose you out of this world.”. Jesus saw me not as a troubled kid who did bad things, but he saw me as a son who was lost. Jesus restored me back to life. He nurtured me back to stability. Jesus to me is hope in a hopeless world. He is love is a world full of hate. He is light in a world consumed in darkness. He is mercy in a world that holds grudges. He is justice in a world that is covered in injustice. He is rest when I’m heavily burdened. He is glory where there is shame. He is my sanctuary when I’m in war. He is guidance when I’m lost. Jesus is the love of my life; Jesus is my home.
My favorite verse is Romans 8:18 “For I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing to the glory that will be revealed in us”. That verse is my favorite because it holds true to my life. After 14 years of the awful suffering life I lived, it didn’t compare to the first day, the first hour, or the first minute I had spent with Jesus. I am a born again person because of Jesus. When I was dead in spirit, he gave me life over death. That is why today I am excited and proud to say that Jesus ChrIst is my Lord, and my Savior, and my Home.
