Stop The Violence

Maya Hall, 6th Grade
Dana Middle School, Wilmington, CA
Los Angeles Area

The Indigo Ribbon

April 2004: My friend Diamond was a very nice girl and a very smart one, too. She was "my dork." When she came from Atlanta, Georgia, she was afraid to tell her story about her brother. Her brother was killed by a stray bullet because he was wearing a red shirt.

Wearing a red shirt symbolizes you are part of a different gang. The Bloods wear red items to symbolize their gang. She was frustrated, sad, and her grades went down. I tried to help her, but she wouldn't let me. I kept trying and trying until she realized that I would not give up on her. Then we became good friends. She told me everything about Georgia, the lifestyle, the art, and how they dressed.

Another factor leading to violence is the lack of education. Save me a spot in college and I will change that. I could take colleges to different levels and make it easier to get in to college. College would help me stay away from violence. Many kids that are in gangs or doing drugs do not go to school.

For example, one of my family members ditched school to go with his friend to go smoke weed. Then he made a big mistake and was kicked out. Because he has nothing to do, it will probably be easy for him to join a gang. I worry about this because it hurts my family because my uncle died in a car accident on the streets. My uncle went to college and he was mentally ill, but he finished college. That means I can do it, I can be the leader, I can succeed and be a brain surgeon do. I CAN DO IT!!!!

I've seen people who are flipping burgers at McDonalds when they have an opportunity to go to college or to go to schools. I think I could help prevent violence by speaking out against violence. Another way to help stop violence is through counseling for gang members and victims of rape and domestic violence. I think educating the different races would also be helpful. We could bring them together in groups to help them solve their problems. This is possible by means of education.

SAVE ME AND MY FRIENDS A SPOT IN COLLEGE! WE can change the world ...