Students Pledge To Do the “Write” Thing To End Violence
“I don’t remember everything that happened when I was 3, but I can recall one certain night.My mother was sprawled out in the middle of the floor and coated with blood, and my father had dozens of beer bottles. He was breaking the beer bottles and using the sharp parts of the broken glass to cut into her. He had a belt and was whacking her with it over and over. I will never forget that night. Every time I wake up, I see that memory in my head. It’s a never-ending nightmare.”
Amber M., an eighth grade student, shared those words at the annual Do the “Write” Thing Challenge ceremony held at the U.S. Supreme Court on July 25, 2016. The challenge, an initiative of the National Campaign to Stop Violence (NCSV), raises awareness about youth violence among middle school students and encourages them to commit to ending it. As part of the challenge, students write essays on their experiences with violence. Every year, national ambassadors—school finalists who submit the most meaningful entries—are honored in a recognition ceremony in Washington, DC.
