U.S. Senator Honors New Canaan Country School Student For Essay

NEW CANAAN, CT — New Canaan Country School sixth grade student Cameron Ableman's essay was among the 15 winning essays selected by U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) in his sixth annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Essay Challenge.

According to a news release, Ableman's essay was chosen from a total of 2,200 entries submitted by elementary, middle and high school students from across Connecticut reflecting on Dr. King's dream and their own aspirations.

"I was particularly inspired by Martin Luther King Jr.'s resilience in the face of so many hardships and people who didn't believe in him or what he was fighting for," Ableman, a Norwalk resident, said in a news release. "The idea of pushing through tough times and sticking with it until you make it right is something that I can really relate to."

An excerpt from Ableman's essay is included below:

"When I grow up I want to be able to help people, just like him. I want to speak out against what’s wrong, and not just accept defeat. I want to keep fighting for what is right and never give up. This is one of the many reasons why I admire Dr. King so much, he never stopped believing in what is right and he never gave up. I think that we should aspire to be a little more like Dr. King, meaning that we should all always believe in what we want to and in ourselves. When I grow up, no matter how close or far away that might be, I want to fight. I want to fight for beliefs instead of prejudices, I want to fight for what is right for my country and the world I know could exist if everybody could believe and I hope that with enough courage and strong compassionate voices/words we will get there. And when I say fight I mean with our voices making the others weak not with our fists but with our words. After all, many do say that, 'Pens cut harder than swords.' And we will share what they have tried so hard to silence but we will fight back for a world where everyone is equal as our own Pledge of Allegiance says, 'Liberty and Justice for All.'"

Sixth grade teacher Mauricia Gardiner, who facilitated her class' submissions to the contest, said she was very pleased Ableman's essay was selected.

"She has put a lot of work into learning how to express her ideas effectively," Gardiner said in a news release. "This is a great outcome of those efforts and an honor to be recognized."

In addition to being available on Murphy's website, the winning essays are on display in his Hartford office.

"We honor Dr. King's legacy by continuing his fight for justice and equality," Murphy said in a news release. "Every year, I am so impressed by the students across Connecticut who submit essays of their reflections on Dr. King and their own dreams for a more just future. Young people have always been at the forefront of the great social change movements, and their hope and determination continue to inspire me."

Further information can be found at countryschool.net.