Wallingford Student Wins Martin Luther King Jr. Essay Challenge

WALLINGFORD, CT — Madison Persaud, a sixth-grade student at James H. Moran Middle School in Wallingford, was among the 15 elementary, middle, and high school students from across Connecticut selected as winners of U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy's eighth annual “Martin Luther King Jr. Day Essay Contest.”

This year, Murphy (D-Conn.) received more than 1,650 entries from Connecticut students reflecting on Dr. King’s dream and their own aspirations.

“As we reflect on Dr. King’s fight for equality and justice, we are reminded of the work still ahead,” Murphy said in a statement. “Every year, I am so impressed by the students from across the state who submit such thoughtful essays on what Dr. King’s legacy means to them. Their hope and determination to build a more equitable future should inspire us all.”

Read Persaud’s essay below:

Martin Luther King Junior’s dream was important because he wanted civil rights for all people. He wanted people to be judged for who they are as a person, not what they look like. He was an advocate for people who didn’t have a voice, and he was willing to risk his life for people's rights in the future. He had hope; he believed that he could change the world.

He inspires me because my family immigrated to America from Guyana. In Guyana, my mom lived in poverty. She was cleaning people’s houses by the time she was 6, struggling throughout her life. When she met my dad, they made the choice to move to America. They sacrificed a lot to make sure that my siblings and I had a good life. She worked hard, and because of MLK’s work towards equality, she was able to be successful.

Today, my mom works for Hartford Healthcare, providing care to elderly people. As I get older, I realize the importance of health care, and I have a dream of being a registered nurse. I want to succeed in this dream because I grew up seeing people in extremely poor living environments.

Seeing my parents so successful motivated me to believe in myself. His dream, work, and legacy motivate me to work hard and believe, even when I don’t feel confident. He had a voice for those who didn’t, and even though racism was a lot worse than it is today, that didn’t stop Dr. King from advocating for all people. His hard work and determination inspire me to reach for my goals, stay in school and keep on going, even if people tell me otherwise. MLK not only inspires me to work harder but to be optimistic at hard times.