GREENSBORO, Ga. — The Rotary Clubs’ Georgia Laws of Life (GLL) Essay Contest is a statewide character education and creative writing program for students in grades nine through 12.Students are asked to select a maxim or “Law of Life,” such as “Honesty is the best policy” or “Kindness is the highest form of wisdom,” and write essays explaining how the maxim applies to their lives. 

The essay contest gives students an opportunity to reflect on important life lessons while working on critical writing skills. The contest aligns with Georgia Department of Education Standards of Excellence.

For the 2023-2024 contest, 33,686 students wrote essays, and 60 Georgia Rotary Clubs participated. Rotary Clubs across Georgia conduct the Laws of Life Essay Contest through the nonprofit Georgia Rotary Districts Character Education ProgramInc.Rotary Club members volunteer to read and judge essays, serve on the contest’s board of directors, and volunteer their professional expertise to help build character and ethical literacy among students.

“The essay contest is an opportunity for Rotary Clubs to share their Service Above Self motto with local students and schools,” said Carol Gray Walker, executive director for Georgia Laws of Life. The Georgia Laws of Life Essay Contest is made possible through the support of a grant from the John Templeton Foundation. Additional support comes from Rotary Clubs, corporations, and individual donors throughout Georgia.Each year, the contest presents $20,000 in cash awards to students and teachers.

While providing high schools with an effective, cost-free education program, the Georgia Laws of Life Essay Contest changes students’ lives for the better. As students reflect on the values and principles that matter most to them, something magical happens. Through the power of the pen, students begin to see themselves and others with a new perspective. Frequently, the contest nudges students not just to articulate their ideals, but to live out their “best versions” of themselves — lives full of courage, compassion and gratitude. 

What Makes the Georgia Laws of Life Essay Contest different from other essay contests?

The Laws of Life Essay Contest rewards students of all achievement levels. The essays are judged primarily on the degree to which the essay writer shows that he or she has earnestly reflected on a law of life and has applied it to his or her personal experiences.

The Georgia Laws of Life Essay Contest is celebrating its 25-year anniversary. Today over 841,572 essays have been written by Georgia high school students reflecting their hopes, dreams, and personal values. Inspired by the power of simple quotes, or Laws of Life, Sir John Templeton established the writing competition in the 1980s to encourage young people to embrace the wisdom of these sayings.

The Rotary Club of Greene and Putnam Countieshad six local students earn Honorable Mention Awards this year.From Putnam County High School, Savannah Tanner, Caydin Pittmanand Leland Erickson were the winners, and from Lake Oconee Academy, Sydney Pattison, Jessica Whiteand Riley Carr were the winners. 

State Winner of the George A. Stewart, Jr. Character in Action Award

The George A. Stewart Jr. Character in Action Award, which carries a $1,000 prize, is presented in conjunction with the Dunwoody Rotary Club to honor Dunwoody Rotarian, George Stewart, for his dedication to student character education and for his long-time service to the Georgia Rotary Clubs’ Laws of Life Essay Contest.The award is presented to the best student writer who describes discovering an invaluable character trait and then puts it into action. 

The Rotary Club is pleased to announce that Carlos Jimenez, 10^th grader at Putnam County High School, is the state winner of the George A. Stewart Jr. Character in Action Award.

“The Rotary Club of Greene and Putnam Counties is honored to sponsor the Laws of Life Essay Contest, and we are so very proud of Carlos. His vivid language and heartfelt story describe his life’s poverty challenges and how his father’s influence inspired him to go beyond present circumstances and motivated him to  ‘…strive for success even if the odds are against me…’ ,”Dr. Donna O’Neal, Rotarian and member of the Laws of Life Board of Directors, said.

Carlos’ essay follows.

Your Situation Does Not Define You; You Define Your Situation

By Carlos Jimenez

Putnam County High School, 10^th Grade

The blazing Georgia sun’s heat pierced every part of my skin it could reach, and the humid air encompassed my entire body as I spent the day landscaping homes with my father. The sun seemed to beat down on the nature around us making everything including us move like tortoises. One by one we completed house after house and the sun followed suit working hard to make us even more uncomfortable. Once the sun had reached its acme, I groaned to my dad, “Can we please take a break now this heat is killing me!” “Alright, you’ve been working hard today and it’s about lunch time anyway, you’ve earned it.” my dad remarked.

“Yes!” I exclaimed with relief. We decided to take our lunch break under an oak tree whose shadow blanketed us from the death ray that was the sun. Our lunch consisted of the usual, a ham and cheese sandwich with a Pepsi. It wasn’t much, but I sure enjoyed eating it every time. While we ate, my father reminisced on his childhood when a sandwich and a Pepsi was the highlight of his week. My father described, “When I was around your age, I had to leave school and work daily so that I would be able to have food for dinner. At times when I would work, I would feel like there was no way that I would be able to break the cycle of poverty, but I always told myself that poverty wouldn’t define me, and that with enough hard work, I would make a better life for my future family. And I did; I moved to America with nothing, working and saving to have enough money to live a good life. Son, on days like today when you work your hardest, but it still feels like the world is fighting against you, remember that no matter what the situation might be you have the ability to define your outcome.” In the moment I didn’t realize the importance of what my dad had expressed to me because I was more focused on the sandwich, but I would soon come to understand.

Once school had started back up everything got really tough. I started taking my first high school courses, Algebra I and Physical Science. With this new responsibility, the stressors of having to worry about my GPA, what job I was going to have, and what college I would attend caused my mind to spiral like a tornado. I was worrying about the future and that I might not be able to accomplish anything. Being the first one in the family to have a chance at a college education really put a lot of pressure on me, and all my friends already knowing about college and what they wanted to do, without the worry of money or failure, really made me feel like I was chained to a 10-ton weight, held behind the rest. It wasn’t until then that I realized the importance of what my father told me during the summer. Being poorer than the rest didn’t define my father, so it shouldn’t define me. After that night, I worked hard to keep up with the top students of my class and eventually my diligent efforts paid off.

As I walked up to receive an award on honors night, the light of the gym reflected off the laminated floors. The award was a dull copper-like head of an eagle (our school’s mascot) that was for students who showed exemplary efforts throughout the year. I was one of four students out of a few hundred to receive the award. Receiving this award opened my eyes to understand that if I put in the effort, I could prevail. Still to this day, I keep my father’s advice in mind that the situation does not get to define me; I get to define my situation. I strive for success even if the odds are against me with hopes that one day, I will receive the education necessary to thrive. An education that will allow me to repay all my father’s efforts and allow my posterity to have all they need for success.