Every spring the sixth graders write an essay in observance of Older American Month entitled: "My grandparents" or "My Best Older Friend." The only stipulation is the grandparent or friend need be at least 60 years of age.
The essays were first given to the Paynesville Senior Citizens to judge before advancing the top essay winners to the state level. The top winners in the state were judged by the Minnesota Board of Aging. The top award winners won a trip to the State Fair where they will be honored during the Senior Citizen's Day activities. More than 5,000 essays were written statewide. Printed below is Chris's winning essay:
"My Favorite Grandmother"
When I was small I remember if I got hurt my Grandma always did something to make me feel better. She would share about anything she had to give. She would always make you feel that you were one in a million. I would go on special trips with her whether it was a shopping trip to St. Cloud or a trip to Virginia state.
I remember when I was in first grade, my grandma was with me in the hospital when I got diabetes and the chicken pox. She helped my parents do a lot of things, like if my parents had to go to work she would stay with me and help take care of me. She used to baby-sit me, and when my parents went out she would watch me and make sure I didn't get into trouble. My family and I had to make a lot of changes and so did my grandma. If I need a ride to school, she will take me (unless she is not home). If I need help with a school project or some homework she will help me with everything she knows about the subject and if she doesn't she somehow finds it out.
My grandma is very generous and will get about anything if we need it, she would go without things if she had to get us something we needed and she would be happy to see us using it even though she had to do without. She also helps out at the senior center even though she doesn't have to. She does a lot of voluntary work and she also helps others if they need help.
She would make you feel like you were the best person in the world. If you don't feel you don't want to go somewhere she can always make you see the lighter side of it and if you have to do something scary or something that you think might hurt you, I know I can't rust her if she says only good things can come to the thing you have to do because she always tells the truth.
She would go on trips a lot, some of them I was too little to go on. Then when I was bigger she would take me on trips to St. Cloud and get me a little something here and a little something there. Then I got to go on bigger trips with her and my family. This year I got to go alone with her to Virginia state and we went to all kinds of places. I didn't have trouble with my diabetes there because my grandma and I have learned a lot about it and we can get along fine, so hopefully we can go on another trip there because my uncle just got a new pool. This wonderful grandma is Mary M. Schultz and I'm proud to be her grandson.
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