Finley Barlow believes freedom means something different to everyone, and that’s the real beauty of freedom.
When asked to write about what freedom means to her, the Seymour Middle School Sixth Grade Center student said it means she can be proud of her own style, do what she wants to do and choose what she believes in.
“I can grow to be exactly what I want to be, and I can talk loud and proud about what I support simply because I am free,” Barlow wrote. “Freedom hasn’t always been free and is something we continue to fight for today. For many brave Americans, our freedom has come with the ultimate price.”
Her essay was entered in the Sertoma Club of Jackson County’s annual What Freedom Means to Me essay contest by LaWanda Tidd, a teacher at the Sixth Grade Center. All sixth grade classes in the county were invited to participate. Some teachers use the essay contest as a class writing assignment.
Sertoma member Chuck Seybold said there were 169 entries received, up from 99 entries last year.
Each one was reviewed and judged by Dr. Michael Kilpatrick and his wife, Ingrid. They wound up selecting Barlow’s essay as the best in the county, awarding her first place.
“I’m so excited for Finley, who is a really good student, she’s a hard worker, she’s kind and is a delightful young lady,” Tidd said. “I can see her doing some really good things with her life.”
Barlow was asked to read her essay aloud Thursday evening during the club’s Freedom Banquet at First United Methodist Church in Seymour.
Barlow said when it comes to our rights, the Declaration of Independence said it best, “All men are created equal.”
“Though as humans we are all unique and very diverse from one another, we are the same when it comes to our life, liberty and pursuit of happiness,” she said.
Her parents are Josh and Amanda Barlow, who were quite proud of their daughter’s accomplishment.
“When she first brought home the assignment, her main goal was writing about inclusion and diversity,” Amanda said. “Finley is a writer. She likes to write. It’s pretty great that she won.”
Four other students were recognized as runners-up. They were Sophia DuSablon, Zander Hopkins and Valerie McIntosh from Immanuel Lutheran School and Lily Surface from St. Ambrose Catholic School.
The students and their families were the guests of honor during the banquet. Each student received an American flag, a pin and a monetary award.
The flag presented to Barlow was flown over the U.S. Capitol in her honor.
Teachers who submitted essays of the four runners-up were Charlie Smith from Immanuel and Julie Lemming from St. Ambrose.
DuSablon’s essay explained how some people might think freedom is being able to do whatever they want; however, that is not what she thinks because a lot of those actions have consequences.
“To me, freedom means that I can believe in what I want to. I can go to church and tell people about it,” she wrote. “It means that I can have whatever job I want when I am older and not be forced to do anything else. It means that I can go to college.”
In Hopkins’ essay, he wrote how freedom is the right to act, speak or think without anyone telling you otherwise.
“Freedom allows us the opportunity to pursue happiness while ensuring our rights are protected at all times,” he wrote. “Freedom is the choice to live your life doing what you want, to live where you want, to eat by choice and to learn what your heart desires.”
McIntosh wrote how she believes freedom starts with the simple everyday things we do.
“The power or right to act, speak or think as one wants while following the law is a common definition of freedom,” she wrote. “Although the definition appears simplistic, it is very powerful to me. I feel blessed to live in a country that allows me the opportunity to act, speak and think freely.”
Her essay explained how she appreciates the sacrifice of those who have fought and continue to fight to protect and defend her freedom, and she looks forward to when she is 18 and has the freedom to vote. There are countries where women do not have the right to vote or speak freely, she said.
In Surface’s essay, she explained how America needs to show more respect for the soldiers who have risked their lives and also the first responders who have risked their lives, too.
“People have died for most things others have taken for granted. Some examples of that include education, religion, health care and voting,” she wrote. “I have the ability to express my opinions and beliefs and the right to agree or disagree with others. This is because others have fought for these rights.”
Surface wrote how proud and honored she is to be a citizen of the United States, the most powerful country in the world, and she respects all that the military and first responders do for us.
Serving as the banquet’s keynote speaker, Jackson Superior Court I Judge AmyMarie Travis said it’s extremely important our government not restrict our speech because that’s how we voice our ideas, how we refine our ideas, how we test our ideas and even how we build ideas or change our minds.
“If we don’t have free speech, meaning the free exchange of ideas, we’ll ultimately lose our ability to learn, invent and solve issues,” Travis said. “What can all of us do to to promote intellectual freedom? Don’t encourage canceling someone or silencing the voice of someone you don’t agree with. Instead, listen.”
She said to use the power of your vote, the power of your purchase and the power of your voice to strengthen others’ abilities to share their ideas.
The Sertoma essay contest will be held again in the fall for Jackson County sixth grade students.
What Freedom Means to Me
By Finley Barlow, a sixth-grader at the Seymour Middle School Sixth Grade Center
In the dictionary, there is one definition for freedom: The state or quality of being free.
But if you were to ask 100 people what freedom means to them, every answer would be different. That’s the real beauty of freedom.
To me, freedom means that I can be proud of my own style, do what I want to do and can choose what I believe in. I can grow to be exactly what I want to be, and I can talk loud and proud about what I support simply because I am free.
Freedom hasn’t always been free and is something we continue to fight for today. For many brave Americans, our freedom has come with the ultimate price. Our country’s heroes have laid down their lives for centuries to protect that right for you and me. Freedom is a privilege that you and I are fortunate enough to have.
When it comes to our rights, the Declaration of Independence said it best, “All men are created equal.” Though as humans we are all unique and very diverse from one another, we are the same when it comes to our life, liberty and pursuit of happiness.