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Eighth-Graders Reflect on ‘Why Second Chances Are Important’

Seven Irvington Middle School eighth-graders were recognized by Lifting Up Westchester, a nonprofit organization committed to giving individuals in need a second chance, for their participation in the organization’s annual essay contest.

Graham Adams, Morgan Balkin, Miles Demarest, Lila Juenger, Jacob Nierman, Michael Sollecito and Olivia Yin submitted essays on the topic of “Why Second Chances Are Important.” They reflected on what it means to give someone a second chance and describe how they have seen or experienced a second chance in action and what they have learned from it. The essay contest also challenged the students to think through the complexities surrounding the issue.

“Second chances are an essential part of life, and without them, the world would be an extremely different place where if you mess up, that’s it,” Sollecito said. “Where if you make a mistake or error, that’s it. A world without second chances would be a world in which restoring hope would be nearly impossible.”

Juenger said that hope can come from kindness, support, by seeing someone else succeed or by succeeding yourself. Demarest said that since no one is born knowing everything, everyone needs a lesson at some point to teach them what is right and wrong.

“We as a species would not thrive if everything was perfect, because there would be no opportunity to learn and grow,” Adams said. “Making a mistake allows you to learn valuable personal and moral lessons. Getting a second chance means you can apply that hard-fought knowledge and do what is right.”

English language arts teachers Tara Chillemi and Regan DiMenna said their students’ essays were thoughtful and reflective on the importance of providing second chances to those in their community.

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