World Affairs Essay Contest & Symposium
2009 Winner
Taylor Gilman, a sophomore at Middletown High School, is the winner of the 2009 Aquidneck World Affairs Essay Contest sponsored collaboratively by the Aquidneck Collaborative for Education and the Pell Center for International Relations and Public Policy. Students from each Aquidneck Island high school were invited to participate. Taylor's essay was nominated by her teacher, Laura Yentsch. The winning essay entitled "Awry Opportunity" was written in response to the essay topic, "Put yourself in the shoes of a young Afghan. What do you think the world has to offer you and how will you achieve your dreams?"
Taylor received her award at the April 22nd "Courage To Speak" lecture given by Awista Ayub at the Pell Center. Awista was born in Kabul but escaped to the United States with her family during the war with the Soviet Union. The events of September 11, 2001, and the fall of the Taliban spurred her to create the Afghan Youth Sports Exchange.
Awista's first book, However Tall the Mountain: A Dream, Eight Girls, and a Journey Home will be available in August.