Senator Scott Wilk, R-Palmdale, recognized Grace Lim, of Santa Clarita, during his “Wednesday with Wilk” weekly outreach video.

Lim, an Academy of the Canyons High School student, wrote a contest-winning essay for the LegiSchool Essay Contest. She beat out more than 500 students to win the prize.

Lim’s piece, “The Consequences of a Later School Start Time,” explored concerns about changing the school start-time schedule from a student’s perspective.

Wilk spoke with Lim about the research she conducted into the concerns with delaying start time, such as students who are involved in extracurricular activities, and challenges that might pose.

Here’s a link to her work.

Lim was also recently in Washington, DC on a scholarship to participate in the prestigious National Congressional Workshop.

Here’s a piece she wrote for a contest in 2015, which also garnered a prize, for the Young Artists and Authors Showcase (YAAS), which encourages youth from around the globe to express the mission of Sister Cities International through original artwork, literature, film, and photography, according to the organization’s website.

“A Spark of Peace”

In the world, there are hundreds of distinct languages, thousands of unique cultures, and billions of diverse people. We all differ in what we celebrate, believe, and value, however, despite these differences, there is one element that unifies everyone around the globe. This integrating factor is peace. Peace is a universal language that can be implemented on a massive scale, with hundreds of countries, or on a more minimal scope, with just two communities. Regardless of what platform peace is displayed on, the fundamental result of peace is connection, which has the power to transform lives and alter societal perspectives.

I experienced the power of peace through my passions and talents. For three years, I was blessed in being able to be part of a speech and debate program. While I was researching a topic for a debate competition regarding the role of humanitarian organizations in developing nations, I was deeply moved by the risks individuals took in order to ensure peace and security to those in need. Although I could not physically go to the developing nations, I wanted to find a way to spread peace within my own community. After contemplating different ways to approach to do this, I decided to utilize my passion for debate. I opened up free debate classes for children in my neighborhood who could not afford to be a part of an official debate league. I taught my students the importance of being respectful to one another’s opinions and how to come up with solutions to dilemmas, effectively. Once my students learned the characteristics of peace through my debate class, they started to demonstrate these ideals and were becoming role models within their own homes and schools. Gradually, they were connecting their families and friends through respect and understanding, while exemplifying teamwork and dedication.

After a couple of months, my students and I were starting to globally connect to children our age. We began to record books for children in Mexico who did not have the privileges that we enjoyed. Seeing the children  pour their efforts into the recordings left a profound mark on me, as I saw that they wanted to do whatever was possible in order to connect themselves to those who were desperate and in need of prosperity. My community was now not only inter-connected, but we were also connected internationally because of peace.

My work in the community is minimal compared to what the humanitarian workers are accomplishing. Yet, through my speech and debate class, I was able to realize the importance of peace, whether that be changing one life or the lives of thousands. Connecting globally has allowed my community to assist others in prospering and has allowed us to be prosperous emotionally, as we are now connected and loving of each other. I am now confident and firm in my vision for peace, which is to spread hope that we can be prosperous and successful, together.