Spark A Dream Essay Contest Results

After hundreds of heart-felt entries, it was extremely difficult to come up with only three winners. However, we had to pick three essays that demonstated creativity, inspiration and stayed in tune with the "Spark A Dream" theme. The winning submission will receive a visit from a Sparks player to their school, organization or workplace. Second and third place will receive four (4) red section tickets to the 2009 Sparks Opening Day game on Satuday, June 6 against the Detroit Shock. Thank you to everyone who entered the "Spark A Dream" Essay Contest!

First Place
Name: Nyia Crenshaw
Subject: Her brother, Nevin

The person who has put a spark in my life is my brother, Nevin. He has inspired me to work hard and do great in school. He has taught me that it does not matter where you come from or where you live you can make it in life! This is what I will do because of him, I will work hard and I will succeed.

My brother has encouraged me to work at pursuing my dreams, and do my best in school. If my brother is babysitting me he would stay by side making sure that I did my work, and that every problem was correct. Because of my brother I have received several academics awards and an awesome progress report. This is why I am proud to have him as my older brother.

Sure he may be tough on me at times, but he does it to help me! For example, he is always on the sidelines of mf my sports games along with my mom. If I don’t get something right by, defending our goal or either making a goal he is going to tell me the truth. It’s okay because he’s only trying to help and teach me on what I need improvement on. I’m glad he does all this for me, and I’m glad I’m his little sister.

My brother is not only about school, he’s fun too. There’s a time and a place for everything. My brother likes me take me to places that are fun and educational. He took me to the museum and the zoo, he even took me to a Sparks game. I like doing stuff that is fun and educational.

As you know, when you get a bad grade on an assignment, usually your parents will get mad at you. For me the tables have turned. Instead of my parents getting mad at me, my brother does. He tells me that I could have done better and studied harder.

Of the 11 years of my life my brother has helped me learn and has taught me. Explained to me what I may have had a problem with, hard on me when I don’t get I don’t get something right, or help me with a problem in school. I know he does all this to help me soar in life and succeed in school and achieve my dreams and goals. My dreams are to become a doctor or a surgeon. Because of my brother being an effective influence, I believe that one day I can be one of those. He has taught me lots of thing that I can use to do well in school. He also taught me that no matter where you receive an education you can succeed. I love and appreciate my older brother, not only because he helps me do well in school, but he cares for me, by telling me what I need help with and helping me along the way. That’s love!

Second Place
Name: Raven Addison
Subject: Her Mother

There are quite a few people that have inspired me throughout my life. The person that has inspired me the most is my mother. My mother is a kind and loving woman. My mother has made a lot of sacrifices throughout her life. When my sister was about four months old, my mother decided to go back to school to learn her Bachelor’s Degree in Education while working a full time job. As my mother returned back to Junior College, I watched her take care of me and my sister. My mother often did her homework and helped me with mine. Throughout her years at Junior College, my mother took us with her on various homework assignments. I watched my mother struggle to earn her A.A Degree and then start the process all over to complete her Bachelor's Degree. While watching my mother accomplish her dreams, she has inspired me to accomplish my dreams and aspirations.

How my mother inspired me by going back to college while raising me and my sister for working full time job. While working full time, she still had time to do her homework and also help us with our homework. She inspired me because she helps kids who are disabled and who are in special need. She has also inspired people who are in need of learning abilities like with ABC'S and 123's.

What I want to be when I grow up is a lawyer. I chose to be a lawyer because I hope that someday I would get the chance to help somebody in justice. Trying to be a lawyer would sound much fun to help somebody in need. I hope that being a lawyer will teach me to succeed more things in life.

My mother inspired me to be a faithful, loyal, and good student and child at home and at school. She has made big decisions in life like trying to get a Teacher's Credential Degree. She hopes that she can get that degree to also be a teacher except not just a teacher assistant. While being a teacher assistant, she enjoys helping people. People l0ove my mom because she helps their children in school and in health. She helps children who don't know what level and what standard they are in.

My mom has times when she can't do her homework while helping me with my homework so she can ask my grandmother to help me first and then help my mom with her homework on her projects I would help her as I got older in school. She gets most of the time A's and B's. As she graduated for her Bachelor's Degree, she was so happy because she was so close to be a teacher except being a teacher's assistant. She loves being a teacher's assistant but also wishes to be a teacher for life. She loves helping kids because they are just like me and my sister.

Thank you for reading my essay about my mother. Thanks so much!

Third Place
Name: Ja’Rya Mack
Subject: Lisa Leslie

Lisa Leslie made a difference in my life by practicing hard. How, when I read a book about her it said, Lisa Leslie never gives up she practices hard to be the best she could ever be. After I read that line it made me think that I can try hard at any sport. Some days after school I go and start playing basketball with some other kids I have fun playing with. When I fall, I tell myself, “Never give up, you can do this, and keep on playing.”

While practicing I started to feel weak so I called timeout. During the time I went to get some water so I wouldn’t feel weak any more. That day was the day I had a great change in my life. I never in my life felt better than what I use to in my life. Then a following week I had went to one of the Sparks game. Even though they lost Lisa Leslie’s face told me, we just need to try harder next time.

As I kept reading the book the next day it seemed like she never gave up on her dreams. That’s the reason she’s in the position she’s in now. People don’t think that I’ve changed. I don’t care what people think about me, I am a different me. Now when I play basketball with my friends I try hard as I can.

Lisa Leslie makes a good difference in my life. I had learned that being mad because you lost a game is not going to solve the problem. If you try harder the next time you play that team or another team that you know is kind of hard to beat.

If you didn’t notice I want to be a professional athlete. I swim, play basketball, run track, and do gymnastics. I swim Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 5:25pm - 6:15pm on Thursdays at 3:30am I wake up and go to Exposition Park to swim at 5:00am 6:30am. I only get a break from swimming on Tuesday, some Saturdays and Sundays. Even though my coach makes me do 12 laps without stopping I still keep on pushing myself in not to stop.

Since I heard and read about Lisa Leslie, she made a difference in my life. Thank you Lisa Leslie for changing my life. My life couldn’t be better then what it is now. Thank You for taking the time for reading my Essay.