High school and college-aged winners of the Laws of Life essay contest tell personal stories about tolerance, optimism, family and other values they feel are essential to leading a life of meaning and integrity.

I walked out of the awards assembly with a trophy half the size that I was and a check in my hand that would pay for my first semester of college and I knew I was going to be a published writer and I knew people were going to read my thoughts”

—High school essayist