The Georgia Laws of Life Essay Contest, a signature program of Rotary Clubs across Georgia, is a character education and ethical literacy program for Georgia high school students.
It provides students with an opportunity for personal reflection and character development. Students are asked to select a “Law of Life” that is meaningful to them, such as “Never, Ever Give Up” or “You Never Know What Others Are Going Through, So Always Be Kind.” In essay form, they are asked to share how the “Laws of Life” are reflected in their lives and experiences.
More than 30,000 students across Georgia participated in the contest this year. Five 10th graders from Putnam County High School won awards for the local competition sponsored by the Rotary Club of Greene and Putnam Counties.
Students who were recognized include Jaycee Maddox, grade winner and school winner; Alexy Waters, honorable mention; Henry Esau, honorable mention; Michelle Hernandez Araugo, honorable mention; and Robert Thomas, also an honorable mention.
“It has been a pleasure and an honor for our Rotary Club to partner with Putnam County High School and the Laws of Life Essay Contest to identify and celebrate these talented students,” Service Chair Donna O’Neal said. “Their accomplishments are truly amazing, particularly realizing they are only high school sophomores.”
Since 1999, the Georgia Laws of Life Essay Contest has impacted over 875,000 students. Inspired by the power of simple quotes, or “Laws of Life.”
Sir John Templeton established the writing competition in 1987 to encourage young people to embrace the wisdom of these sayings, which he believed, when followed, would help everyone live their best lives. In their essays, students use a law to reflect on values that mean the most to them, such as generosity, courage, perseverance, honesty, integrity, and compassion.