Do the Write Thing

ZANESVILLE, Ohio – Do the Write Thing is a national essay competition that prompts urban 7th and 8th graders to share traumatic ordeals that they’ve experienced in their lives.

Zanesville Middle School 8th grader Sebastian Valencia wrote about his father and the struggles he faced as a first generation immigrant.

“I wrote about how my father at a young age, he started selling and doing drugs at the age of 15, yeah 15 in Mexico,” Valencia said. “And then when he came over here, he did it here too. And I just wrote about how he did all that and the big change he had to make and how he’s doing now.”

Valencia’s story was the best of 450 essays submitted by Zanesville middle schoolers and is one of ten that will be published in Do the Write Thing’s annual booklet.

The essay also earned him a trip to Washington D.C. where he will be recognized for his work by a wide range of dignitaries. 

“We’re leaving July 12th and then we’re going to be there July 13th, 14th, 15th and we come back on the 16th,” Valencia said. “And there in Washington D.C. I’m going to be like with a whole bunch of people who also won like their little contest thingy for their essay. I’m going to get to meet important people. That’s all I know.”

Zanesville City Schools is one of six school districts in Ohio that participate in the program, which brings awareness to youth violence and encourages victims to reflect and heal through their writing.