Steven Jiang – Winner, Best Essay

I am Steven Jiang, an 8th grader at Whitney Young Academic Center in Chicago, IL. I have many hobbies, including drawing, playing soccer, and learning new things. Usually, in my spare time, I browse through online courses to learn subjects such as biology, computer programming, and world history. Each month, I try to focus on a particular area to learn more about.

At school, I participate in many extracurricular activities including Math Team, Science Olympiad, Business Professionals of America, the school newspaper, and more. I also enjoy running on both the cross country and track teams for Whitney Young, and I especially enjoy the 1.5 mile and 800m events.

My interest in the humanities, particularly US history, began when I memorized all the Presidents in third grade. Since then, I have participated twice in National History Day, becoming a National Finalist one year and placing first place nationally last year. In addition, I was a semi-finalist in the National History Bee.

To me, analytical writing is a very meticulous process that requires extensive thought beforehand. I only choose to write about topics that are complex and open to debate. In light of recent world events and my own research into the subject, I feel like I have a lot to express regarding the role of our political system in society.

I would like to thank Constituting America for giving me this unique opportunity and for promoting civic education in schools across America.

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