Students face an incredible amount of stress in the educational setting. Kids are anxious about getting good grades, looking good, being involved in sports and extracurricular activities, and avoiding the pressure to drink or do drugs. Older children, especially tweens and teens, also worry about fitting in. When The Breakfast Club was released in 1985, the film depicted students from five stereotypical cliques: a criminal (now called a rough), a princess (a popular), an athlete (a jock), a brain (a smart kid), and a basket case (an emo or goth). According to a 2018 article in the Journal of Adolescent Research, there are now at least six additional groups: the floaters, good-ats, fine arts, normals, anime fans, and loners.
It’s hard for students to come together when they’re divided into 11 different social groups. That’s one of the reasons all of us at CEI love the Creative Writing Contest. It is a common ground … a place where everyone fits in. The participants may come from all age groups, educational classifications, and backgrounds, and they may face different learning challenges. They also have one thing in common; they are willing to put pen to paper and share their thoughts with us.
All of us at CEI are grateful to the students who entered this year’s contest. We are honored that they have chosen to share their hard work with us, and we continue to be amazed by what we read.
Click the link below for a list of this year’s award winners.