Every February, the Diocese of Camden Black Catholic Ministries and Cultural Diversity sponsors an Essay Contest. This contest is open to all seventh and eighth grade students in South Jersey Catholic Schools.
This contest is named after its originator, J. Sherwood Brown (1920-13). Brown was educated in the Salem City School and earned degrees from Lincoln University and Glassboro State College. He served his hometown as a teacher, principal and assistant superintendent, and he served in the U. S. Army. The Black Catholic Ministries Commission is proud to be able to spread his name throughout the Diocese of Camden.
Eighteen schools participated, and each school selected two seventh- and two eighth-grade essays for consideration. Nine winners were selected and will receive gift cards between $75-200. All students that participated will receive a Certificate of Appreciation from the Diocese.
This year’s essay contest title was “How Does Social Media Impact Our Christian Values of Respect and Kindness?”
The Diocesan first-place winner is Lauren Potter, an eighth grader from Good Shepherd Regional School, Collingswood.
Other Winners are:
Diocesan Second Place: Giovanna Fox, eighth-grade, Saint Joseph Regional School, Hammonton
Diocesan Third Place: Tatiana Vukicevich, eighth grade, Saint Mary School, Williamstown
Region I
First Place: Emersen Levins, seventh grade, Christ the King, Haddonfield
Second Place: Dylan Quinn, seventh grade, Resurrections Catholic School, Cherry Hill
Region II
First Place: Cole Mauriello, eighth-grade, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Berlin
Second Place: Lauren Gandy, eighth-grade, Saint John Paul II Regional School, Stratford
Region III
First Place: Morgan Mastro, seventh grade, Assumption Regional, Galloway
Second Place: Lui Toca, seventh grade, Saint Vincent de Paul, Mays Landing
Lauren Potter’s winning essay
What is social media? Social media is a means of communication. Social media allows people from different walks of life all across the world to share their perspectives, ideas and life. It is a powerful platform that can influence people to lift each other up rather than bring each other down. However, there is a part of social media that is corrupted. It is contaminated by those who are insensitive and selfish.
Social media is similar to that of flame. It burns brightly and gives us the gift of light. With it, we can see clearly. However, the minute we lose control of the flame, it will spread and torch everything within sight. The toxicity of the unrestrained flame is the hate that is shown on social media. It is easy to become engulfed in the flame. It is manipulative and can have effects on our choices.
As ardent Christians, we follow the Golden Rule: treat others as you wish to be treated. The Golden Rule surrounds the theme of always being kind. Everyone should be shown kindness, regardless of what they have done in the past. As Christians, we aim to spread compassion and generosity. However, we can become consumed by flame. The corruption of social media drowns us. We drown in the flame that is jealousy, greed, and anger which is displayed on social media. The results being that we slowly stray from the path of the Golden Rule.
Social media can blind us. It blinds us in the way that we forget our Christian values of respect and kindness. We need to remember that we are Children of God, and He asks us every day to be kind. The moment we forget, it the moment we have become lost in the flame.
We, as Christians, have pledged to not wish harm to others or do harm to others. We have been asked by God to respect everyone regardless of where they come from or what they look like. We have been asked by God to treat others as we wish to be treated. The toxicity of social media can tempt you to forget our Christian values of respect and kindness.
Social media is like a flame. It is powerful, bright, and has the potential to do good in the world. Though, when we lose control of the flame, we become susceptible to being burned. We immerse ourselves in the flame, and at that moment, we forget our Christian morals of respect and kindness.
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