Rosemont eighth-graders win essay on America

According to polls,the current presidential race has seen an increased interest by youth. But how much do they really know about the candidates and how much is based on looks and hype? Rosemont Middle School students will not be old enough to vote in the 2008 election but that hasn’t stopped teachers from getting them involved in the political process through mock elections and essay contests.

Two eighth grade students, Demitri Camperos and Ellen Kim, had never really thought much about the presidency until their history teacher Lynn McGinnis told them about an essay contest sponsored by the Glendale Kiwanis Club.

“The essay asked, ‘How do the qualifications for president affect us?’,” Kim said.

Ellen and Demitri said that they reviewed the qualifications and began to brainstorm on how they felt about them.

The qualifications for president are: The president must be a natural-born citizen of the United States, 35 years of age or older and be a resident of the United States for fourteen years or more.

“I thought all the qualifications were good and sufficient,” Kim said.

She said that she had focused on the natural-born requirement. “Personally, I think the president should be a natural-born citizen.”

She added that she felt someone who was born in the country understood the problems and the citizens better than someone who has recently immigrated.

“They understand patriotism and nationalism,” Kim said.

Kim added that she “brainstormed” on the qualifications question for a few hours before writing her essay.

Fellow winner Camperos tackled a different topic.

“I think it’s unfair that immigrants can’t run for the presidency,” Camperos said. “These type of people [immigrants] have left everything behind in their country, sometimes even their own families, to come here. We give them freedom.”

He added that he felt that they chose America and although he understood that the main concern for an immigrant as president is he/she wouldn’t show alliance with the United States but his native country.