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CLEVELAND — Olivia Pearce, a fifth grader at St. Mary Byzantine Catholic School, won first place in the LifeWorks of Ohio essay contest for her age group. LifeWorks Ohio is a nonprofit, non-partisan organization devoted to education that affirms the sanctity of human life from conception to natural death. The annual contest gives students an opportunity to show their commitment to the social justice principle of life and dignity of the human person. This year’s contest theme was, “Your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father” (Mt 5:16).
Isabella Ramirez, a reporter for the Horizons’ Kids page, interviewed Pearce on her experience. Here are a few of the questions she asked:
What inspired your essay?
Olivia: I didn’t know what to write about at first but my mom gave me the really good idea to write about my nana, that I helped in her last week of life.
Was writing your essay difficult at first?
Olivia: A little because I didn’t know what to write about since I was only five but my mom helped me remember, and some memories popped in my head.
How did you feel about winning the contest?
Olivia: I felt excited because I didn’t think I would win and then Mrs. Basalla told me I did.
Are you proud of your essay?
Olivia: Yes.
A large excerpt from Olivia’s essay follows:
“In May of 2013 my great grandma was very ill. To help comfort her during her last few months of life, my mom, dad and I helped out as much as possible. My mom and I went up to Michigan to spend a long weekend to take care of her. We cleaned her house, went grocery shopping ... Nana and I played a lot of games that weekend. It was very special for me to get this time with her.
“A few weeks went by, and Nana went into the hospital. During her last week of life, my whole family spent that entire time with her in the hospital, only leaving her side to sleep. Nana had many friends and family visit her throughout that week. Everyone shared many wonderful memories and story about her. She was unable to talk, but you could tell she was at peace having all of us there with her.
“What I learned from this whole experience is that family is very important. You need to make sure you honor and comfort the eldest family member. I helped my nana physically, mentally and emotionally by being with her for her last months, days, and hours of life.”
Caption: Olivia Pearce poses with the first-place certificate she won for the essay she submitted to LifeWorks Ohio about accompanying her grandmother in her last days. (Photo: Rita Basalla)
As published in Horizons, May 12, 2019.
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