Essay on World Peace a Winner for La Jolla Student

Stephanie Schwartz pondered world peace for months before sitting down in December to write a 3,000-word essay for the Christian Science Monitor. But as winter turned to spring, and contest judges still had not called her, she assumed her labor had been in vain.

Schwartz, a 15-year-old sophomore at La Jolla High School, learned Tuesday night that good things are indeed worth waiting for. Two months after the judging deadline, Katherine Fanning, an editor at the Monitor, called Schwartz to say her essay was a winner.

“I was really surprised,” Schwartz said. “I was thrilled. I was really happy.”

Schwartz’ essay was one of three selected from the “under 18” category to be published next week in the Monitor, Fanning said. The were more than 300 entries from around the world in that category.

The contestants were asked to write about what it would take to bring about lasting world peace in the year 2010. The writers needed an understanding of international relations, and judges looked for essays that spelled out in specific terms how peace would be achieved, Fanning said.

The scenario for Schwartz’ essay is as follows:

Soviet and American radar begin detecting strange objects in outer space, and people around the world begin reporting UFO sightings.

World leaders, fearing the earth will be attacked by aliens, form a world government to protect earth. But after peace is established, the aliens do not return.

Nations decide that since earth is only a “small, insignificant” part of the universe, the wisest thing to do is look out for one another.

Schwartz said her world government would have no authority within individual nations, but would control all international affairs.

Schwartz said Wednesday her idea of a world government might be a bit idealistic, and even she does not believe absolute peace will ever come to earth. However, she said, nations can be more peaceful than they are.

She said she hoped her essay would win, but didn’t think it had much of a chance against essays from around the world. And when the judging deadline passed, she abandoned all but a glimmer of hope.

“I thought it was pretty good, but I didn’t think it would win,” Schwartz said. “I wasn’t hung up on losing, and it didn’t bother me that much. I had forgotten about it.”

Winning the essay has made Schwartz a minor celebrity in some of her classes, she said. In addition to having the essay published, she will receive a plaque from the Monitor.

Jules Tanzer, a teacher of academically gifted students at the high school, said he was not surprised that Schwartz’s essay was selected. About eight other students from the high school entered the contest, he said.

“I read it (Schwartz’ essay), and told her it was outstanding,” Tanzer said. “She is an outstanding person and a super bright young lady. This is a special young lady, and I’m very grateful she won.”

Schwartz, who Tanzer said is a straight A student, hopes to attend an Ivy League college. She has not picked a major, but is considering psychology, business or political science.