Three Haywood Middle School students received certificates and Walmart gift cards as winners of the Haywood County GEAR UP TN “Why I Want to Go to College” essay writing competition for the 2013-2014 school year. The contest was intended to encourage students to think about their future and recognize the value of a college education by describing their educational goals and their dreams for the future.

Haywood County GEAR UP Site Coordinator Jackie Whitten presented the awards to the students. The first-place winner was Cardaysia Douglas. Second place went to Kaitlin Leath, and third place went to Alexis Hines.

Cardaysia’s goal is to go to college to become a nurse. Her essay described how GEAR UP helped her to “picture good things in her head that could happen to her when she gets older.” Also, she credits her parents and family for encouraging her each day and telling her to make her future “bright.” She has chosen the nursing profession as her goal because she wants to help others and care for people. Cardaysia said that she knows she must become ready for college by listening to her teachers during class and working hard to achieve good grades.

Kaitlin wrote that she believed the college experience would help her develop independence, responsibility, and time management skills. Alexis’s dream is to go to college, graduate with a doctorate degree and become a physician.