'Spend more time helping others'

(Editor's note: Tuckahoe Middle School seventh-grade English students recently wrote editorials designed to persuade Henrico citizens to read, listen to or watch a story or book that reflected their individual cultures, as a way to help others better understand them. This is one of those editorials; click here to read others.)

Hi my name is Tyler, and I'm a seventh-grader at Tuckahoe Middle School. Since I started school a year early, I was always the youngest and I did not know as much as others, and sometimes not treated like the rest of the class. For example some people thought I was too young to comprehend certain words, or they would not want to play with the younger person at recess. I try to stay organized and planned out, but sometimes I can be too distracted by people, pets, or thoughts.

The book The Wild Robot, by Peter Brown, is very inspirational. In the story, the robot, Roz is stuck on an island and has to adapt to its surroundings. But also the book describes how tranquil the island is and how all the creatures play a role in the community. I love this book because I can connect with the wonders of nature, especially when Roz admires the thick pine trees in the deep dark forest. Brown writes, "Animal sounds filled the forest. Chirps and the wing beats and rustlings in the underbrush" (22). This book connected to me through my love of nature and all the things in it.

I think that everyone in Henrico should read The Wild Robot. I think that because this book taught me how to appreciate nature more, and how to look at things from different perspectives. Gratitude has a key role in life and Roz demonstrates that by saying, “I'll tell you what: If I could do it all over again, I'd spend more time helping others."

Henrico can only grow stronger if everyone embraces this concept. Imagine the possibilities if everyone in our community took these words to heart.