Young Poet Places Third

C.N.I.B. Contest

(reprinted with permission from Devon Dispatch News, Nov 19, p.14, story by Kim Peterson)

A Devon student is cellebrating her finish in a national writing contest. Amy Park, a grade 6 student at Riverview Middle School, recently recieved her certificate for a third place finish in the Creative Writing and Braille Accuracy Competition, sponsored by the Canadian National Institute for the Blind. 

"It was about disabilities, and different kind of disabilities, and what you can do if you have disabilities", said Park.  Her third-place finish in the poem catagory earned her $50.

"I havn't spent it yet, I still have to cash it, and then I'm going to give half of my money to my TA (teaching assistant) from last year because she was the one who helped me with the poem", she said.  She learned about the contest through her school last year and recieved news that she had won at the end of teh school year.

"They sent me a certificate and it said you have won $50 for your poem", said Park.  She hopes to continue writing, even if it isn't in braille.  "I want to write poems but its a lot harder with braille.  If you just started learning braille, its really hard to write it.", said Park.

The CNIB sponsors a creative writing contest each year.

HERE IS A COPY OF AMY'S POEM BELOW!

Deafness is silence in a world of noise

I am unique inside and out

Sound I see by touch

A new day a new life

Beauty I see.

I hope to live by sight not by feel

Life is filled with happiness

Inside and out

Tomorrow is a gift

I will overcome my problems

Everyday brings something new in the

life of people with disabilities

Something new happens each day.