The Office of State Treasurer Shawn Wooden coordinates an annual essay contest for Connecticut students in grades 6-8 titled “Dream Big,” offered as part of the Connecticut Higher Education Trust college savings program. 

See three of this year’s winning essays reprinted here.

The Connecticut Higher Education Trust (CHET) is a state-sponsored, tax-advantaged 529 college savings plan that’s helping families and individuals plan for the cost of higher education. It’s available to any tax payer. And just about anyone can help contribute including grandparents, other family members and friends.

Here is one of those essays.

Erasing lines of discrimination and prejudice by Aadira Balan

America.  The land of hopes and dreams, where life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness thrive.  These have long since been the founding values of America and, over time, have established a symbol of everlasting patriotism.  Sadly, as illustrated throughout history, America has been reluctant to change, the sentiment of which has spread so much that it is clearly visible in institutions such as our government today.  Uniquely, America has always been a country of immigrants, who enrich American culture and traditions as their own.  Frustratingly, many ignore these deep-rooted values, causing them to label immigrants as a disadvantage in our society, and believe that the answer is to treat those different from them with disrespect and bigotry.

Through pursuing law, I hope to erase these lines of discrimination and prejudice in our society and create a better tomorrow for all.  As a lawyer, I will raise awareness about the issues surrounding immigrants that plague our communities, and ensure that these in need of help, whether legal or otherwise, receive it regardless.  It is important that those who are discriminated against understand that they are just as much American as anyone else and that they have allies in their fellow people.

As an Indian-American and first-generation immigrant myself, I have often grappled with my identity and questioned my place in America.  By becoming a lawyer, it is my hope that I will make a difference by eradicating social injustice and bringing hope for a greater, all-embracing tomorrow. 

Aadira Balan is an 8th grade student at Fairfield Woods Middle School in Fairfield.