By the time I was in the sixth grade, I’d experienced enough success in basketball to understand that it was the key to opening doors of opportunity like traveling the world, meeting new people, exploring new foods, and ultimately, paying my way through college. However, it wasn’t until that year, when my principal read a persuasive essay I’d written for my English class over the intercom for the entire student body to hear, I discovered writing was my gift and a great way for me to insightfully influence people, one story at a time. – B. Young