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Winning high school essays urge balance in U.S. foreign, domestic spending

 
Published May 26, 2017

Three winners were selected by a panel of judges from among 250 entrants to receive a $1,200 scholarship in the R.F. "Red" Pittman Tampa Tribune Scholars essay contest.

The contest was open to the top 3 percent by grade point average of 2017 public and private high school graduates in Hillsborough County.

The judges were Alice Loeb, a retired educator and administrator with the Hillsborough School District; James E. Tokley Sr., a former educator and Tampa's first official poet laureate; Yuly Restrepo, an assistant professor of English at the University of Tampa; and Stephen Lambert, quality enhancement plan director and English professor at Hillsborough Community College.

Here is the essay question, followed by the winning essays.

"The United States is re-examining what it gives and what it gets as a member of the community of nations, in areas including trade, defense and aid. Do you think this balance needs adjusting? How do you view our nation's responsibility to the rest of the world versus its responsibility to its own people?"

Meghana Bhimreddy, Hillsborough High School

College plans: Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn., to pursue a professorship in teaching.

"During a recent call to my grandparents in India, I overheard snippets of English news replacing the usual hum of fans in the background. My grandfather admitted that the local news stations had been airing pieces about the state of American politics on a regular basis, with some channels devoting entire segments for this purpose.

"'Everyone is wondering what this means for family and friends in the States, as well as India itself,'" he confessed.

"As our conversation continued, I realized that my grandfather was latching onto every word reported during these segments with a mixture of necessity and curiosity, just like everyone else in his village.

"This interest is not isolated to my hometown. To this day, social media platforms consistently showcase a stream of angry remarks or staunch support for our president's decisions from friends living in Europe, Africa and Asia.

"When the global community gives such importance to a single country, it has a responsibility to the rest of the world as well as its own citizens. Currently, our nation has plans to cut foreign aid and devote more money to defense and infrastructure. However, during the past few decades, we cherished our role as key players in global politics, asserting our influence even where it was not welcome. Therefore, our decision to act as protectors was made years ago, when we emerged from a cocoon of isolationism. Shedding our indispensable role in maintaining order when it becomes convenient is not a luxury we still have."

Shaila Ghanekar, Berkeley Preparatory School

College plans: Study medicine at Barnard College in New York City

"I believe that the United States has a responsibility as a world power to help other countries in varying capacities, be it financial support or defense. While I understand the perspective that the United States should solve its own problems first, I believe that foreign and domestic issues are in no way mutually exclusive. History has shown us that the nations of the world are all interdependent and if one nation suffers, all nations will feel the repercussions.

"Although I strongly support the continuation of foreign aid, I also believe our country needs to re-emphasize the importance of stabilizing our economy by limiting outsourcing and balancing trade. In order to continue fulfilling our responsibility as a world leader, we need to ensure that the American people have jobs and are actively working to solve important issues relevant to all nations. Keeping jobs at home and working to get many impoverished Americans back on their feet will strengthen the United States people and help improve our trade deficits. This in turn will enable us to be in an even better position to provide aid.

"I would like to see the United States' leaders take an inclusive non-isolationist approach to dealing with the interconnected issues at home and abroad. As a long standing world power, we must recognize that we cannot turn our backs on those in need. It is really not a choice of one or the other. It is really a definitive, obvious choice of doing both!"

Darren Tran, Alonso High School.

College plans: Study biomedical engineering at University of South Florida.

"The most recent budget proposal from the White House asks for a large increase in funds for the defense department while cutting funds for domestic programs such as health care, education, and urban development. While the fervent nationalism that stems from this proposal is admirable, there is still much to consider.

"The United States has been an ardent proselytizer of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. As an imperialist of altruism, we have led the world in humanitarian aid and always taken the initiative to avert civil wars and topple dictators. However, success abroad does not necessarily translate into success domestically. Rather than fueling a drive for students of public schools to become creative thinkers, the generalized system of common core is used, leaving many to never tap their potential. The middle class' efforts to grow to new socioeconomic levels are now clouded by the pursuit to become more fiscally conservative as incomes remain stagnant and prices rise.

"Underneath the pulchritude the United States holds with its globalized presence in the world lies families who do not see the grandeur of this 'Murica.' Average citizens like my father, a refugee that once held that American dream, now see constant bills, intense discrimination, and endless sacrifice for their children. While it is necessary to maintain an extensive role in the world as a developed country, America still owes a debt to the unsung heroes that have long been waiting for relief."