Katherine Crawford
Creekside Middle School
Colorado Springs, Colorado

Katherine Crawford is a 12-year-old student at Creekside Middle School in Colorado Springs, Colorado. She participated in the MindOH! Foundation's 2002 Character's Cool Contest, and won an Experience Music Project prize pack.

The Character's Cool Contest was a national contest for middle school students to help stop school violence and to encourage the practice of ethical behavior. Participants completed an online survey about their experiences in the aftermath of Sept 11th, bullying and school violence, and the ethical behavior and character qualities needed to reduce school violence.

When asked about the first emotion she felt upon learning about the September 11th attacks, Katherine felt sad. "I was very sad. I just wanted the people that were in the buildings to live and not die because of disagreement."

Katherine's parents and school both talked to her about the events of September 11th. She wrote that certain students at her school are being treated differently because of the attacks. "Everyone is happy to be together and only a few people are mean. People are kind, more generous, and they are very good friends to be with."

According to Katherine, Creekside Middle School takes measures to prevent bullying and violence. "Our school does programs that stop bullying and other kinds of crimes with numbers that you can call for help, like 444-stop."

Katherine thinks it's important for young people to learn how to manage their anger and resolve conflicts peacefully, and she thinks that it's important to be respectful of others, even when you disagree. She thinks that there are certain character qualities people need to have to reduce violence: Honesty, Respect, Responsibility, Cooperation, Tolerance, Patience, and Self Control.

Creekside Middle School teaches these qualities: "They come to each gender in groups, and they tell them what it could feel like to be made fun of," Katherine wrote.

Katherine thinks about and tries to practice these character qualities. "I will help people with things like walking across the street if they have bad backs or have arthritis. I also play with the little children that look up to me in my neighborhood."

The Character's Cool Contest is not the first contest Katherine has won - she is a native South African and before she moved to the United States, she was part of a small potato chip contest. Katherine, her brother and her sister won about 12 or 15 jumbo sized bags of Ruffles, Lays, and Cheetos chips.

Katherine is interested in art, rugby (football), and art club at the end of every Wednesday school day. She likes to collect rocks, pebbles and jewels and study them, and she is close to her friends Mattie Ward and Danielle Woods. "I have lots of fun with my friends, especially during classes, and other free times! The subjects I like best are science, math, art, computer, L.A., and Ancient Civilizations."

She admires and looks up to her mother and her L.A. teacher, Mrs. Mathiessen: "My favorite teacher is Mrs. Mathiessen, my L.A. teacher, who is a fine, respectable teacher, who is fun at everything!! Thanks Mrs. M!!!!!!!"

If she could travel anywhere in the world, Katherine would go to the great barrier reef and scuba dive with her friends, Mattie and Danielle, to see the beautiful creatures. She aspires to be an artist when she grows up, because she was always good at art.

If she could give one piece of advice to other students across the United States, Katherine says, "Don't take things that others say to hurt you, or else you will get seriously disorganized and stressed out!! When someone punches, turn the other cheek."

Katherine is funny, sometimes serious, (MESSY!!!!), and pretty. Overall, she is truly a cool student with character.