Ellen Estabrooks
Latta School
Ada, Oklahoma

Ellen Estabrooks is a 12-year-old student at Latta School in Ada, Oklahoma. 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, Ellen felt scared. Ellen's parents and school both talked to her about the events of September 11th. Ellen thinks it's possible for one country to bully another country, and she's seen someone being bullied in her school. According to Ellen, Latta takes measures to prevent bullying and violence. "They give them a certain discipline for … bullying."

Ellen thinks it's important for young people to learn how to manage their anger and resolve conflicts peacefully and that it's important to be respectful of others, even when you disagree. Character qualities Ellen thinks people need to have to reduce violence include Honesty, Respect, Responsibility, Kindness, Courage, Cooperation, Tolerance, Love, Patience, and Self Control.

Latta teaches Ellen about these character qualities. "They talk to us about these certain [qualities] and they also teach us how to get along with others."

Ellen also thinks about and tries to practice these character qualities. I practice these [qualities] in public and also in school with other peers, and with younger and older students."

Ellen plays softball and basketball and she love to ride my bike. When asked about an adult she admires, Ellen wrote, "My dad because he made a big choice that I could not have made and I would not be here today. I love him a lot."

Ellen also enjoys her school. "It is a nice school with very friendly teachers and volunteers. It is a small school in Ada, Oklahoma. My favorite teacher is Mrs. Collins and she is very nice and she helps me with my problems and she is very understanding. Go to basketball games and we hang out at the skating rink and we also go to movies. My favorite subject is social studies. I like it because I love learning about things long ago."

If Ellen could travel anywhere in the world, she would "travel to Australia because there are a lot of neat animals and I love the warm weather and I have always wanted to surf. I have also wanted to see the Olympics."

When she grows up, Ellen wants to be a coach. She is funny, artistic, athletic, neat and nice. One piece of advice Ellen has for students across the United States about stopping school violence is, "Listen to your parents, they really do know what they are talking about. And watch the news and know what is going on in the world. It will make you want to make our world a better place. I think every school needs programs to educate kids more about where violence leads. If you can prevent violence the rest might fall into place. Education is the key to fixing this problem. The more we know the more power we have in preventing school violence."