Kari Hudnall
Warren County Junior High School
Front Royal, Virginia

Kari Hudnall is a 13-year-old student at Warren County Junior High School in Front Royal, Virginia. She participated in the MindOH! Foundation's 2002 Character's Cool Contest, and won an Athletes for a Better World T-shirt.

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, Kari felt extremely shocked. "I observed that other students began to act like zombies....the hallways were quiet and none fought or pushed each other."

Kari's parents and school both talked to her about the events of September 11th. Kari thinks it's possible for one country to bully another country, and she's actually seen someone being bullied in her school. Warren County Junior High School takes measures to prevent bullying and violence: "In school suspension, detention, out of school suspension and various other means of discipline just for threats," Kari wrote.

Kari 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, Kindness, Courage, Cooperation, Tolerance, Love, Patience, and Self Control.

According to Kari her school does not teach her about these character qualities, and she doesn't think about and try to practice these character qualities.

"I rarely come into conflict with another person so I've never considered changing anything about my character qualities," Kari wrote.