Courtney Jaksch
Burke County Middle School
Waynesboro, Georgia

Courtney Jaksch is a 12-year-old female student at Burke County Middle School in Waynesboro, Georgia. She participated in the MindOH! Foundation's 2002 Character's Cool Contest, and won a Seattle Supersonics 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, Courtney felt "like the world was at its end."

Courtney'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.

Courtney thinks it's possible for one country to bully another country, and she's seen someone being bullied in her school. But, Burke County Middle School takes measures to prevent bullying and violence.

"We have a star program, and its like a boot camp," Courtney wrote. "We also
have ISS (in school suspension), we have OSS (out of school suspension) and teachers try to watch every move you make."

Courtney 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.

Burke County Middle School teaches Courtney about these character qualities with "one word every week of the school year."

Courtney also thinks about and tries to practice these character qualities in all different ways.

The Character's Cool Contest is not the first contest Courtney has won - she one won $50 answering quiz questions. Courtney enjoys horseback riding and skating.

When asked about an adult she looks up to, Courtney wrote, "I admire my sister who is eighteen. I look up to her because she is a good person who doesn't do drugs, and doesn't party or drink."

According to Courtney, Burke County Middle School "is pretty big and it's fun to come here. My favorite teacher is a coach, Coach Keller. I like spending time with my friends and Social Studies is my favorite subject."

If she could travel anywhere in the world, Courtney would go to New York "because there is a lot to do there and I want to see the Statue of Liberty."

When Courtney grows up, she wants to do something that lets her work with kids because there are a lot of kids out there who are not getting enough of what they need.

Courtney is sweet, helpful, trustworthy, funny and unorganized. When asked about one piece of advice to other students across the United States about stopping school violence, Courtney wrote, "Gosh, I would fill up 50 sheets of notebook paper. If I had to say only one thing it would be that God wouldn't have us do that to other people."