Nachelle Jurgensmier
Logan Hocking Middle School
Logan, Ohio

Nachelle Jurgensmier is a 13-year-old student at Logan Hocking Middle School in Logan, Ohio. 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, Nachelle felt shock. Nachelle's parents and school both talked to her about the events of September 11th.

Nachelle thinks it's possible for one country to bully another country, and she's actually seen someone being bullied in her school. Logan Hocking Middle School takes measures to prevent bullying and violence. "We have peer mediators to talk with the students," Nachelle wrote.

Nachelle 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, Cooperation, Love, and Self Control.

Logan Hocking Middle School teaches Nachelle about these character qualities through Second Step in health. Nachelle also tries to think about and practice these qualities when she gets in fights with siblings.

Nachelle's Character's Cool Contest essay provides some great perspective about stopping school violence.

"Ethical behavior, what is it? To a common teenage kid it is being the "Goody-goody" or the "Suck up". Although, the true definition is, treating of morals, right principles, or professional conduct. To put it in easier terms, having maturity and character. Now most adults figure "They're old enough to know this stuff already." In actuality though, most students have no idea what any of that means. In most cases, teenagers feel like they have to prove something to their friends so they can be a part of the "cool" group. In situations like these, they'll act like someone they are not. Usually in types of situations, this is what happens.

One day you and your group of friends are walking home from school. You happen to pass another kid you know that is waiting for his ride. You know right away there's going to be trouble because this is the type of kid that everybody makes fun of. You know, the common nerd, the "different one". You try to keep walking but your friends are already halfway across the street. As you slowly trudge behind them your friends begin the teasing. The annoying name-calling and smacks are in place when you see the kid fall to the ground. One of your so-called friends snickers, "This one was especially easy guys, looks like we got some new material." You shudder at his rude comments but dare not speak up. As you all turn to walk away you give him a kick, to show your friends that you're brave and rebellious too.

Now, I know you've heard stories like these but have you ever experienced them? I highly doubt it, and even so you most likely didn't say a word to try and defend the one being picked on. You simply allow yourself to be pulled into the group as well. These are the type of situations that create violence at school. Students feel protected when they are with a group that everybody else is afraid of. Never stopping to think who is watching them and whom they are being an example to.

I think that character education can reduce violence in our schools greatly. Character education would teach students that they could say, "I'm a leader, not a follower." It would show them how to deal with peer pressure as well, not to mention revealing to them who they really are, not who they are trying to be. Teaching character education will show teens that they can all be ethical. And that people behaving ethically are not the ones that have the "perfect life", they are the ones that have a good heart and respect for others."

The Character's Cool Contest is not the first contest Nachelle has won. She recently participated in the "Power of the Pen" competition and received 9th place out of over 100 students. She has also had her poetry published in a book and she has been published twice in the Columbia Dispatch.

Nachelle has a number of hobbies. "I am part of the basketball cheerleading squad, track team, student council, Lancaster swim team, twirling group, and I am learning expressive sign language. I enjoy reading and writing."

Nachelle's favorite subjects in school are English and Spanish. In her spare time, she talks a lot on the phone and Internet to friends. "After school sometimes we go downtown to eat. On weekends we stay at each other's houses, and we spend most of our free time together!"

When asked where she would go if she could travel anywhere in the world, Nachelle would go to South Africa or Japan. "I plan on going on a summer mission trip in 2003 to South Africa. I would like to go those places because I like the views and geography of South Africa and all of the animals. Japan just seems like a fascinating country to visit."

Although Nachelle does not know yet what she wants to be when she grows up, she might like to travel and help children around the world.

Nachelle is energetic, curious, adventurous, intelligent and funny. If she could give one piece of advice to other U.S. students about stopping school violence, Nachelle wrote, "Live life for yourself, to achieve your own goals, not for other people who you don't love and trust."