Jared Kim
Hillside Middle School
Simi Valley, California

Jared Kim is a 13-year-old student at Hillside Middle School in Simi Valley, California. He participated in the MindOH! Foundation's 2002 Character's Cool Contest, and won a Seattle Seahawks T-shirt. Jared's essay "Stopping School Violence" was also awarded an Honorable Mention.

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 he felt upon learning about the September 11th attacks, Jared felt "worried that we would have to go to war." Jared's parents and school both talked to him about the events of September 11th.

Jared thinks it's possible for one country to bully another country, and he's seen someone being bullied in his school. According to Jared, Hillside Middle School takes measures to prevent bullying and violence.

"We have a zero tolerance rule," Jared wrote. "Kids that break that rule get detention for an hour."

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

Hillside Middle School teaches Jared about these character qualities. "We have character traits of the month. Everyday we learn about that trait in a new way."

Jared also thinks about and tries to practice these character qualities. "I try to treat others the way I want to be treated," Jared wrote. "I practice acts of kindness without looking for a reward."

Jared enjoys BMX bike riding, video games, and coin collecting. He admires and looks up to his mother. "She is always there for me," Jared wrote.

Hillside Middle School has about 1,000 students. It has grades 6th - 8th. "My favorite teacher was my 7th grade social studies teacher," Jared wrote. "Her name is Ms. Shatz. I like to hang out with my friends and talk. My favorite subjects are band (I play trombone in concert band) and science."

If Jared could travel anywhere in the world, he would go to Russia. "They have a lot of cool places to see."

When he grows up, Jared would like to be a fireman. "I like their work schedule, benefits and pay."

Jared is scatterbrained, loving, funny, generous, and kind. His advice to other U.S. student about stopping school violence, is "Treat others the way you want them to treat you. Try to show respect and if you do a good job at this, you should receive it back. Practice random acts of kindness. Love God and go to church."