Christina Ortiz
Princeville Grade School
Princeville, Illinois

Christina Ortiz is a 14-year-old student at Princeville Grade School in Princeville, Illinois. 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, Christina said that her heart went out to all those that lost their lives, and their loved ones. Christina's parents and school both talked to her about the events of September 11th.

Christina thinks it's possible for one country to bully another country, and she's actually seen someone being bullied in her school. Princeville Grade School takes measures to prevent bullying and violence. "My school tries to prevent bullying, by teaching character," Christina wrote. "They teach us about respect, kindness, responsibility, fairness, trustworthiness, and how to be a good citizen."

Christina 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, Tolerance, Love, Patience, and Self Control.

Princeville Grade School teaches Christina about these character qualities. "My school teaches us the character qualities by showing us how to react to life's everyday problems."

Christina also thinks about and tries to practice these character qualities. "I try to control myself if I get mad at someone, and I try to solve my problems peacefully instead of violently."

The Character's Cool Contest is not the first contest Christina has won. She won a contest on a radio where they played the song backwards. "I called in and got the song name correct," Christina wrote. "The song was "Drive" by Incubus. I won a Coca Cola Prize Pack. It contained a $25 gift certificate to the mall, and Coca Cola sunglasses, hat and shirt."

Christina enjoys basketball, swimming, hockey, shopping, hanging out with friends, and listening to music. She wrote that she looks up to and admires one of her friend's mom. "She is very nice, always makes me laugh, and treats me like I'm her own daughter (that's a good thing)."

If Christina could travel anywhere in the world, she would go to New Zealand. "It is a country of many contrasts. I could visit the beach, mountains, valleys, rain forest, plant and animal life, and so much more."

When Christina grows up she wants to be a fashion designer. "I am very interested in that field of work and I think that I would do very well."

Christina is creative, unique, outspoken, musical and fun. Her advice to other U.S. students about stopping school violence is "Follow the golden rule. Do unto others as you would have done to you. I think that people should not resort to violence as a solution to their problems. Instead, they should talk it out without insulting each other."