Anthony Pesce
Twenhofel Middle School
Independence, Kentucky

Anthony Pesce is a 12-year-old student at Twenhofel Middle School in Independence, Kentucky. He 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 he felt upon learning about the September 11th attacks, Anthony felt totally shocked and sad. Anthony's parents and school both talked to him about the events of September 11th. He wrote that certain students in his school are being treated differently now because of the attacks. "They are being treated differently because the teachers are feeling sorry for those who are lost so they are respecting people just a little bit more."

Anthony wrote that he thinks it's possible for one country to bully another country, and he's actually seen someone being bullied in his school. According to Anthony, Twenhofel Middle School has cameras to prevent bullying and violence.

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

Twenhofel Middle School teaches Anthony about these character qualities. "We are taught by writing definitions."

Anthony also thinks about and tries to practice these character qualities. His sister helps him out.

Anthony likes to go shooting with his BB gun at the club in Ohio with his dad. "Someday I would like to enter the gun competitions because I am pretty good and I love the sport," Anthony wrote. "I like to watch my favorite football team on Sundays, they are the Philadelphia Eagles. Go Eagles! I think my biggest passion at this time is my video games and PS2. I have over 60 video games and someday I would like to create them for kids like me."

When asked who he looks up to, Anthony wrote that he admires his mother the most. "She has always been there for me and my sisters. She is always helping with our schoolwork and projects, and she sees that we have a good education and a happy home life, but most of all because she makes me feel smart and good about myself and she makes me feel very loved. She has shown me that you can do anything you set your mind to, that you must never give up even if it takes longer then others. That's why I am proud to say that she's my mom and that I am happy to introduce her to my friends and to have her come to my school to help out in my class once in awhile. I like having her around!"

Anthony wrote that he does a lot of really fun and interesting things at Twenhofel Middle School. "I have no time on my hands to goof off because I am always running from class to class. I like my school and all of my teachers. I do not have a favorite teacher really, because I get along well with them all and I have something different with each one of them. I really like all of my teachers the same, I think they are all great teachers and I wish I could have them the rest of my years at school, because I know them and they know me. I socialize at school with a few kids, but most of the time I try to concentrate on my work. I wait until I get home and my homework is done and then it's anything goes as far as my time to play or stay home and play video games. I like L.A., Geography, and Science the best out of all of my subjects at school. I think I learn the most from them."

If Anthony could travel anywhere in the world, "I would like to go to Rome, Italy to visit the Coliseum and where the great Gladiators fought in battle and because it is so big and full of history. I would also go to Ischia, Italy to see where my dad was born and grew up."

When he grows up, Anthony wants to be a video game designer and work for Bill Gates and Microsoft. "I love video games and I know how they work. I want to make games that teach and at the same time you are having the best time of your life and you can't stop. I have been a video game junkie since I was 4 years old and they aren't all bad for you, some teach you and some are funny, and some will drive you out of your mind. I want to create the best video game ever and my name will be known as the 'King of the Video Game'."

Anthony is shy, humorous, goofy, down to earth, and loveable. His advice to other U.S. students about school violence is "Tell Someone Right Away. Do not be afraid. God gave us a mouth, and it is not just to eat with, but to speak with also. We need to speak up more and not to be intimidated by our enemies no matter what they say or try to do to us. Don't be a victim, make them the victim instead.

I think that violence in school is only going to stop when we take back the schools and stop letting these bad people take charge. When you see, hear or know of someone who is in trouble and wants to do harm, turn them in now, not tomorrow. Tomorrow might be way to late. Every school year we get a book from our school on the school's Code of Conduct. Instead of throwing it away, try reading it and enforce those rules on yourself and soon others will follow. My mom keeps that book on our fridge at home and tries to teach us the rights and wrongs for our own good. Rules are set for a reason and you should try to respect them. The way to fight violence is simple, be Judge Judy on T.V. and don't put up with it, take charge yourself! Set a good example and others will too."