EDITOR’S NOTE: The LaPorte High School English Department has presented the 2013 Iselman Writing Awards to four LPHS students. Award winners and the categories in which they were recognized are: Essay — Johnna Belkiewitz; Personal Narrative — Addie Boardman; Poetry — Jamie Austin; Short Story — Joseph Tomal.
Chris Iselman
The LPHS English Department has awarded these honors every year since 1974. Christopher Iselman was a member of the LPHS Class of 1970. When Chris died during his senior year, his parents and teachers decided to honor his love of writing by establishing this contest. Students submit their works in the four aforementioned categories and their submissions are judged anonymously by LPHS English teachers.
Each winner receives a certificate and a plaque, and the winning entries are published on WNLP as well as in the LPHS newspaper, the Hi-Times. In addition, the winners’ names are added to a large, permanent plaque displayed in the LPHS English Office.
A Tragic Influence
By Addie Boardman
At 7 a.m. on July 19, 2012, Neilah left her home with a full head of long, beautiful, blonde hair. A mere two hours later, all of Neilah’s
Addie Boardman
hair was being handed to her mother in a plastic bag at the hospital.
On that same morning, I woke up knowing there was a possibility that this day could change my life forever, as I was going on my first college visit. While touring the beautiful campus, my mom received a call, gave me a look of sheer panic, and said she would catch up in just a few minutes. As my guide took me further into the campus, a knot of uneasiness twisted in my stomach. I knew based on my mother’s reaction that something had gone seriously wrong.
Eventually my mom caught up with us, tears evident in her eyes. I immediately pulled her away from the group, begging for some sort of information. With a heavy heart, she informed me that four of our close family friends had been in a car accident. Tragically, the woman driving had passed away at the accident scene and two of the young girls with her were in critical condition. Nobody knew if the two young sisters would live to see another day. Every member of our family was hanging on to every piece of information that we had begged to receive. All we were told about the oldest girl, Neilah, was that she was in an extremely fragile state; that there was a very real possibility that the extent of her injuries would soon claim her life. In an attempt to keep her alive, the doctors immediately operated, removing large pieces of her skull to relieve pressure on her brain. In order to do this, they first had to shave off every inch of her hair. Had Neilah not been in a coma, I know this would have upset her tremendously. No girl wishes to be forced to live without her hair.
Ever since I was young, I envied the girls with hair cascading down their backs. My hair had always been reasonably short, so I never fully understood how other girls had the patience to let their hair grow. For the past two years, I grew my hair until it reached the middle of my back. I knew that eventually I would like to donate it, but it was not high on my list of priorities. I guess it could be said that I was waiting for the right moment.
Once I heard the heartbreaking news of Neilah’s accident, I immediately knew in my heart that it was time to cut off my hair. One week after Neilah’s head was shaved, I walked into the salon prepared to cut off my hair with no regret. Thirty minutes later, I walked out of the salon with a shoulder-length haircut and a foot-long ponytail in my hand. As my mom and I sat down in the car ready to head home, I sent Sam (Neilah’s father) a picture and an explanation of why I had cut my hair. He immediately responded with “Oh my Lord! This is the sweetest thing. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!”
While reading Sam’s response to my message, tears rolled down my cheeks. I knew that what I had done, because of my love for his daughter, had truly touched his heart. For as long as I live, I will never forget how appreciated I felt at that moment.
I later realized that even though Sam’s appreciation was immense, it would not even compare to the joy and happiness that my hair would eventually bring to some lucky child. I chose to donate my foot-long ponytail to a unique organization called Children With Hair Loss, which donates hair to children with medically related hair loss. I chose this specific organization because the strongest 8-year-old girl I know is the one who influenced me to donate my hair in the first place. I thought it was only appropriate that I donate it to an organization that takes special care of children.
Throughout this entire experience, I was able to gain insights that I had never before realized. I learned every individual is beautiful in their own way. Neilah taught me that one does not have to have hair to be considered beautiful or happy, and that what is on the outside is nothing compared to that on the inside. Although she suffered through this tragic event, she remains optimistic and cheerful at all times, and for that she is my hero.
My hair was given away in a small plastic bag, just like Neilah’s. Even though she is too young to understand the significance of this donation now, I can only hope that one day she will realize how she influenced the choice I made.
WNLP IS PROUD to occasionally showcase the works of LaPorte High School writers and artists.