The Oklahoma Bar Journal May 2024

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KATE BERNARD’S JOURNAL Dear Journal,

OUR RESPONSIBILITY Civic participation is the way we citizens of the United States build a stronger sense of community. Civic participation by definition is the involvement of individual constituents or communities in local, state, and national government. The United States is defined as a democracy which relies on our responsibility to engage and be the change we want to see in our government. Influencing others to be active in participating can lead to our voices being heard and represented. Read the full essay at www.okbar.org/lawday.

It feels so silly to write like this; like I am a young schoolgirl. But somehow, it seems important to document my journey ... No, my new career. I was born in Nebraska in 1875 to my parents: John and Rachel. My poor mother died soon after, and my father abandoned me to the care of my welcoming relatives. Read the full entry at www.okbar.org/lawday. 6

To see the complete list of winning entries, please visit www.okbar.org/lawday .

5. Ciaran Schiavone First Place 10th Grade Art Edison Preparatory School, Tulsa

6. Julie Martin First Place

7. Joseph Madden First Place Ninth Grade Art Mingo Valley Christian School, Tulsa

8. Ledesli Armendariz First Place Ninth Grade Writing Pauls Valley Junior High School, Pauls Valley

10th Grade Writing Cache High School, Cache

74 | MAY 2024

THE OKLAHOMA BAR JOURNAL