Samantha Mack Ties Second Place in Life's WORC Essay Competition

Samantha Mack, an 11th grade Sanford H. Calhoun High School (Merrick) student was tied for Second Place in the 5th annual essay competition sponsored by Life's WORC/The Family Center For Autism, Schneps Media, and The Claire Friedlander Family Foundation. The essay topic was: "How Can I Lead My School and Community to Become A Bully-Free Place For Individuals With Autism and Developmental Disabilities".

Since there was a tie for winning second place with Isabella Sicilian (a 10th grade student from Townsend Harri High School, Flushing), the four Judges decided to combine the Second Place and Third Place prize money, to award each of the Second Place winners $2500. Samantha Barbera (a 12th grade student from Brentwood High School, Brentwood) was the First-Place winner receiving $4000. 71 students submitted essays.

The contest was open to students from public and private schools from grades 9-12 from Queens, Nassau, and Suffolk. Since the contest was launched, the organization has provided about $40,000 in awards to sixteen students.

Life's WORC/The Family Center For Autism is a Garden City-based non-profit agency established fifty years ago by print media publisher Victoria Schneps with help from broadcast journalist icon Geraldo Rivera. It offers a variety of services and programs to some 2000 people with developmental disabilities and autism. This includes a network of 43 group residences.

Peter J. Klein, Managing Director of High Tower Advisors (Melville) and the President of The Claire Friedlander Family Foundation said to Samantha Mack that: "We would like to congratulate you for stepping up and speaking out on a crisis affecting a number of today’s students: Incidents of bullying and how this can be prevented. The thoughts you and your fellow students expressed through the written words you submitted have given our non-profit organization an abundance of new ideas and fresh perspectives on how to respond to the bullying issue, especially as it relates to people with autism and developmental disabilities."

Samantha Mack
11th Grade
Sanford H. Calhoun High School
1786 State St, Merrick, NY 11566
(516) 992 1300

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How can I lead my school and community to become a bully-free place for individuals with autism and developmental disabilities? That truly is a good question and a topic I can personally and strongly relate to. My whole life, I have gained a unique perspective and fortunate enough to be surrounded by people with autism and developmental disabilities..
My mom is a Principal for a Nassau BOCES Middle School. Since I was a toddler I have been going to events she held such as Sports Night, School Productions, BINGO night and many more. My mom is deeply dedicated and involved in the lives of her students. I have seen first hand how her decisions and actions truly impact the quality of life for her students. I was surprised to see how bullying is a real problem and how individuals with disabilities are truly affected by it. Negative words, derogatory comments and ridicule are so damaging. Individuals with disabilities need to be protected because sometimes their innocence helps victimize them. I witnessed my mom and the staff that work with her advocate for the rights of these students. She included them in everyday activities that all of their peers had access to. This increases their self esteem and sense of worth. The better that they feel about themselves, the better self advocates they can be.
Second, for the past three years I have attended Calhoun High school. At Calhoun we have a very intensive special education program. I have come to learn that it is filled with the most amazing students. Luckily, there are so many ways to get involved. I am an Officer in the Breakfast Club and Coach the Special Needs Bowling league. Through this experience I have developed relationships with these students. As I travel throughout the school on a day to day basis, I run into them. We always have a fun exchange. I think this is good for my typically developing peers to see. They can witness that all students are simply students, like us and deserve the respect that I give them.I want to lead my school in being that role model of how to interact with individuals with disabilities. Additionally if I see anyone treating them poorly, I step up and put a stop to it and want to lead others in doing the same.
Lastly, having a sister with a disability and watching her struggle through the years with bullying against her. I have developed a need to protect others. I feel that advocating for people with autism and disabilities is my responsibility. I lead by example and encourage others to do the same. I have learned from my sister as she is a peer advocate for others with disabilities.

In conclusion, my life's experiences have enabled me to lead my school and community to fight against bullying individuals with autism and disabilities. I will continue to do what I love. I will continue to role model and lead by example.

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