Essay Topic: If you were given the opportunity to spend a day with any one person, living, deceased, or fictional, whom would you choose and why?

Winning Essay written by Colin Maher age 16:

A hundred thoughts went through my head when I had to decide any one person to spend a day with. Many faces popped into my head of historical figures, movie stars, and world leaders. When I was able to reach a decision I realized no one else could compare to my final choice. If I could pick to spend a day with any one person I would choose my late grandfather Harry Brown. When I was eight years old I received the news my "Poppy" had suffered a heart attack and passed away early in the morning. Being such a young child I did not fully understand what this meant, and realize I did not appreciate the time I did get to spend with him as much as I should have. The memories I have of him are blurred and distant, but I look back fondly on our trips in his old station wagon, helping him do yard work, and just spending time with him. I would give anything to be able to relive those times with him. I know I could have enjoyed those times so much more, and there is an endless amount of things I could have learned from him. A day just hearing his stories, and enjoying spending the time with him I took for granted just seems to be an amazing opportunity. To have him as part of my life again even if only for that day, would just touch me in ways difficult to put into words. The desire to spend a day with my Hollywood idol could come nowhere near spending the day with someone I car about and miss so much. Although I wish he could still be here today, I know he can't so just being able to seize the opportunity of spending the day with him would mean so much. My choice all comes down to the simple fact that I miss him, and nothing would be able to replace spending just one more day with him.