by the Region-at-Large program of the 2022 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, presented by the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers.

Camila Gomes '23 wins 2022 Scholastic Art & Writing Award

Palmer Trinity student wins Silver Key Recognition for the Region-at-Large program of the 2022 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards
Since 1923, the Scholastic Awards have recognized some of America’s most celebrated artists when they were teenagers. They are now proud to count Camila Gomes '23 among their esteemed group of Alumni which include Andy Warhol, Tschabalala Self, Stephen King, Charles White, Joyce Carol Oates, and Kay Walkingstick.

Camila's essay/memoir entitled, "rain, birds, and broken windows," won a Silver Key Award for the Region-at-Large program of the 2022 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, presented by the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers.

Something made all eyes stick on you, perhaps it even made the air around you glow. Everyone loved you, I know that too. All the kids and even the teachers found you fascinating, and how couldn’t they? You were you.

I can see us running through the woods behind our school. I remember bloody knees, crippling roots on the ground, and pain that would heal in a day or two. Sometimes, I miss that.

Do you remember those days? The way the sun would blaze and stain the stones on the ground? I remember the heat. The way sweat would cover our bodies and drip from our skin even after long minutes of being inside. The classrooms in our school had old air conditioning units attached to the windows, boisterous and useless. The summer flies would circle the air in crowds over the grass, and kids would be bathed in bug spray by their teachers or parents. Though not even shade was a promise of relief in the summer of 2013, a part of me had always willed it to never end.

(Excerpt from
rain, birds, and broken windows - shared with permission)
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