1272 Mill Dam Road
Virginia Beach, VA 23454
April 29, 2015
Judges, Senior Project Board
First Colonial High School
1272 Mill Dam Road
Virginia Beach, VA 23454
Dear Judges:
As a member of the Legal Studies Academy, as well as a zoned student of First Colonial, throughout the last four years I have been lucky enough to recognize a difference in students amongst the Academy and our general school. Likewise, I have seen the difference in myself. There is a degree of growth to which the Academy has challenged me to achieve; for this perspective, I am thankful. As an Ethics and Law student during my junior year in the Academy, I was faced with the broad range of topics to delve into for our final project, to ethically analyze, and to later present. I wanted to choose a topic of true interest, rather than to produce a mediocre project on a random subject. On this note, I proposed to study parental mental illness, and its role and implications in the family law system. By introducing this new subject of personal interest – and surely creating a more challenging project for myself – I learned the value of passion, and how incredibly far it can take me in present projects, as well as the potential.
Upon completion of the Ethics and Law presentation, I was unaware that I would begin a much larger and more in-depth project on this same subject only six months later.
Acknowledging the sensitivity of my topic, I wanted to ensure my project would effectively raise awareness while also respecting families and their varying situations. Because a large portion of my paper’s conclusion dealt with the importance of child outreach, I wanted to create a project in helping children cope with their family situation. I wrote, illustrated, and self-published a children’s short story to reassure children of their sense of self and success, and to promote positive coping methods. After thorough research on social work and child outreach at an elementary and middle school age level, I made a list of key elements I wanted to include in my book to reach out to children, such as the prevalence of this issue, their potential in school, activities, and socially, and most importantly their ability to strengthen because of experience.
After publishing, I donated a copy of my book to local schools’ guidance departments, including one elementary school and one middle school. Additionally, my book is for sale online, with any and all profits going to NAMI (the National Alliance of Mental Illness). In donating my book, I hope to have raised awareness for this issue while also encouraging children in the process.
I truly appreciate your time in reviewing my website and efforts to promote children and to raise awareness for the understated implications of parental mental illness. I look forward to meeting you at my presentation.
Sincerely,
Ray Tischio
Ray Tischio