Home » News » New London News » Student essay places 2nd in state

Student essay places 2nd in state

Legion Auxiliary, NL High School join forces

By Brian Mathu


Stein

The mission of the American Legion Auxiliary is “to support the American Legion and to honor the sacrifice of those who serve by enhancing the lives of our veterans, military, and their families, both at home and abroad.”

The mission of New London High School is “to ensure all students become responsible, contributing citizens who are college and career ready.”

Recently, these two missions overlapped.

Each year, New London’s American Legion Auxiliary and the New London High School Freshmen Academy join forces to promote the Auxiliary’s annual Americanism essay contest.

This past school year, the Auxiliary asked students (and all of us) a question worth answering: “How can we address the health and well-being of our veterans, military, and their families?”

Each New London ninth grader brainstormed ideas, wrote a rough draft in his or her American & Global Studies class, and submitted a final, 450-500 word essay.

Ten were chosen as the top essay writers: Renna Amaral, Katie Behling, Brooklyn Fuerst, Kelsie Hamel, Trevor Harris, Evan Kedinger, Autumn Martin, Andrew Nehring, Jack Roland and Olive Stein.

Members of the local Auxiliary read through the submissions and selected the top three – Jack Roland (third place), Brooklyn Fuerst (second place), and Olive Stein (first place).

The Auxiliary awarded $20, $15, and $10 to the top three. In addition, Stein’s essay was entered in the statewide contest, and she was awarded second place in Wisconsin.

Stein’s essay on PTSD

In her essay, Stein proposes two ideas that could help improve the mental health she recommends that veterans suffering from the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder should be provided with service dogs or other companion pets if possible.

“It has been reported that less than 40% of military members suffering from PTSD seek treatment,” Stein wrote. “Dogs could break the stigma preventing them from asking for help.”

She added that trained dogs can cost thousands of dollars, but many private charities have stepped in when the government has not. “Expanding these programs, perhaps making them part of Veteran Affairs, would give all that want a canine companion the ability to have one.”

Stein’s second recommendation is that more mental health professionals should be hired to assist U.S. servicemen and servicewomen during and after their service.

Stein noted the prevalence of military sexual trauma (MST). It has been estimated that 20% to 43% of female service members experience such trauma, while studies outside of the military have reported rates that range as high as 71%.

Stein noted, “It’s important to have counselors where they live because their provided counselor could literally save lives.”

When asked about her essay and her focus on canine companionship and female mental health, Stein describes a source of her motivation. “I have an aunt and uncle who fought in the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars and I respect them for their hard work and sacrifice. They both attended West Point, became officers, and commanded other young Americans willing to serve our country. I feel that our society owes all of them once they finish their service,” Stein said.

She is the daughter of Nicolas and Heidi Stein.

Brian Mathu teaches American and Global Studies and World History, and is the co-coordinator of the Freshmen Academy at New London High School.

Scroll to Top