Want a motivator to take your students' writing to a higher level? Here's an opportunity to write for a real audience, and the chance to get published by an award-winning magazine.

Dakota Cline is a middle school student at Horizons K-8 in Boulder, CO. He read and responded to the online YES! Magazine article, "Standing With Malala: Meet the Teenagers Who Survived the Taliban and Kept Going to School," an interview with Shazia Ramzan and Kainat Riaz, the two friends of Malala who were also shot on the bus by the Taliban in 2012. Read Dakota's essay, "To Say 'Nah'," about the one thing he, Malala, and Rosa Parks all share: the drive to rebel.

Hamna Khalid is a junior at Haddonfield Memorial High School in Haddonfield, NJ. She read and responded to the YES! Magazine article, "Standing With Malala: Meet the Teenagers Who Survived the Taliban and Kept Going to School," an interview with Shazia Ramzan and Kainat Riaz, the two friends of Malala who were also shot on the bus by the Taliban in 2012. Read Hamna's essay, "Education: Every Girl's Haq (Right) to Make Her Voice Heard," about amplifying the voices of those who have been less fortunate than her to receive a good education.

Kelsi Belcher is a freshman at Lansing Community College in Lansing, Michigan. She read and responded to the YES! Magazine article "Standing With Malala: Meet the Teenagers Who Survived the Taliban and Kept Going to School," an interview with Shazia Ramzan and Kainat Riaz, two friends of Malala who were also shot on the bus by the Taliban in 2012. Read Kelsi's essay, "A Mother's Motivation," about how struggles through her adolescence presented her with a most precious opportunity.

Edward Ramirez is a freshman at KIPP Houston High School in Houston, TX. He read and responded to the online YES! Magazine article, "Standing With Malala: Meet the Teenagers Who Survived the Taliban and Kept Going to School," an interview with Shazia Ramzan and Kainat Riaz, the two friends of Malala who were also shot on the bus by the Taliban in 2012. Read Edward's essay, "Deprived of a Brain," about experiencing racism in school and his determination to continue learning despite the hurtful taunts and injustice.

We received many outstanding essays for the Winter 2016 Writing Competition. Though not every participant can win the contest, we'd like to share some excerpts that caught our eye.

The Malala Fund Team responds to the winners of the Winter 2016 "Every Girl's Right" writing competition.

Want a motivator to take your students' writing to a higher level? Here's an opportunity to write for a real audience, and the chance to get published by an award-winning magazine.

Cate Landry is a student at Horizons K-8 School in Boulder, Colorado. She read and responded to the onlineYES! Magazine article, "I Can't Breathe Until Everyone Can Breathe," by Gerald Mitchell. Read Cate's essay, "Stay Tuned to Change the World" about how being aware of what's in the news is the first step in the path to justice.

Elizabeth Schmidt is a student at Kent State in Ohio. She read and responded to the online YES! Magazine article "I Can't Breathe Until Everyone Can Breathe," by Gerald Mitchell. Read Elizabeth's essay, "Compassionate Communities: Where Mindfulness Starts, Injustice Ends," about the importance of regaining the depth in our feelings so that we may live with awareness and connect with the rest of the world.

Karen Jordan is a student at a therapeutic boarding school in northwestern Montana. She read and responded to the YES! Magazine online article "I Can't Breathe Until Everyone Can Breathe," by Gerald Mitchell. Read Karen's essay, "Love: Free of Fear and Judgment," about how feeling better in her own skin has helped her see the potential in our society.

We received many powerful essays for the Spring 2015 Writing Competition. Though not every participant can win the contest, we'd like to share some excerpts that caught our eye.

Gerald Mitchell responds to the winners of the Fall 2015 "Justice for All" writing competition.