Finalists from the Father of the Year Essay Contest pose with their fathers. From left, Jasmine and Richard Alberto, Anushka and Ken Elwin, and William and Andre Margain.
As part of the annual Father of the Year Essay Contest, organized by Merced County Office of Education, students from across the county were asked to answer the prompt, “What My Father Means to Me,” ahead of Father’s Day weekend.
The essay contest, now in its 21st year, celebrates the significant role fathers and father figures play in a child’s life.
It encourages students to reflect on their relationships and articulate the love, support and inspiration their paternal figures provide.
This year’s contest received dozens of essays from young writers throughout the county. Essays were selected based on creativity, thoughtfulness and personal connection. After careful consideration, seven finalists stood out for their writing quality and moving narratives.
Essay finalists were recognized at the Celebration of Fatherhood event, hosted by All Dads Matter, at Applegate Park in Merced.
Winning Essay: ‘My dad changed my life’
Editor’s note: The following essay was written by Grayson McParland, a 5th grader in Ms Davis’ class at Pioneer Elementary School. Grayson’s essay was among the 1st Place winners in the annual Father of the Year Essay Contest organized by the Merced County Office of Education.
My dad changed my life.
We do not have the same eyes or hair color, he does not share the same DNA as me, but he is the man who chooses and loves me as his son every day.
It is hard to remember how things were before my dad, I sometimes wish he was there from the beginning, but I do not think I would appreciate him as much if he was.
It was always just me and my mom, I remember wanting to have a dad around. I do not have to wish or want that anymore because my dad came into our lives a few years ago and completed the family I always wanted.
Since the first day I met my dad, he has never let me down, he has been on the mat at every wrestling tournament and practice even when he has worked over 12 hours, he is in the front row of every school performance, he stays up late with me when I am sick and he is there for every smile, every tear, all the good days and all the bad.
He does all of this without asking, he is just there.
My dad has shown me how to love and respect the person I love. I appreciate how much he loves my mom because she deserves the world, and I watch my dad give her that every day. My dad has shown me how to be a gentleman, a hard worker, and a good person.
I do not think I will ever be able to say how much I love my dad. He chooses to be my dad every single day — there is no ‘step’ in our family and that is because of my dad’s love for me.
To read more winning essay, go to the social media sites of the Merced County Office of Education, searchable online at MercedCOE.