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My daughter is a very gifted writer and could very well have written something like this when she was 14.

A student who is well-read can pick up vocabulary and phraseology from places other than home, though I suspect she wouldn't be reading the type of material that would lead her thinking this way without encouragement at home.

There are some slight errors in usage of words that I find very consistent with the writings of a child that age, who is wise beyond her years in some ways but still not a fully mature writer.

However, the main thing is that whatever her age and whatever her background, the young lady makes some outstanding points. I only wish that many more adults shared her views!

I don't doubt that the person who wrote this is 14, because I was an exceptionally good writer at her age too (as told to me by countless teachers, friends, and strangers as I was in high school and then college). Not all 14-year-olds are dunces--especially those with parents who encourage them to think beyond Britney Spears and other aspects of youth culture.

Like other posters have said, young people like her give me hope for the future when everything else seems to be going to hell in a handbasket.