"What John F. Kennedy Means To Me" Annual Essay and Poetry Program

Local School Partnership

For more than 38 years, we have partnered with the Florida Ruffin Ridley School (formerly known as the Coolidge Corner School and the Edward M. Devotion School), the same school John F. Kennedy first attended as a child. Called "What JFK Means to Me," this partnership program immerses third graders in JFK's life, and encourages them to realize their own potential as leaders and citizens. During a public ceremony, students share their impressions of the President through essays and poetry.

 
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2022 "What John F. Kennedy Means to Me" Program

The 38th annual essay and poetry program "What John F. Kennedy Means to Me" began with class visits to John Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site in early May 2022. Third grade students from the Coolidge Corner School in Brookline took part in an inquiry-based tour of the president's boyhood home and neighborhood and learned about the formative influences that shaped the boy who would become president.

Students also visited the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, where they explored exhibits about Kennedy's personal achievements, service during WWII, political campaigns, and the accomplishments of his presidency.

Drawing on their experiences from the Birthplace and Library visits, students returned to their school and wrote essays on what JFK meant to them. Upon completion of the essays, students voted on their favorite through a blind peer review. Teachers then led poetry writing workshops in which students produced collaborative group poems on JFK.

On May 27, winning essays were revealed and class poems were read at a public ceremony at the Florida Ruffin Ridley School. During this special event, dignitaries joined with students to celebrate their accomplishments and encouraged them to realize their own potential as citizen-leaders within their communities.

The National Park Service congratulates all of the participants from the "What John F. Kennedy Means to Me" program. Click the links below to explore 2022 class poems, winning essays, and photos. Please click here for an archive of essays and photos.

2022 CLASS POEMS

3A Ms. Albertini-Class Poem (Biographical Style):

John Fitzgerald Kennedy
Brother to five sisters and three brothers
Son of Joseph and Rose
Fearless, responsible, determined
He saved his men when a destroyer crashed into the PT-109
JFK worked hard to save his crew members
He imagined a world without war
JFK teaches us to be helpful, courageous, and kind

Inspiring, intelligent, leader
JFK felt strongly about everyone having a better life, so he created the Peace Corps
He worked hard to help people in need and to improve our world
He imagined a world where everyone has food and shelter
JFK teaches us the importance of trying things even if they seem impossible and, of treating others respectfully

Helpful, thoughtful, bold
JFK felt strongly about equality and about people of all colors being together
He worked hard to change unfair laws and stop segregation
He imagined a world where everyone is treated fairly
JFK teaches us the importance of standing up for what you believe in

Achiever, believer, determined
JFK felt strongly about taking challenges and about not giving up
He worked hard to get a man to the moon
He imagined a world where we work together to achieve goals
JFK teaches us the importance of challenging ourselves and of taking a leap of faith

John Fitzgerald Kennedy


3B Ms. Bordieri - Class Poem (Tanka Style):

John F. Kennedy’s
Boat got cut in half after
Two men passed away
He carved words on a coconut
Brave, persistent, and helpful

Kennedy, Peace Corps
Helps reconstruct poor countries
People come, work hard
What can you do for others?
He was generous and kind.

Russia put missiles
Cuba close, nuclear war?
JFK stopped it
He stopped a very big war
JFK was very brave

Some were not equal
People were segregated
Some felt unhappy
Helped people get the same rights
Thoughtful, determined, caring

3D Ms. Driscoll - Class Poem:

John likes to read books
John was brave and he was smart
Was a good swimmer

He had eight siblings
He was second of nine kids
Jack was his nickname

Jack’s boat was broken
Jack wrote in a coconut
J.F.K. was saved

Missiles in Cuba
Dangerous situation
John saved us from war

Racing to the moon
Space can be hard to get to
They got to the moon

Peace Corps helps the world
Very memorable speech
He is remembered!

3G Ms. Gallagher - Class Poem (Simile Style):

Jack was as mischievous as a monkey trying to steal a banana.
Growing up, he would get in trouble because of the pranks he would play,
Always have a sense of humor.

John was as daring as a person swimming in shark infested waters.
During World War II in the navy, JFK saved a very injured crewmate while he was also in pain.
Do the right thing no matter what the consequence may be.

JFK was as persistent as a plant sprouting from the ground.
Even though others opposed him, JFK still stood up for Civil Rights and fought for equal rights.
If you don’t have faith in yourself, you won’t triumph.

President Kennedy was as hopeful as a soccer player wanting to win the World Cup.
He believed that America could be the 1st nation to successfully send someone to the moon.
Never give up, even when hope is low.

President John Fitzgerald Kennedy was as influential as a coach, leading their team to victory.
During his inauguration speech, JFK spoke to the people.
He said, “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.”
Everyone needs to work together to make the world a better place.

3W Ms. Weiman- Class Poem (Cinquain Style):

Childhood
Family, competitive
Fighting, leading, pranking
JFK was constantly ill
Start, juvenile

Family
Big, wealthy
Loving, competing, expecting
A powerful, Irish family
Connected, generations

School
Grades, trouble
Clowning, competing, charming
Messing around in class
Education, preparation

PT 109
War, destroyed
Swimming, risking, commanding
Helping other people survive
Patrol, missile

Presidency
Busy, speeches
Working, thinking, writing
Helping bring people peace
Leader, peace

Civil rights
Freedom, equality
Helping, fighting, protesting
Civil rights do matter
Struggle, peace

2022 Winning and Runner-Up Essays

3A Winning Essay:

What JFK Means to Me – Marah Dasque

John F. Kennedy was inspiring, thoughtful, and a role model. He achieved many things in life and he always tried to help people that needed it.

J.F.K.’s family supported him by voting for him when he became senator and then president. They pushed him to win and to be competitive and that prepared him for later in life. His mother helped him by being super protective when he was a child and that helped him not get into trouble as president and to make good decisions. His family helped him train for the tough challenges he faced in life and all the competitiveness helped him always try to win, like when it was such a close vote for him to be president.

I relate to Jack because I also have a family that pushes me to do my best and helps me when I need it. I have learned from J.F.K. to help people in need and to treat people how I want to be treated!

We should still think about J.F.K. because he made the world a better place. J.F.K.’s family helped him so much to succeed and to complete amazing things. I learned from J.F.K. that we should all treat people equally.

3A Runner-Up Essay:

What JFK Means to Me – Daniel Choi

J.F.K. was courageous, inspiring, and intelligent. J.F.K. was a man who was challenged by many things J.F.K. was also bold, powerful, and an achiever.

J.F.K. was helpful. One of the things that he did that was helpful was saving his crew on the PT-109 patrol torpedo boat. At night a Japanese destroyer split his boat in half. One man was so hurt that he could not swim. That’s when John Fitzgerald Kennedy came and swam for him by putting the life vest’s strap in his mouth. I’m like J.F.K. because I never give up. I am helpful. For example, one day my mom was going to make bread. Then I decided to help her. I also take a leap of faith, and I do my best. I should learn from J.F.K. that you should stand for your ideas.

Overall, we remember J.F.K. because he cared mostly about his people, friendship, peace and equality. If J.F.K. was here today, he would say that we do things because they are best and that you should always try. We learn from J.F.K. that you should spread kindness, courage, and love and to stand up for yourself.

3B Winning Essay:

What JFK Means to Me – Anjali Mahajan

Have you heard of John F. Kennedy? JFK was the 35th president of the U.S.A. He was physically unhealthy but mentally as sharp as a tack. He was president during a hard and scary time. JFK is now known greatly for his bravery and courage.

One day Jack and Joe were playing Chicken. Chicken was a game where two people rode bikes at each other and the first one to swerve was the loser. Joe was sure that Jack was determined to win just once. So when they turned their bikes around Jack and Joe recklessly kept going and then BAM! They crashed. Jack fell off his bike and needed 28 stitches while Joe being a good athlete, managed to not get hurt.

While Jack was patrolling the Solomon Islands in the South Pacific a Japanese Destroyer emerged out of the fog and crashed into the small torpedo boat. The impact of the Japanese Destroyer cracked the boat in half. Two men died instantly from the blow. One more crew member was badly burned and could not swim. Jack, as the captain, got the wounded man on his back and clenched the strap of his life vest in his teeth. After that he and his crew swam five hours to the nearest island. Once they got there the captain used his pocketknife to carve on a coconut shell. The message read: NAURO ISL…COMMANDER…NATIVE KNOWS POS’IT…HE CAN PILOT…11 ALIVE…NEED SMALL BOAT…KENNEDY. Later a boat came. Jack got a Navy Medal and Purple Heart for his bravery.

Another time John F. Kennedy was courageous was during the Cuban Missile Crisis. The Cuban Missile Crisis was a very scary time for the U.S.A. and the Soviet Union. One day the Soviet Union placed nuclear missiles in Cuba pointed at the U.S. JFK as the president at the time quickly went into action. He set up nukes pointed at the Soviet Union. Then he talked to the president of the USSR and arranged for him to take the nuclear weapons out of Cuba.

John Fitzgerald Kennedy was a brave and courageous man. I was courageous when I went on a super high ropes course when I could have easily backed down. John F. Kennedy said “children are the worlds most valuable resource and its best hope for the future.” John F. Kennedy was very brave throughout his lifetime. Another quote he said was “a man may die, nations may rise and fall but an idea lives on.” The way I remember John Fitzgerald Kennedy today is the president who stopped a nuclear war.

3B Runner-Up Essay:

What JFK Means to Me – Lily Liang

Have you ever thought about a world with people were treated unfairly? Well, John Fitzgerald Kennedy did. So he tried to change it.

JFK thought it was unfair that black people were treated poorly. So in 1963, he worked with MLK Jr. to give black people freedom. He said, “one hundred years of delay have passed since President Lincoln freed the slaves, yet…their grandsons are not fully free. They are not yet freed from the bonds of justice; they are not yet freed from social and economic oppression. And this nation…will not be fully free until all its citizens are free.”

JFK also created the Peace Corps. Volunteers would go to the underdeveloped countries for two years to work and live in a different place. They work as teachers, farmers, doctors, nurses, and builders. It helped many people.

JFK was really rich. He was so rich that he didn’t need all of it! So he donated all his salary to charity. I think JFK helped others just like me. When the Ukraine war started, I donated health supplies to them, just like how he donated money to charity. JFK might have died, but his ideas still live on.

3D Winning Essay:

What JFK Means to Me – Vivian Lim

Did you know JFK created Peace Corps he helped with Civil Rights, his Vice President was Lyndon B. Johnson? JFK was an amazing president to many people. My opinion of JFK is he was great and he’s still helping today.

JFK created the Peace Corps and they help around the world with farming, teaching, building and medicine. I think he’s amazing because he helped in World War II. One day he was on watch and then a Japanese destroyer destroyed the boat and someone got badly injured. So, JFK swam with him on his really bad back. They swam for hours then then they got stuck on a island and survived there for 6 days with his crew. On that island were some islanders so he talked to them and they told him to scratch a message on a coconut shell. When he was done, they spread the message and later people saved him and his crew.

He is a amazing president because he helped with people rights/civil rights and he did a lot to serve our community. His family is nice I think his parents are kinda like mine supportive and caring to there kids. And they help a lot like JFK’s dad helped him with his campaign and my dad helps me with homework and his mom reads to him. My mom watches movies with me.

JFK is an amazing president to me because he helped with a lot like civil rights and more he did a lot to serve our community.

3D Runner-Up Essay:

Why JFK is Important to Me – Nina Karpei

JFK was the 35th president of the U.S.A. HE had a sizable family and eight siblings. He was in the Navy during the World war II. He wrote two bestsellers. JFK is important to me because he stopped the happening the nuclear war. If he hadn’t stopped it, the whole world have been gone by now! JFK signed a treaty with the Soviet Union and banned the testing of nuclear weapons. Soon, the Soviet Union removed the missiles from Cuba. The Soviet-Union had put missiles into Cuba and they were aimed at U.S.A! That was the “Cuban Missile Crisis.” JFK was worried about the missiles and U.S.A. He was worried because the missiles could explode U.S.A. at any moment! JFK traveled to the Soviet Union to “chat” with their leader. They signed a treaty and banded the testing of nuclear weapons or anything like that. The Soviet Union removed the missiles from Cuba. JFK was important to me because he stopped the happening of the nuclear war. He really helped the world by doing that. He still helps the world today! He created the Peace Corps that still the world today. This is why JFK is important to me.

3G Winning Essay:

What JFK Means to Me – Ishaan Narang

John F. Kennedy was the 35th President who went to my school. JFK was born on May 29 1917. He died on November 22 1963. JFK served in the Navy, was involved in politics, and civil rights. His service meant a lot to the USA.

JFK served in the Navy during World War 2. His boat, the PT-109, was sunk by a Japanese Destroyer. He was captain so he led everyone who was still alive to safety. They swam to a nearby island. A few days later some islanders came and they said they were friendly. JFK carved a message in a coconut it said “can pilot…11 alive…need small boat.” The message was given to a commander. Because of his service JFK was given two medals. One of the medals was a purple heart because he got injured during the War. This was given to him before he was president.

JFK was a congressman, Senator, and the first Catholic President. Being a Congressman wasn’t good enough so JFK became a senator. That wasn’t good enough either so he ran for president and he won. He ran as a Democrat against Richard Nixon who was a Republican. JFK only won by a little. JFK was on the first televised debate. They had a debate to say why they would be a better leader. JFK was at the start of stopping segregation and it worked on the Civil Rights Act. Abraham Lincoln freed the slaves but their ancestors were not fully free. JFK wanted to stop segregation. Segregation is when colored people are separated from white people. JFK met with Civil Rights Leaders like MLK. But JFK hesitated for two years, but Civil Rights leaders kept going and so did JFK.

As you can see, JFK helped in many ways. My family is connected to JFK because my great-grandfather fought as an Indian warrior in World War 2. Also, sadly he died. Also, my grandfather was in the Indian government. And my dad works for the government now as the Principal Assistant Secretary of Defense [for] Space Policy. I hope to one day help people too.

3G Runner-Up Essay:

What JFK Means to Me – Ellie Dolev

When you think of courage do you think of Harry Potter standing up to Lord Voldemort? Or a person skydiving? Well, I think of JFK! This man was full to the top with it. If you ask me to name all the courageous things he’s done, it would take me all day so I’ll limit it to three. The struggle of his childhood, his time in the Navy, and last but not least, running for President. Enjoy!

Growing up, JFK learned to be courageous because of his family. During his childhood, his dad taught them to play hard and he only accepted first place. This competitive spirit gave him more courage later on. While he was a child, he also played a game called chicken. The point of the game was that: 2 people ride bikes at each other. Whoever swerves is the coward or the “chicken,” and they lose. They were approaching each other, but no one swerved. They crashed, and Joe Jr. stayed on his bike, unscathed, while Jack (JFK’s nickname at the time) fell off and needed 28 stitches. I think this was a factor in his bravery later on.

Another reason why JFK was courageous is that he was in the Navy during World War II. He was the captain of 13 crew members on a scout ship, the PT-109. His crew was scouting when a Japanese destroyer, the “Amagiri,” split their ship in half. One half sank, and two of JFK’s crew were clutching the floating half for dear life. For all JFK’s life, he’d had back injuries, but even with this dilemma, he still managed to guide his crew three miles to the nearest island, towing a very injured crew member by holding his life vest strap in his teeth. Two islanders and their commander helped get them to safety. I think this is another reason he was brave, and he was awarded with a purple heart and a medal. The fact that he had back pain and he still saved his crew was beyond amazing.

“Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” That is a famous quote from JFK’s inauguration speech. It was very brave of him to make this speech, especially since he got poor grades in public speaking as a child. He won presidency by beating out Republican, Richard M. Nixon. JFK was also Catholic. (At that time there had never been a Catholic president) So many people did not want to vote for him. Not to mention the fact that he was only 42. He was very brave to run, with all those odds against him. This is much braver than anything I’ve ever done. In my opinion, he deserved to win the presidency because of his bravery throughout the campaign process.

I hope you now understand how brave JFK truly was. One of the bravest things I’ve ever done is jumping off a 50-foot trapeze holding onto a bar for the first time. JFK could have done that without a fear. “A man may die, nations may rise and fall, but an idea lives on.” – John F. Kennedy.

3W Winning Essay:

What JFK Means to Me – Julia Rogers

JFK was the 35th president of the US. There have been many others but he stands out from the bunch. As a child he was very close with his 8 siblings Joe Junior, Rosemary, Kathleen, Eunice, Pat, Bobby, Jean and Teddy. One of the things that JFK was the most famous for is PT-109, which is a boat that JFK manned. It had been out at sea for 5 months, when a Japanese destroyer rammed into it and broke it in half. The crew clung onto the wreckage and waited for help. When no help came the captain (JFK) ordered them to swim to the nearest island. One man was too badly burned to swim. He just said to leave him there but JFK thought it wasn't right. He put the man's life jacket strap between his teeth and swam to the nearest island. The natives teach him how to carve a message into a coconut. He carves: Nauru isl. native knows posit he can pilot 11 alive need small boat kennedy. Then he handed it to a native saying rendova rendova which is the name of an American military base. The next day, they were saved. I think FJK is a leader, from a leader of his family to a leader of the country.

JFK was a leader. He was second oldest, so he had to be. Sometimes though, he was quite unsensible. Like playing chicken. A game where on a bike you go around in a circle with the other person going the opposite way. When you meet in the middle you are headed straight for the other person. The first person to swerve gets called a chicken, hence the name. Once JFK played it with his brother. Now if I were him I would have swerved. So what if Joe can call me a chicken? I don't want to endanger myself over a game. But winning was important to the Kennedys so he did it. He slammed into Joe and went flying off his bike. He had to get 28 stitches. Sometimes Joe was a bully to John. JFK was also a leader of a football team. At a school called Dexter. he went there after FRR. They had a football team and he was elected to be the captain of the football team. Even though at school they weren't well liked because they were the only Irish Catholics, he was elected so that meant he was also sort of liked. He was also the leader of PT-109 and then he was the leader of the country.

I chose this part of JFK's life because I'm a leader when I'm in a group, I take over and get things organized. I also do Ruffin Ridley Readers, a program that our school does. Every night, someone reads a book and then we have a discussion. I read a story about Ruth Bader Ginsburg and a book called Giraffes Can't Dance. And then I let a discussion where you ask questions and everyone comes up with answers. Like “Why are you like Gerald” who is the main character in Giraffes Can't Dance? JFK had a lot of other things he was awesome at, but leading was one of them. I hope JFK’s legacy goes on forever.

3W Runner-Up Essay:

What JFK Means to Me – Henry Drake

At first John F. Kennedy was just a boy in his family. His family didn’t expect a lot from him. But his life changed when he became president.

JFK was a hero to a lot of people. He did so many heroic things and some of them saved people’s lives. He even stopped segregation. Segregation is when different people are separated because of their race or how they look. And JFK also stopped the Soviet Union from shooting missiles straight at America! JFK kept going even when his back was in pain or a family member died.

I chose to write about this part of JFK’s life because if he hadn’t stepped up bad things would have happened. Some of them could have affected my family or other people’s families too. But now because of JFK, no more missiles will be shot, no more Japanese Destroyers, and no more segregation. JFK was a hero to all of America.


 
 

Images on this page courtesy of NPS, Kennedy NHS. Second photo from the top by Matt Teuten.

 
Ranger points at map on walking tour
Ranger Jason leads class on neighborhood tour

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Looking for essays, poems and photos from previous years? Click here.

Last updated: November 1, 2022

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