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Daughter’s love comes through in winning essay about father - Kansas City Star
An Olathe daughter’s love for writing and for her father has yielded a distinguished award for both of them.
Katie Gwynn, a who will be a junior this fall at St. Thomas Aquinas High School, wrote about her father, Matthew Gwynn and recently won first place out of 4,500 submitted essays in the 2009 Kansas City Royals Father of the Year Essay Contest.
She wrote the essay for an assignment in her world literature course. When Katie’s teacher, Sue Waters, announced that a student in the class had won, she looked around, wondering who had won.
“I was completely and utterly shocked,” said Katie after learning that she was the winner.
On June 11, the National Center for Fathering and the Kansas City Royals honored five student essayists, each representing grades 8 through 12.
Katie missed the ceremony because she was in Birmingham, Ala., participating in a national forensics tournament. But this Sunday, she will be back in town to see the Royals recognize her achievement and father’s honor during a pre-game ceremony.
“It will be cool to see him recognized,” said Katie.
Highlighted in Katie’s essay was her father’s constant presence in her life, a presence accompanied by patience and a willingness to listen, which is a remarkable attribute given that her father is deaf. The disability has not hindered the relationships he has with his five children and one granddaughter.
“My dad is a very good listener. He will always take the time to listen to my side,” said Katie. “I can always talk to him.”
Both of Katie’s parents are deaf, so Katie learned sign language at a young age. But her recent accomplishment is a compliment to her creativity and writing ability. Writing comes easy for Katie, an aspiring novelist. The short essay took 45 minutes to write but was just long enough to humble her father.
“I’m just doing what I think a dad should do,” he said.
Gwynn said his most important attribute is listening to his children and being active in their lives. Recently, Katie was in a school production of “Get Smart.” Her father was front and center, but his interpreter didn’t show up. Katie wrote about this experience in her essay:
“My dad couldn’t understand what was going on in the show, but when it was over, he still signed, ‘good job!’”
Listening and simply being present in the household goes a long way. One way Gwynn fosters this bond is by making sure the family regularly meets at the dinner table.
Gwynn said he takes after his own father, Francis Gwynn, who believed in the importance of enjoying one’s own childhood. Gwynn distinctly remembers his father not allowing him to work at a young age. Likewise, Gwynn insists his children have fun and stay active, both socially and academically.
Gwynn offers simple advice to fellow fathers. He said there is no excuse for fathers who wish they had spent more time with their children after they have grown up. Gwynn advises fathers to hang out with them now because children grow up fast. Gwynn also advises parents to live within their means in order to give their children the love they need.
“Who’s going to put you in a retirement home?” asked Gwynn.
An Olathe daughter’s love for writing and for her father has yielded a distinguished award for both of them.
Katie Gwynn, a who will be a junior this fall at St. Thomas Aquinas High School, wrote about her father, Matthew Gwynn and recently won first place out of 4,500 submitted essays in the 2009 Kansas City Royals Father of the Year Essay Contest.
She wrote the essay for an assignment in her world literature course. When Katie’s teacher, Sue Waters, announced that a student in the class had won, she looked around, wondering who had won.
“I was completely and utterly shocked,” said Katie after learning that she was the winner.
On June 11, the National Center for Fathering and the Kansas City Royals honored five student essayists, each representing grades 8 through 12.
Katie missed the ceremony because she was in Birmingham, Ala., participating in a national forensics tournament. But this Sunday, she will be back in town to see the Royals recognize her achievement and father’s honor during a pre-game ceremony.
“It will be cool to see him recognized,” said Katie.
Highlighted in Katie’s essay was her father’s constant presence in her life, a presence accompanied by patience and a willingness to listen, which is a remarkable attribute given that her father is deaf. The disability has not hindered the relationships he has with his five children and one granddaughter.
“My dad is a very good listener. He will always take the time to listen to my side,” said Katie. “I can always talk to him.”
Both of Katie’s parents are deaf, so Katie learned sign language at a young age. But her recent accomplishment is a compliment to her creativity and writing ability. Writing comes easy for Katie, an aspiring novelist. The short essay took 45 minutes to write but was just long enough to humble her father.
“I’m just doing what I think a dad should do,” he said.
Gwynn said his most important attribute is listening to his children and being active in their lives. Recently, Katie was in a school production of “Get Smart.” Her father was front and center, but his interpreter didn’t show up. Katie wrote about this experience in her essay:
“My dad couldn’t understand what was going on in the show, but when it was over, he still signed, ‘good job!’”
Listening and simply being present in the household goes a long way. One way Gwynn fosters this bond is by making sure the family regularly meets at the dinner table.
Gwynn said he takes after his own father, Francis Gwynn, who believed in the importance of enjoying one’s own childhood. Gwynn distinctly remembers his father not allowing him to work at a young age. Likewise, Gwynn insists his children have fun and stay active, both socially and academically.
Gwynn offers simple advice to fellow fathers. He said there is no excuse for fathers who wish they had spent more time with their children after they have grown up. Gwynn advises fathers to hang out with them now because children grow up fast. Gwynn also advises parents to live within their means in order to give their children the love they need.
“Who’s going to put you in a retirement home?” asked Gwynn.