b'NEWS FROM AROUND THE STATE, continued2021 State Essay Contest Winners9th Grade Winner Andrew M. Cross, Council 8495 District 24Trusting in God During a Difficult TimeWhen I was young, I was diagnosed with a condition knowntests and take breaks as needed throughout the day.This has asTourrettesSyndrome.Thisdisorderresultsinmybodyreally helped me because I am able to get better grades without making certain movements that are beyond my control.Someworrying that I might not be able to finish in time.examples of this include constant blinking or jolts of the arm.When I attended middle school, the tics became increasinglyMyparentsreallystartedtonoticemyTourettessyndromeworse. My teachers started to become concerned. Some days I when I was 18 months old. Sometimes my disorder gets to thewould have to lay down on a couch in the back of the classroom point where I strain my muscles and feel very fatigued. Due toto rest because I would often get very tired and very emotional. the fact that my tics got increasingly worse, I was in desperateAt times when I felt alone, my parents were always there to need of medication to treat the Tourettes.At the end of the daycomfort me and tell me everything was going to be OK. This though, I know for a fact that God has been watching over meboosted my confidence and made happier about the person I and has great plans for my future. was and will be in the future.IAllmylife,IhavehadgreatfaithinGodandknowthatam currently in 9th grade at Lakeside High School and feel whatever happens, God is always right by my side looking outmy tics have gotten a lot better and I am able to concentrate for me.All the doctors and people in the medical communitymore in my classes without wandering off into space. Every who helped and assisted me were special because they gottime I pray to God, I feel like he is listening and he always has me through the worst times and have guided me to be themybestinterestatheart.Everysinglepersonroamingthis awesome person I am today.That is why I am sure that GodEarth has certain challenges they have to face. Some of these put these wonderful people into my life for a reason. challenges might be difficult, some of these challenges mightWhen I was in the 5th grade, I developed severe anxietybe easy, but I know God is doing everything he does for the which made my last year of elementary school very difficult.right reasons and I am confident that my challenges can be My teachers had a meeting and discussed that I might possiblyovercome.God gives all of us individual crosses to bear and need a 504 plan.A 504 plan allows me to spend extra time onwe must overcome our challenges to be given eternal life.Saint Catherine of Siena Council 9923 - Kennesaw, GAKeep alert, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.(1 Corinthians 16:13-14)90'