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Over eighty years ago, a 13-year-old girl in Amsterdam named Anne Frank sat down and wrote her first entry in a red-checkered diary. Today, Anne has become the most famous young author of all time, and her diary, published in 1952 as The Diary of a Young Girl, is one of the most widely read books in the world. Translated into more than 70 languages, it is seen as a symbol of the nearly 1.5 million Jewish children who perished during the Holocaust.
An astute author and editor, Anne’s carefully chosen words helped shape her legacy. Her diary is a testament to why the voices of young people matter.
The Anne Frank Day Your Story Matters Contest is designed and judged by members of the AFLA board. For this year's contest students ages 12 to 18 chose from four pre-selected quotations from Anne Frank's diary, reflect on her words, and answer the prompt in essay format.
Students also had an option to select a quotation from the diary and express how the quotation inspired them in some way or caused them to see the world in a different light using an essay format.
Here are the ten student winners of the 2025 Anne Frank Day Your Story Matters Contest and their winning essays prefaced by the quotation selected to use as the prompt.
Saturday, November 28, 1942
In bed at night, as I ponder my many sins and exaggerated shortcomings, I get so confused by the sheer amount of things I have to consider that I either laugh or cry, depending on my mood. Then I fall asleep with the strange feeling of wanting to be different than I am or being different than I want to be, or perhaps of behaving differently than I want to be.
Do you ever want to be different than you are? How do you deal with these feelings? How do you think young people can be better at accepting themselves (even as they strive for growth and development in a healthy way)?
Wednesday, April 5, 1944
I want to be useful or bring enjoyment to all people, even those I’ve never met. I want to go on living even after my death!...When I write I can shake off all my cares. My sorrow disappears, my spirits are revived! But, and that’s the big question, will I ever be able to write something great, will I ever become a journalist or a writer? I hope so, oh, I hope so very much, because writing allows me to record everything, all my thoughts, ideals and fantasies.
What do you dream of doing creatively in your life and what are your hopes and fears about this?
Friday, December 24, 1943
I long to ride a bike, dance, whistle, look at the world, feel young and know that I’m free, and yet I can’t let it show.
What makes you feel free?
Monday, May 22, 1944
To our great sorrow and dismay, we’ve heard that many people have changed their attitude towards us Jews. We’ve been told that anti-Semitism has cropped up in circles where once it would have been unthinkable. The reason for hatred is understandable, maybe even human, but that doesn’t make it right.
Tell us about discrimination in your life. What have you or someone you love suffered in judgement for who you or they are. How did you deal with the situation?
Noya Dimbort (13)
de Toledo High School
In bed at night, as I ponder my many sins and exaggerated shortcomings, I get so confused by the sheer amount of things I have to consider that I either laugh or cry, depending on my mood. Then I fall asleep with the strange feeling of wanting to be different than I am or being different than I want to be, or perhaps of behaving differently than I want to be.
– Saturday, November 28, 1942
Deegan Stevens (14)
Oak View High School
I want to be useful or bring enjoyment to all people, even those I’ve never met. I want to go on living even after my death!...When I write I can shake off all my cares. My sorrow disappears, my spirits are revived! But, and that’s the big question, will I ever be able to write something great, will I ever become a journalist or a writer? I hope so, oh, I hope so very much, because writing allows me to record everything, all my thoughts, ideals and fantasies. – Wednesday, April 5, 1944
Florence Ferdinand (15)
California Academy of Mathematics and Science
I want to be useful or bring enjoyment to all people, even those I’ve never met. I want to go on living even after my death!...When I write I can shake off all my cares. My sorrow disappears, my spirits are revived! But, and that’s the big question, will I ever be able to write something great, will I ever become a journalist or a writer? I hope so, oh, I hope so very much, because writing allows me to record everything, all my thoughts, ideals and fantasies. – Wednesday, April 5, 1944
Stacy Carranza (13)
Daniel Webster Middle School
In bed at night, as I ponder my many sins and exaggerated shortcomings, I get so confused by the sheer amount of things I have to consider that I either laugh or cry, depending on my mood. Then I fall asleep with the strange feeling of wanting to be different than I am or being different than I want to be, or perhaps of behaving differently than I want to be.
– Saturday, November 28, 1942
Isaiah Davidson (15)
The Grove High School
I want to be useful or bring enjoyment to all people, even those I’ve never met. I want to go on living even after my death!...When I write I can shake off all my cares. My sorrow disappears, my spirits are revived! But, and that’s the big question, will I ever be able to write something great, will I ever become a journalist or a writer? I hope so, oh, I hope so very much, because writing allows me to record everything, all my thoughts, ideals and fantasies. – Wednesday, April 5, 1944
Brhandon Cantero (18)
James Monroe High School
In bed at night, as I ponder my many sins and exaggerated shortcomings, I get so confused by the sheer amount of things I have to consider that I either laugh or cry, depending on my mood. Then I fall asleep with the strange feeling of wanting to be different than I am or being different than I want to be, or perhaps of behaving differently than I want to be.
– Saturday, November 28, 1942
Anna Rosenblatt (16)
Crossroads School for Arts & Sciences
To our great sorrow and dismay, we’ve heard that many people have changed their attitude towards us Jews. We’ve been told that anti-Semitism has cropped up in circles where once it would have been unthinkable. The reason for hatred is understandable, maybe even human, but that doesn’t make it right. – Monday, May 22, 1944
Daphne Huffman (17)
Viewpoint School
I long to ride a bike, dance, whistle, look at the world, feel young and know that I’m free, and yet I can’t let it show.
– Friday, December 24, 1943
Adriana Montalvan (17)
James Monroe High School
In bed at night, as I ponder my many sins and exaggerated shortcomings, I get so confused by the sheer amount of things I have to consider that I either laugh or cry, depending on my mood. Then I fall asleep with the strange feeling of wanting to be different than I am or being different than I want to be, or perhaps of behaving differently than I want to be.
– Saturday, November 28, 1942
Elle Uhrman (16)
Marlborough School
In bed at night, as I ponder my many sins and exaggerated shortcomings, I get so confused by the sheer amount of things I have to consider that I either laugh or cry, depending on my mood. Then I fall asleep with the strange feeling of wanting to be different than I am or being different than I want to be, or perhaps of behaving differently than I want to be.
– Saturday, November 28, 1942
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