Barbara Goleman student Kelsy Ruano was noted for her place as a top ten finalist in the Elie Wiesel Ethics Essay Contest for her essay titled “The Cowardice of Tolerance.” Ruano’s essay dealt with the LGBT community, specifically how those who call themselves allies of the community have a responsibility to uphold.
“The whole point of the essay was an ethical dilemma,” said Ruano. “So I wrote about how those who aren’t in the LGBT community have to decide between tolerant or supportive, which are two very different things.”
Ruano began her essay with a Martin Luther King Jr. quote: “Shallow understanding from people of good will is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will. Lukewarm acceptance is much more bewildering than outright rejection.”
The essay contest winners were announced on May 2, and for her placement in the top ten Ruano received a $50 gift card and $200 award. She was the only student that placed in the contest who hails from a traditional high school. Ruano plans on attending University of Florida for a major in Psychology.