Profound is a word that comes up a lot when people discuss Caroline Freundel. A profound student, with profound insights, according to her seventh-grade English teacher. At 13, Caroline has a profound maturity in her writing, according to her theater professor father, even if he does say so himself. She is also profoundly humble; profound is not a word she ever uses to describe herself.
It was not exactly a surprise to anyone but Caroline, therefore, when she was named one of 20 finalists in the annual Champions of Courage essay contest, which challenges sixth to 12th grade students in the Baltimore metropolitan area to write a 90-word essay about a person — the student author's "champion of courage" — who exemplifies the teachings and values of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. A reading of all the finalists' essays will be broadcast on FOX 45, The CW Baltimore and MyTV Baltimore during February.
"She is a very good writer and it was a very moving essay," said Karen Butler, a teacher at Northwest Middle School, who gave Caroline the application for the contest. "We had a number of entrants from our school, but Caroline's was really above and beyond so we are really proud of her success."
It took Caroline, of Westminster, awhile to decide on her champion of courage, first considering obvious heroes she had read about before settling on someone closer to home.
"I thought there were a lot of people I wanted to do [the essay about], Ruby Bridges or Anne Frank," she said. "Then I decided I wanted to do my brother because he was really brave."
Caroline's eldest brother, Dan, had a difficult time in school, she said. A strange dresser with a penchant for classical music and computers, he attracted bullies and found himself ostracized through much of his time in school, his sister says. Caroline said her brother had every reason to eschew other people and to focus on making money for himself. Instead, he chose mission work in Africa.
"He realized he had to help people because he knew what it was like for people to look down on you," she said. It was her brother's commitment to help others even after so many others had hurt him that Caroline believes embodies the values of Dr. King.
"Dr. Martin Luther King, even though he was raised in a lot of rudeness and racism, he stood up for what was right," she said. "Even though he had no reason to help other people, he did, and he ended up being killed for it."
It took Caroline seven drafts to distill how she felt about her brother and Dr. King into a 90-word essay that will fit into a 25 second spot on television, but according to Kristin Becker, Caroline's English language arts teacher at Northwest Middle, Caroline always brings a concise, poetic language to her writing assignments.
"She had to say a lot in small amount of time ... she chose he words wisely," Becker said. "That's a great way to sum up Caroline. When she speaks, she doesn't just talk, she speaks. She is a very profound, insightful young lady."
Caroline has always been drawn to forms of communication, both verbal and written, according to her father Carl, a playwright himself and an associate professor of theater and speech at the Community College of Baltimore County. It was last year, when Caroline asked to read a play he had written about the holocaust and began discussing it with him, however, that he realized she possessed a talent for writerly insight beyond her years.
"There is this point when you begin to be overwhelmed that this isn't just a little child you must take care of, but they start saying things that are profound, that really throw you," he said. "You go, 'I really learned something from that ... She has a point of view I never thought of before.' "
All the praise of her writing has not inflated Caroline's ego, and she speaks in humble tones about her selection in the contest. The three finalists in the Champions of Courage contest are to be selected at an awards breakfast in Baltimore on Jan. 31, and Caroline is quick to point out that while she is hopeful for a win, she is equally thankful to have been selected and included in the company of other writers of talent.
"There's a lot of really, really talent writers in it so I don't know if I am going to win," she said. "I think it's a really, really great honor that I was picked as a finalist."
Reach staff writer Jon Kelvey at 410-857-3317 or jon.kelvey@carrollcountytimes.com.
My hero, who is undoubtedly my brother, was raised in the abuse and neglect of his peers. Having a love for classical music and computer technology, he was often labeled geek, nerd, and freak. Although he had every reason to hate humanity, he selflessly traded his comfort for discomfort and joined the mission field. He helped the illiterate become literate and the starving become full. He has shown me, through his selfless years of service, that every human of every race, IQ, and mindset deserves the opportunity to thrive.
