Makenzie’s Final Essay

Makenzie’s Final English Paper/May 2009

 Final Essay

Write a four to five paragraph essay on the following quotations/questions.  It is not AP style-it is regular essay style.  It is argumentative and so you may use first person.


And in his address receiving the Nobel Peace Prize, William Faulkner said, “I believe that man will not merely endure: he will prevail.  He is immortal, not because he alone among creatures has an inexhaustible voice, but because he has a soul, a spirit capable of compassion and sacrifice and endurance.”

Today, many voices of doom predict that man is killing the earth and therefore killing himself; that he is devolving instead of evolving and that he id doomed to extinction because of his careless and eveil ways, raping the earth, serving his own greedy interests and denying God.  Write an essay that takes what Ghandi and Faulkner have stated and support or refute their idea of man’s survival.

 “For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”  This passage from the Bible, Jeremiah 29:11 is a direct quote from God who says He has a plan and future for all humanity.  Faulkner and Ghandi’s quotes only give us creative metaphors.  Their quotes are merely support for the future plans for humanity.


Mahatma Ghandi stated that a few bad people in the world will not dirty the rest of humanity.  I disagree with this statementonly as far as mortal influence is concerned.  I believe no matter how many rotten people there are in the world, polluting the minds of others, Christ can clear that pollution.  He has the power to use his Christians to conquer the “few dirty drops” in order to make a clear cream or in order to fulfill his ultimate plan.  So, Ghandi was incorrect if some divine nature isn’t involved, because it’s easier for humanity to live for the ways of the world rather than be a solid individual.  However, if divine nature is involved, then Ghandi was correct.


Faulkner claims that man will prevail because he has a soul that is capable of compassion, sacrifice and endurance.  He addresses the fact that man is immortal, not because man has a voice that is heard above all others but because he has the emotions that are similar to God’s because we were made in HIS image.  I believe Faulkner’s definition of immortal can only be understood if you have an intimate relationship with Christ.  Because I know I was made in God’s image, I can agree with Faulkner’s claims.  We can only be a successful nation if our focus is altered from careless habits, unrelenting feelings and greedy interests to focus on the Creator who gave us better opportunities.  Faulkner’s statement is accurate from a religious standpoint and his claims are very profound.


William Faulkner and Mahatma Ghandi were two very influential individuals in the past and still are today in the present.  Their claims should be taken into consideration when humanity is involved.  I agree with both their claims only because I have hope and purpose that is driving my motivation.  God has the ultimate blueprints for the future of humanity and I believe He used people like Ghandi and Faulkner to better portray that plan for HIS humanity.

Makenzie Stocker, 18 Junior Year, Lutheran South Academy, Houston, TX -2009

7 thoughts on “Makenzie’s Final Essay

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  1. Pastor Todd and Stocker family(including Makenzie),
    Thank you for presenting me with the strength to believe in God again. I’ve been leery the past few years and Makenzie’s passing was not of reassurance, i’d thought how could someone so perfect be taken from this earth when we need her so much more than he? and in the past two years I’ve realized that being angry is normal as long as you retain faith! I’ve recently been given the opportunity to move to Kenya, In my deciding I thought of Makenzie and what she would have done, then immediately knew that Kenya would be my new home. I’ve learned that life is not waiting for you, and from life you shall gain everything you can. So this is my new journey, Thank you for giving me the strength to believe once more.
    -Rachel Marcos

  2. Todd and Kelly

    Our thoughts and prayers are with you during the month of the anniversary. I know you will never forget the date, but in time, it will get easier. I don’t know if Rick has ever shared with you that he had an older brother who died of meningitis before Rick’s birth. Richard Francis died July 7, 1951. Francis Richard was born on December 17, 1952. I know the date of his death because the first time I came to Rick’s parent’s house on my birthday (7/7), his dad told me that it was nice to be able to think of something that was worthy of celebration on that date.

    It was around 20 yr later, but the pain was still in dad’s eyes. He was able to remember Richard with joy and tell me a few stories about him. At another time in the 80’s, he and Rick had some quiet time alone and dad told Rick the story of Richard’s illness and how it affected the family. It was a very personal time for them to share. Dad was a man of great faith and I know that he and Richard are spending some quality time together again.

    In time, you and Kelly will be able to live through the day a bit easier. It will not be disrespectful to her memory, but rather a time of joy and remembrance knowing that you will see her again. I know this because I have watched this in Rick’s family and know that the Lord was there to help them heal.

    Blessings to you

  3. Even tough I am probably not a person Makenzie remembers. To her I was just another girl in the studio (R.A.F.A.). Before the incident that is how I thought of her , but after it was a whole different story. I look up to her so much as a role model in dance , school , but mostly christianity. Makenzie and others just make me want to be the best in life and adore every moment of it. Thank you so much … for everything you and your family does. Thanks again,

    Jamie Dizon

  4. Todd & Kell,
    Happy new year…can’t imagine life without a child…having held a child for so many years and then losing her really sucks…don’t normally curse & swear (my sister Kell-bell and I agree on that) but that is the way we feel.
    Makenzie’s life:
    Wow…the positive impact she made on everyone she met, the essence of her that carries on and still influences others without her lingering physical presence…
    even my eighth grade students (7th graders when she died) still recall her fame to claim.
    One can, without doubt, say that she was, and is, a blessed child of God. Angel.
    It doesn’t lessen the pain of those who miss her,
    but it does give strength and hope to those of us who follow her in the journey.

  5. By God’s grace, through the blood of Jesus, when your sins are forgiven, if your sin was a failure to facilitate your child’s baptism (that died before baptism), does the forgivness of your sin also extend to the child that died, who at know fault of their own (being an infant) was not baptized. Does God extend His grace to that child of His?

    1. This is a great question and one that has plagued theologian and layman alike. A simple answer is this. We have to trust in the character of God. God’s ultimate character is love (grace, mercy, etc…). If the question is, “will that child be in heaven?”, the answer is a resounding, “I don’t know but I do know God is a God of love.” His forgiveness through Christ is offered to all people and is not based on our achievement, effort or even cognitive assent. Who knows what faith communication our Lord has with that infant. All I know is, through His Holy Spirit, a human heart is changed and they are brought into the kingdom.

  6. Makenzie was extremely talents in several aspects of life that seem impossible to contain. Her dancing, is unbelieveable. I have never enjoyed watching plays but her videos on youtube have my eyes locked for every second. Her personality was like no other. I have never met a person that can light up and entire school. Not just the students we affected by her but also the teachers. She was extremely friendly and comforted everyone in there time of need. Her love for God was outstanding. In chapel I took for granted her presence on the stage leading the school in worship followed by her dad, embracing God’s love to us. When I got the text message that we had passed away I was dumb founded. I could not speak for several hours and when I did I cried. I still cry to this day I wasn’t even close to her as some people were. I don’t know how Emilie, Katie, Nancy, Jenna or people close to get cope with it. My methods are different than most peoples. I catch myself thinking about her everyday in class. Doesn’t matter which class she always pops into my mind. I am still in stage one of the stages dealing with death, the denial stage. It has been over 3 months and I still hope everyday that she will come back.

    I love you.
    I miss you.

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