Winner
Nathaniel Tok, 16, from Redmond, Wash., responded to the ongoing news from Hollywood, writing this about “Actors Join Writers on Strike, Bringing Hollywood to a Standstill”:
Growing up, the Avengers were a massive part of my life. I had watched every single Marvel movie up to “Avengers: Infinity War” and could barely contain my excitement when “Endgame” was announced. It wasn’t simply a movie; it marked the culmination of an unforgettable journey that had shaped so much of my childhood. I will always remember cheering along with my fellow moviegoers as the Avengers assembled for one last time, later leaving the theater holding back tears at Iron Man’s final sacrifice. I simply couldn’t help but feel as if I had been a member of the Avengers too, facing Thanos and his army.
When I read about the Hollywood strike, I felt like I had been hit with a punch from the Hulk himself. The news landed closer to home than any of Thanos’s schemes ever had; I had almost forgotten that the superheroes who I admired were real people too, fighting their own, very real battles. The article was a grim reminder of the struggles that these actors and writers endure daily. It has heightened my respect for them and opened my eyes to the horrors of an industry that I’ve grown up loving.
And so, now is our time to assemble. For the very visionaries who imagined the Avengers, for the unseen heroes behind the glimmering screens, it’s time to return the favor. And for the heroes yet to come and the children yet to be awed, we must advocate for a fairer Hollywood today.