For Winton Woods High School junior Marizzel Garcia, the equation is simple: freedom = liberty + individualism + independence.

“My definition of freedom is the right to live your life without constraints,” said Garcia in the winning essay she wrote for the Freedoms Foundation contest. “To live your life without constraints is to live life to the fullest. When I think of freedom, I think of liberty, individualism, and independence.”

As a Hispanic American, Garcia says freedom is very important to her because her parents immigrated to the United States when she was a little girl from the Dominican Republic, a country she describes as poor and that doesn’t have as many opportunities as the U.S. The Dominican Republic is “a country where education isn’t free nor even an obligation, and where laws aren’t enforced as much as they are in the U.S.,” said Garcia. “[The Dominican Republic] is a country where freedom is lived to the fullest but in a negative way, meaning that freedom has been abused.”

Garcia’s essay has won her a $1,200 scholarship to attend the Freedoms Foundation, "Spirit of America Youth Conference” in Philadelphia from April 24- 27.  Only 13 students were selected from the Cincinnati area to attend the conference. Garcia is a member of the district’s Superintendent’s Advisory Council and has been an after-school math and Spanish tutor.

The four-day Spirit of America Conference is an exclusive program for high school students interested in discovering what their role is as a citizen and leader.  Conference highlights include a “Freedom Summit,” which gives students the opportunity to discuss constitutional issues affecting American citizens such as terrorism, the Patriot Act, and immigration; “Mock Trial,” where participants travel to Philadelphia’s Federal Justice building and participate in a simulated Supreme Court case; and “Leadership Challenges” where participants go through several 30 to 40 minute blocks of leadership training designed to develop their understanding and abilities in the areas of leadership, communication, group dynamics, and attributes of an active citizen.  Students will also tour historic Valley Forge and Philadelphia.