Our mission at "Take My Word For It!" is to help kids write, but perhaps more importantly, to encourage kids to find their own voices and accept themselves just as they are. In keeping with that goal, these TMWFI kids were asked to draw and describe themselves in a self portrait. Title: Outer Space Self Portrait Excerpt: "I am unique because I have brown eyes and black slicked hair...I want to be seen as somebody brave, strong, and talented, who never gives up." -Matt

Title: Self Portrait Excerpt: "I want more time for self portraits and the world." -Lyla

Title: Self Portrait Excerpt: "What makes me distinct is my freckles and my kindness because I love to help out. When I grow up I want to be an animator, an artist, a writer, or president." -Emilia

Title: Me Excerpt: "Me: my smile is the widest smile. My hair is to my shoulders, my freckles...I want to be an artist and author." -Hedy

Title: Madelyn

Excerpt: "I am changing. Year and year, day and day, becoming smarter and more athletic."-Madelyn

Title: Don, don, don

Excerpt: "I change all the time... I change by my style and personality." -Julia

Title: Score 100,000

Excerpt: "I want people to see me as funny, smart, good at games, and a good writer."

-Justice

Title: Oliver

Excerpt: "What makes me distinct is that my eyes change color. I want people to see me as smart, adventurous, and brave."-Oliver

Title: My Animal Friends

Excerpt: "I am me because no one else in the world talks like me, sounds like me, no one else acts like me, and loves animals just as much as I love animals. -Kaitlyn