The childhood of Christopher Middleton cannot be best measured in weeks or years, but instead in pages turned and chapters finished. From a young age Christopher Middleton possessed a voracious appetite for reading that would open him up to new realms of possibility. With a head filled to the brim with new ideas, it would take exposure to his high school’s Speech and Debate team to truly give Christopher the courage to speak out and the opportunity to transform his life forever.

The childhood of Christopher Middleton cannot be best measured in weeks or years, but instead in pages turned and chapters finished. From a young age Christopher Middleton possessed a voracious appetite for reading that would open him up to new realms of possibility. With a head filled to the brim with new ideas, it would take exposure to his high school’s Speech and Debate team to truly give Christopher the courage to speak out and the opportunity to transform his life forever.

Armed with the knowledge that he could use his words to transform anything, Christopher set out to transform his school and city. As a successful member and Captain of the Speech and Debate Team Christopher shared the experiences he had with others and gave them the same opportunities that the team had given him. Christopher also was selected as one of the individuals to represent the students of Newport News on the Mayor’s Youth Commission. As a member of the education subcommittee, Christopher helps the Mayor determine and develop policy that impacts thousands of students in his city. Christopher also demonstrated his dedication and appreciation for education by volunteering and reading to kindergarten children every Friday with Brother Reader. By volunteering Christopher is guaranteeing that the future of Newport News will be bright as these students will have the same opportunities that reading had gave him.

The desire that Christopher has felt to use his words to transform his community is not limited to the confines of his school or city, but instead recognizes the need to transform the world. He became a member and the eventual president of his school’s Interact Club which has allowed him to develop ways to help to solve problems that are of international concern. The most poignant example that has transformed Christopher, and inspired his action, was his clubs dedication to the Purple Pinkie Project, which hopes to eradicate polio as an epidemic. Christopher was shocked to learn the vaccine could be purchased for less than $1, and that was all it took to save a life. This taught Christopher that individuals can transform the world one act at a time.