John Jay senior takes top spot in Judicial District essay contest

CROSS RIVER, N.Y. - John Jay High School senior Maya Wichman recently took the top spot in an essay contest presented by the Ninth Judicial District Committee. 

Wichman was awarded first place in the 11th and 12th grade category, and was invited to a breakfast at the Westchester County Supreme Court on May 16 where she read her essay aloud. She was accompanied by John Jay principal Steven Siciliano and English teacher Jill Hirshfeld.

Wichman had previously finished as the runner up in the contest two years ago. In the fall, she will be attending Northeastern University with plans to major in Cell and Molecular Biology on the pre-med track.

The contest, which saw participation from students from across five counties, was held in celebration of Women’s History Month. 

The winning essay, presented below, was in response to the prompt: "How will Proposition 1 impact New York families, minors and women?"

"Discrimination is not just an abstract issue—it is a woman bleeding out in an alleyway because her access to reproductive healthcare was stripped away. It is a transgender teenager beaten until their ribs crack for daring to go against gender norms. It is a dying patient, alone in a hospital bed, while the love of their life is kept outside, barred by laws that refuse to recognize them. Discrimination is real, it is violent, and it is deadly. The rights of marginalized communities have been treated as optional, subject to debate, compromise, and political whims. But with the passage of Proposition 1, New York has made a statement: equality is not negotiable. This amendment expands protections against discrimination, ensuring that no one can be denied rights based on factors that have long been used as excuses for oppression. This isn’t just a legal technicality—it’s a direct challenge to the systemic inequalities that have plagued society for generations. And it is here to stay.

Women have spent decades fighting for the right to make decisions about their own bodies, only to see those rights stripped away by lawmakers who will never face the consequences of their own actions. The overturning of Roe v. Wade proved that no victory is permanent. However, Proposition 1 is a clear, undeniable declaration that the right to control one’s own body is fundamental, and while the gender wage gap, workplace harassment, and the systemic devaluation of women’s labor persist, this amendment strengthens the legal fight against these injustices. It recognizes that discrimination isn’t always loud and explicit—often, it is quiet, insidious, and woven into our daily lives.

For families, this amendment means security. It means same-sex parents, families with disabled children, and mothers, especially single and working mothers—who face harsh societal barriers—now have legal backing when they demand equality. The fight against discrimination does not end with this amendment, but it gives families a tool to fight back.

For minors, this amendment is a shield. Young people exploring their identities have been met with hostility, their existence debated as though their rights are optional. However, because of this proposition, society can no longer erase or invalidate those who don’t conform to outdated expectations. For LGBTQ+ youth who face alarmingly high rates of homelessness, suicide, and violence, this isn’t just policy—it’s survival. Additionally, this amendment will reshape the culture in which young people will grow up. When the law explicitly condemns discrimination, society will begin to reflect these values and shift away from the ingrained biases that have persisted for far too long. 

Of course, no law will single-handedly dismantle centuries of inequality, but this amendment is a start. It’s a refusal to accept the status quo. It tells those in power that their control is slipping, that their ability to exploit and oppress is being challenged.

And for every person who has been told they are less than, it is proof that change is possible. And the fight is far from over."