With all the pressure from school, friends and even my own expectations, it can be hard to stay focused—especially with my ADHD. But writing and studying history gives me an outlet. It reminds me that my voice matters and that people do care.

I worry, just like Anne did all those years ago. I don’t care whether I ever make something “great” or have as big of an impact as Anne did. She probably didn’t think she would either—but here we are, still reading her words and learning from her courage. The truth is, every effort to understand and to share knowledge already makes a difference—every day, everywhere.

When I compare her life to mine, it shows me how lucky I am to be free— to speak, to learn, to write and to express myself. But it also shows how important it is to use that freedom wisely and never take it for granted. Anne wanted to be remembered not just for what happened to her and her people, but for what she stood for: kindness, creativity and hope.

I want to be the kind of person who honors her memory and the struggles she went through. By continuing to educate others, I hope to spread awareness—and maybe one day, write something that helps people see the world a little more clearly, just like Anne did.

If Anne could do that in an attic, alone with her diary and a friend named Kitty—under the threat of death—then I can try my best from a classroom in a small California town called Yucaipa.

Deegan Stevens, age 14, Oak View High School