28-03-2025
Raleigh County Board of Education honors WV Young Writers Contest winners
BECKLEY, WV (WVNS) — Raleigh County Board of Education members honored the winners of the 2025 West Virginia Young Writers Contest during a regular meeting on Tuesday, March 25, 2025.
Dr. Serena Starcher, superintendent of Raleigh County Schools, awarded the medals, with assistance from BOE members.
Ryan Johns, an Independence High School student, was present to read his own entry, which took the statewide honor of first place.
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Johns' teacher, Milena Belcher, had prompted students to imagine their upcoming high school graduation and to write about six people they would present with roses, in honor of how each person had inspired them.
Johns wrote about his late grandmother, Sheila Mayhew, who took custody of him after Child Protective Services intervened.
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Board members and other present wiped tears from their eyes as Johns read the piece, which follows:
Six Roses for Graduation
by Ryan Johns
In lieu of walking the stage at graduation for you, I walked the cracked cobblestonesidewalk at Sunset Memorial. The ground, still squishy with every step from the fallen rain,caked a thick layer of mud across the bottom of my silky white gown.
Through a glimpse of sunlight that barely peeked through the grey clouds, a twinklecaught my eye and led me straight to you. Before me, you sat. I looked at you with a smile. Thegraduation coordinator gave every member of our class six fresh roses to gift to special figures in our lives; I kept all six for you.
As I lay them beside you, I recall what each one stands for.
Rose number one is for MacArthur Skating Rink, 2010- one of my earliest memories. Iwas only three years old. It was a cold winter's day when you decided that you wanted to get meout of the house for a few hours. We left and stopped at our favorite restaurant to kill time. 'Wehave to wait for the lights,' you'd say every time I'd ask when we were going to get there.
'What lights? What lights??'
Upon our arrival, you helped me fasten my tiny ankles into a pair of oversized rollerskates. I could never muster the courage to leave the rail, but you stood and walked right besideme the whole time, just in case I did.
Once 8PM came around, the lights across the rink dimmed, and a large disco ball loweredfrom the ceiling.
A strobe of pink, green, and yellow lights began to dance around the walls asyou led me out to the center of the rink. I was too terrified to let go of your arm on the floor. Westood and laughed and joked and danced for what felt like hours. Before leaving, I glancedaround one time. Everyone seemed to disappear momentarily; it was just you and me.
Rose number two is for Myrtle Beach, 2013. I was six years old. For the weeks prior, Ihad heard you talking about a trip to Myrtle Beach with my cousins; I was pleasantly surprisedwhen I learned that I was coming too. We spent the night at my cousins' house and left at 4AMthe next morning.
The drive to South Carolina was a nightmare. The air conditioning unit in the car gaveout against the early July heat.
To make matters worse, my uncle couldn't find our condo and drove us in circles for hours, refusing to listen to your directions.
'He's always been this hardheaded,' you'd say, rolling your eyes, giggling, and glancing at my cousins and me in the back seat.
I was the only one awake to hear it.
That night, we settled in just quick enough to step out onto the patio to watch the Fourthof July fireworks show above the ocean.
I had never seen fireworks before. You boosted me up onto a chair, and I was immediately immersed in the mosaic of reds, blues, greens, and oranges.
Rose number three is for Sabine, 2014. I was seven. I had only left your house to returnto my own mere hours before a social worker loaded my siblings and I into the back of her carand removed us from our mother's custody. My siblings went to live with a distant you had priorly tried to get custody of me, I came to live with you.
When the social worker knocked on the door, you opened it.
She asked if you still wanted me. You said yes and welcomed me back inside.
I sat down in your office chair and sobbed silently while you scrambled on the phone with Child Protective Services trying to get everything in order.
The next few years are a blacked-out blur of court dates postponed, inconclusive, postponed, and inconclusive again.
Rose number four is for Twin Falls, 2016. I was nine years old. For the last two years, Ihad lived as a 'ward of the state' … whatever that meant. You had several health scares duringthis time, but finally, on a beautiful spring day, you woke up and felt like yourself again. Myaunt had recently purchased a professional camera and offered to take you to the Twin Falls State Park for a photoshoot. I came along.
You put on a gorgeous floral print sundress with a floppy sunhat and even did yourmakeup. You hated makeup.
When we got to the park, we first had a picnic before searching for the perfect photo opportunity. We came across several nature shots that you enjoyed, but it wasn't until we saw a gazebo in a meadow clearing that you fully burst to life.
Bathed in golden sunlight, you sat atop a railing and smiled at the camera. In that moment, you looked like the closest thing to an angel I had ever seen.
Rose number five is for Ole Jose in Pineville, West Virginia, 2017. After three long yearsof a custody battle, you had finally won. You cried as you shook the judge's hand for a photoand then took me out to celebrate.
We had never tried this new Mexican restaurant that had opened right beside a gorgeouscreek bed. Upon being seated, we ordered our food and filled our stomachs.
When I thought the meal was over, you told the waiter what we were celebrating. He then brought us a complimentary fried ice cream, and the entire restaurant- customers and staff- cheered for us.
That was the last good memory we got to make together.
On January 4th, 2018, we lost you to a long fight in the hospital. I was spending theweekend with my great grandmother, your mother-in-law, when my aunt and uncle came to pickme up.
They sat me down on my great grandmother's scratchy couch and broke the news to me. Idid not cry in front of them; I went to the bathroom and sobbed in secret.
My entire life then changed. I moved to Raleigh County, switched schools, and essentially started life back over.
Rose number six is for graduation, May 31st, 2025.
Our graduation coordinator requested that we reserve seats for our family members so that she could ensure that there was enough room in the venue. I only booked three seats: two for my aunt and uncle (who became my legal guardians after we lost you), and one for you.
Prior to the commencement ceremony, I did not get to look into the parent seating area. Itwasn't until I was standing in line next to the stage that I glanced over and saw my parents.
In the empty seat I had reserved for you, there was a picture frame holding a printed copy of you in your floral dress at Twin Falls. My angel had come to watch me one last time.
I feel the tears on my cheeks as I lay the sixth rose beside your glossy headstone.
In lieu of turning my tassels for you, I simply remove my cap and place it beside your headstone along with the roses.
I love you.
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