Four Questions Guided an Eighth Grader to Victory

By R. Gabriel Villalobos

In a world that often rewards speed over substance and volume over veracity, a new contest is unfolding in this corner of New Mexico. It doesn’t involve athletic feats or academic decathlons. It asks eighth graders to think about how they think.

Rotary District 5520 covers most of New Mexico and a slice of West Texas, where a remarkable essay contest is proving that the next generation is paying closer attention than they get credit for.

The Rotary Four-Way Test is a moral compass drafted in 1932 by businessman Herbert Taylor during the depths of the Great Depression. He scribbled four questions on a piece of paper: Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build goodwill and better friendships? Will it be beneficial to all concerned?

Nearly a century later, 13- and 14-year-olds are struggling with the same questions. This year, one eighth-grader’s voice rose above the rest.

Ekta Bakta, a Rotary member in Carlsbad who helped coordinate this year’s local contest, explained the evolution of the contest. The first year? Zero essays. The second? Three. This year, submissions jumped to over 35.

“It was a tremendous task,” Ekta said. “These kids are exploring ideas that even we, as adults, would benefit from hearing.

“We guide them to think about situations they’ve faced or might face at school, with friends, at home, or even online,” Ekta explained. “We live in a different age now.”

This year, the winner of the competition is eighth-grader Paisley Lucas. Paisley and her dad, Ronnie, sat down to talk with the Local after the announcement about her win. When asked about her victory, Paisley felt compelled to mention a couple of special people she said made it possible.

“My ELA teacher this year, Andrea Ruiz, has definitely taught me a lot,” Paisley remarked. “So has my creative writing teacher, Holly Villareal. She has really furthered my writing.”

When Paisley was asked what she thought about the writing competition’s question, she replied, “It was definitely something really new because I got to be from a different point of view and write about how I can use these four questions in my day-to-day life. It was a really cool experience.”

A local committee of Rotarians reviews every submission. It’s painstaking work, but this year’s bumper crop made the effort worthwhile. What made Paisley’s essay stand out? Ekta said it’s hard to pinpoint just one thing. “The best entries don’t just define the Four-Way Test. They apply it to real dilemmas.”

Conflicts with friends, questions of fairness in the classroom, and the split-second choices that arise online are all scenarios where consequences can feel both invisible and permanent.

Why eighth graders? Why not high school juniors or college students?

“We’re hoping to introduce the Four-Way Test at a younger age, so they’ll really incorporate it into their daily lives,” Ekta said. “Being able to instill those values by eighth grade is amazing.”

There’s a practical reason, too. By high school, students are stretched thin with sports, jobs, college applications, and social pressure. Middle school offers a narrower window, a moment when ethical habits can still take root before the chaos of adolescence fully descends.

Already, Andrea Ruiz, the gifted program teacher who required her students to participate, is sponsoring the Interact Club. Interact is Rotary’s youth service organization, open to ages 12 to 18, with its own motto: “Service above self.” The club has held officer elections for this year.

Ekta expressed gratitude to Paisley’s teacher and the principal at her school. A good idea is kind of useless until the right people seize upon it and put it in its proper place. As a Rotarian, she is eager to see how much the organization can affect society.

Ronnie Lucas, Paisley’s dad, was asked to say something about what it’s been like to raise Paisley and watch her progress to date. He said, “At this time, she’s really starting to grow, and it’s fun to see her take on these challenges. She does really well at them, and we’re really proud of her.”