CBA’s 2026 Law Day Contest

The Rule of Law and the American Dream

July 2026

For its fourth annual Law Day Contest, the CBA invited students from across Colorado to participate in a civics lesson focused on the rule of law and the American Dream. Elementary school students submitted original artwork, and middle- and high-school students submitted essays. The CBA congratulates Amber McCaffrey, Xinyi He, and Eflin S. Odzil for their winning entries.

Elementary School Art Contest

Winner: Amber McCaffrey, 5th Grade, Hi-Plains Elementary School, Vona.

The task: Make an original piece of art that shows you as a superhero doing your dream job.

Amber’s winning artwork is pictured below.

Middle School Essay Contest

Winner: Xinyi He, 6th Grade, Delta Middle School.

The task: The American Dream is built on the idea that everyone should have an equal opportunity to pursue their goals. What are your dreams for the future? What do you hope to do or become? Write about your dreams and describe how laws and rights—like equality, education, or freedom—help you and others have the chance to make those dreams come true.

Xinyi’s winning essay is printed below.

Education, Equality, and Freedom

“I say to you today, my friends, though, even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American Dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up, live out the true meaning of its creed: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.” This speech, “I Have a Dream,” was spoken by Martin Luther King Jr. at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC.

I have a dream that when I grow up I can become a lawyer and ensure equality to everyone and everything in this world. Although it seems simple, not everything is as easy as we think and want something to be. When growing up I always thought that once I finished school I could go on and become a lawyer. But now growing up, I realize that when things sound simple and easy, there will be many hardships and difficulties that can only be seen when we go down that path. With dedication, even the hardest dreams will come true, so they won’t be dreams, they’ll be reality. I know that there will be inequality no matter how equal a place claims to be, there’ll be hardships no matter how easy something sounds to accomplish, and most of all, there will be losses. The American Dream is what propels everyone forward, the one piece that ensures everyone everywhere gets an equal chance to pursue their dreams.

Education allows everyone to have a chance to pursue their dreams and is an important factor in the American Dream. The role of a lawyer is not simple but rather complicated and only achievable with the right education. Education is the foundation and basis of many things in our world such as technology, jobs, and many other things. With education, my dream of becoming a lawyer will be more simplistic and with less hardships. I want to become a lawyer, so I will need an education to get into a college so I can begin the process of learning and becoming a lawyer. If I had no education, no college would want me because who would want to teach and nurture someone into a lawyer if they have no education? The American Dream helps us solve the problem of education by granting everyone an equal amount of education. Education is an important part of my life, and the American Dream allows everyone to have the chance to learn and have the chance to get the education that they need in order to be successful and achieve their dreams. This allows me to get the education that I need so in the future I can have an opportunity to do what I want and to chase my dream.

Equality. When I think of equality I think of people being treated equally. Although that is not true everywhere, the American Dream tries to and makes the world full with equality so even if it is sometimes a fleeting moment in where we experience it we need to grasp it and never let go. Equality allows everyone who has dreams and wants them to come true to have the equal opportunity to make dreams into reality, although many places don’t have equality granted to them easily. Equality in my adolescent and adult life is important in many unexpected ways. In becoming a lawyer, I need equality so I can have the same equal opportunity as other people to pursue my dreams and get the right education in the present. The job that I want to be able to have in the future is also mostly about equality because I want to defend the right side so that no inequality or injustice is granted. Equality helps me to become a lawyer because it allows me to have the equal opportunity as other people to go to school to get an education. Equality allows everyone to have the equal chance or opportunity at something that they want to pursue in the future or even in the present. Equality can chase back to many factors that help make my dream come true. Equality allows me to become a lawyer because it grants me access to the privileges that I need to have so people won’t discriminate against me or other people for who or what they are.

Freedom. Freedom is having the privilege of being able to do what you want that is right without anybody in the way stopping you because of who you are or what you choose to be. Freedom in the American Dream allows me to be able to choose the job that I want to pursue in the future when I grow older. If I become a lawyer, freedom will allow me to have the freedom of speech because when I represent someone then I will be able to share my thoughts and defend the side that I believe to be right without fear. Freedom also allows me to not be afraid of doing something that is right. Freedom allows me to stand up for the side that I believe to be right as a lawyer and in the present without feeling scared to. Overall, freedom plays a huge role in me being able to become a lawyer and the American Dream ensures that everyone, including me, is able to experience freedom.

In the end, all these factors of the American Dream, education, equality, and freedom, help me become who I want to be in the future, which is a lawyer. “The American Dream is that any man or woman, despite of his or her background, can change their circumstances and rise as high as they are willing to work.” This quote by Fabrizio Moreira demonstrates the importance of the American Dream and how it helps us, but we can’t only rely on it as our future because who shapes our futures is ourselves and our freewill of choice. I want to leave off on a high note that no matter who we are and where we come from, as said in the quote, we can work hard and appreciate the help that we get along the way such as the American Dream that includes education, equality, and freedom. We can become who we want to be and achieve our dreams. Just like Martin Luther King Jr. he had a wish and he made it come true even when he faced racial discrimination. The American Dream helps us and makes our lives simpler so we don’t face injustice and unfairness. In the end, the American Dream helps me achieve my dream of becoming a lawyer in the future.

High School Essay Contest

Winner: Eflin S. Odzil, 12th Grade, Dolores Secondary School.

The task: The American Dream is built on the idea that everyone should have an equal opportunity to pursue their goals. Reflect on your own goals for the future-what you hope to achieve—and discuss how the rule of law supports your ability to pursue those goals. Consider what challenges might arise if these protections did not exist.

Eflin’s winning essay is printed below.

No Dream Without Justice

The American Dream is often described in one simple sentence: if you work hard, you will succeed. It sounds inspiring and fair. It suggests that effort alone determines success and that everyone begins at the same starting line. However, when we look more closely, we realize that this idea is incomplete. No matter how determined or hardworking a person may be, if the system they live in is not fair—if opportunities are not equally available—success does not truly belong to everyone. At this point, the rule of law becomes essential. The rule of law means that everyone is equal before the law and that individual rights are protected by it.1 Without this structure, the American Dream would remain only an idea. With justice, however, that idea has the chance to become reality.2

My dreams for the future are shaped by this understanding of justice. I want to become a computer engineer and develop an artificial intelligence system that can support mathematics education. My goal is to make mathematics more understandable and accessible. For me, mathematics has never been just another school subject; it has been a way of thinking. It has taught me patience, discipline, and how to approach problems logically. When I work on a math problem, I am not simply searching for an answer; I am training my mind to think clearly and carefully.3

Many people see mathematics as complicated, and I understand why. At first glance, equations and formulas can look overwhelming. But I see something different: I see order. Even when a problem appears confusing, if you follow the right steps and remain consistent, the solution reveals itself. This has taught me an important lesson about life. Things that seem impossible at first can become manageable when approached step by step. Mathematics has become not only an academic interest but also a framework for understanding challenges.

During middle school, one of my teachers noticed that my approach to mathematics was different. Instead of memorizing formulas, I wanted to understand where they came from and why they worked. Using a formula without understanding its logic felt incomplete. When my teacher recognized this curiosity and encouraged me, it became a turning point. Sometimes it does not take dramatic moments to change a student’s path. Sometimes, simply being seen is enough. After that encouragement, I began to believe in myself more strongly and to take my goals seriously.

In high school, I continued to challenge myself by participating in science and technology competitions. Through projects in TEKNOFEST and TÜBİTAK competitions, I gained more than technical knowledge. I learned responsibility, teamwork, and how to transform abstract ideas into practical results. Every project required patience. Success rarely came immediately; there were moments of trial and error, frustration, and even failure. Yet those moments strengthened my determination. They taught me that persistence is just as important as talent.

My journey was not without obstacles. There were times when I felt unheard while trying to express my ideas. Sometimes people react not only to the idea itself but to the person presenting it. Experiencing this was difficult, and it made me question myself. Over time, however, I realized that being underestimated can either become an obstacle or a source of strength. I chose to turn it into motivation. Instead of arguing, I focused on improving my work. I came to believe that success is the clearest response anyone can give.

The artificial intelligence system I hope to develop is shaped by these experiences. I want to design a platform that adapts to each learner’s level and explains mathematics step by step. Rather than simply presenting formulas, it would show where they come from and how they function. Visual tools and interactive explanations would make abstract ideas more concrete. A conversational feature would allow students to ask questions freely and receive personalized guidance.4

The most important goal of this system would not be to give correct answers, but to teach mathematical thinking. Real learning happens when students understand how to reach a solution, not when they are simply told what it is. When students understand reasoning, they gain confidence. They stop fearing mistakes and begin to see challenges as opportunities to think. I believe that developing this mindset can transform not only academic performance but also the way individuals approach problems in life.

Yet individual dreams cannot become reality through personal effort alone. The rule of law plays a crucial role in making opportunity real. Because the right to education is protected by law, students can imagine futures shaped by their abilities rather than their circumstances.5 Laws that prevent discrimination and promote equal opportunity ensure that access to education and growth is not limited to a privileged few. Without such protections, talent and effort would not be enough.

Freedom of expression is another essential part of the rule of law. Innovation requires the freedom to question, to challenge, and to propose new ideas. Scientific and technological progress depends on open dialogue and independent thought. If people were afraid to express their ideas, development would slow. My dream of working in artificial intelligence depends not only on my skills but also on living in an environment where ideas are protected rather than silenced.6

In a society without the rule of law, opportunities would not be distributed fairly. Education might become accessible only to certain groups, and power rather than merit could determine success. In such a world, the American Dream would lose its meaning. Its essence is equal opportunity—a fair starting point from which individuals can shape their futures. Justice is what makes that journey possible.7

My goal is not only personal achievement. A society that understands mathematics more deeply becomes stronger and more innovative. Mathematical thinking builds analytical skills and strengthens problem-solving abilities that are essential in engineering, medicine, economics, and daily life. Fear of mathematics often limits potential, while understanding it builds confidence. If more people developed logical and critical thinking skills, society would become more productive and creative.

Ultimately, the American Dream stands not only on ambition but on justice. Hard work is meaningful only in a system that fairly rewards effort. The rule of law protects individual rights and guarantees equal opportunity. My dream of becoming a computer engineer and developing artificial intelligence is possible because I trust in a system where fairness matters.8

For me, success is not merely a personal achievement. It is proof that equal opportunity exists. It shows that when laws protect rights and ensure fairness, young people can transform their dreams into reality.

Where there is justice, there is hope. And where there is hope, dreams become possible under the steady light of the rule of law.

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