winner of the 1999 Tom Pettit Thanksgiving Essay competition.

She will receive a $1,000 grant which the competition organisers will match in a grant to her school.

Six other students -- Haley Giles of BHS, Adorna Hayward, Charjan Palmer, and Amy Stewart of CedarBridge Academy, and John McKenna and Alicia Tucker of Warwick Academy -- will receive a $500 grant as a Commendation of Excellence.

The $5,000 in grants have been made available through the sponsorship of InterOcean ReInsurance.

The winning essay (below) of the 180 entries submitted will be presented at the Thanksgiving Service to be held today at St. Theresa's Cathedral at 11 a.m.

The six commendation awards will be published on Saturday's Young Observer Page.

The competition was established in 1997 to memorialise the Emmy Award winning American television journalist who spent his retirement in Bermuda.

*** Why I am Thankful "A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue, but the parent of all other virtues,'' wrote Cicero, from De Amicitia. As you know, many people are thankful for numerous blessings. Some are thankful for friends and family, while others are thankful for their God. Thankful is defined in the Collins School Dictionary as being happy, grateful and relieved that something has happened.

Many people take being thankful for granted; I believed being thankful and having opportunities are blessings from God.

With the life that was given, I am thankful for an incredible number of blessings. In my life I have overcome many obstacles physically, mentally and mainly socially, but no matter what the size of the problem, my parents are always supportive of me. My mother and father have given me hope, pride, a greater self-esteem and unlimited affection. I know most people say they are thankful for their parents, but I believe that God put us together for a specific and special reason.

Being blessed with this unconditional love, I can wake up every morning knowing that no matter what choice I make in life, whether it be absurd or appropriate, they will love me with all their hearts. When I take time to think about and be thankful for their affection, I smile because I truly know that it is a blessing to have parents who are always supportive of you. I remember when I had to go to Canada because of problem I was having with my knees; I was apprehensive and frightened. Even though we were in the hospital most of the time, my mom made the trip fun by taking me to places which I enjoyed. Whenever I feel sorrowful, I can look back on times like these and smile because I know that I am loved and will always be loved.

Besides my parents showing support, my brother has always been there for me.

Although many siblings do not agree with each other and are antagonistic towards one another, I believe that there is no one in the world that I am closer to than my brother. He treats me with enormous respect and always listens to me when I have a problem and he always has the best advice. No matter if the problems are petty or significant, he always knows what to say.

I am constantly appreciative of what he does for me and I am thankful that I have been blessed with such people who will love me no matter what circumstance.

Music also plays a major part in my life. Music is all around you and it can express your deepest emotions in such a soulful way that it can leave you breathless. From a classical Beethoven piece to the tapping of your feet, music is all around you. When you embrace the melodies of the world, you are emotionally inspired and can't live without them. I play instruments and dance, so I am blessed with talents that use music. Music caresses the soul in such a way that it is suddenly blessed, and you look at life in a new incredible direction. It has changed my life for the best, and I am thankful for every day that I am able to use music.

For all these special and unique reasons. I am thankful every day. Whether it be the way my mother looks at me, how my father shows affection, what my brother says to me or how music inspires me, I am thankful each and every day and I know that I am blessed to be given such an incredible life of happiness; where I can love and be loved. There is only one who I can thank for these privileges, God. Thank you! BY BHS STUDENT COURTNEY DILL