Many of us may never understand the struggles of those with disabilities. Sure, we all have empathy and compassion, but many of us will never understand the direct and indirect discrimination that disabled individuals face. R. J. Palacio takes a chance to not just make notice of this issue but inspire change in society. Through her work and dedication to the book Wonder, Palacio has been able to shed light on a topic that resonates with many individuals. July is Disability Pride Month, which creates an opportunity to recognize the disabled community not only in their struggles but their accomplishments, too. Wonder acknowledges those with not only craniofacial deformities but also those who have experienced the social, mental, and physical struggles along with their disabilities.
Raquel Jaramillo Palacio was born on July 13, 1963, in New York, NY. Constantly surrounded by books and other short stories, Palacio’s love for literature began early, in fact, she always told her parents that one day she would be a writer. Palacio graduated from the Manhattan School of Art and Design in 1981, where she struggled to decide whether she wanted to pursue a career in illustration or writing. So she took a position at The New York Times Book Review and The Village Voice to pursue both interests. After this, Palacio went on to Henry Holt where she worked as a creative director for 17 years. Palacio has now gone on to write many books and stories, including White Bird and Pony, where she opted to write under the pseudonym R. J. Palacio.
Throughout Palacio’s career, she has written many outstanding novels. Among those is Wonder. Wonder follows the story of August, a ten-year-old boy with facial deformities who attends public school for the first time. In interviews following the publication of Wonder, many have wondered what Palacio’s reason was for wanting to create a story like this. In response to these questions, she told reporters that her motivation to write Wonder was based on a real-life encounter with her own kids. She recalls a time when she took her sons to get ice cream and they sat next to a little girl who had a facial deformity. In response, her 3-year-old son began to cry and Palacio fled not wanting to embarrass her family or the little girl. She often has admitted in interviews “I was really angry at myself for the way I had responded” (Palacio). She elaborates, “What I should have done is simply turned to the little girl and started up a conversation and shown my kids that there was nothing to be afraid of. But instead what I ended up doing was leaving the scene so quickly that I missed that opportunity to turn the situation into a great teaching moment for my kid. And that got me thinking a lot about what it must be like to have to face a world every day that doesn’t know how to face you back” (Palacio).
Alongside the public support she gained from her illustration and writing, Palacio won the Christopher Award for her novel Wonder in 2013 and the Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children’s Book Award in 2014. Wonder was also given multiple astounding awards such as being on the New York Times Best Seller list, being on the Texas Bluebonnet Award master list, a winner of the 2014 Maine Student Book Award, Vermont’s Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children’s Book Award, the 2015 Mark Twain Award, Hawaii’s 2015 Nene Award, the 2015 Young Hoosier Book Award, the Junior Young Reader’s Choice Award in 2015, and in Illinois, it won both the Bluestem and Caudill Awards in 2014.
Palacio hasn’t just stopped at illustration and writing, she has also gone on multiple school visits to talk to children about her impactful book that dives headfirst into hard topics, opening children’s minds to the world around them. Palacio currently lives in North Carolina with her husband and two children.
Ishbel Mitchell will be a senior at The Woodlands College Park High School, in The Woodlands, TX, and will be going into her third year of being a member of the National English Honor Society. Ishbel was President during her junior year, and was re-elected to continue into her senior year, and she hopes to influence her peers in a positive way. Ishbel enjoys reading books and hopes to inspire other people to enjoy reading as well. While maintaining the balance of being President, Ishbel also takes rigorous college level classes, and participates in her school’s marching band, where she is a section leader. Ishbel also participates in volunteering in the community through the National Charity League.
Seb Woodhead is a rising Senior at The Woodlands College Park High School in The Woodlands, TX. Starting his sophomore year, Seb has been a dedicated member of his National English Honor Society (NEHS) chapter. Demonstrating his leadership skills and commitment, he was elected to an officer position for both his Junior and Senior years. Seb enjoys participating in and coordinating community service projects for his chapter. In addition to his involvement with NEHS, Seb challenges himself academically by taking numerous college-level courses through both Advanced Placement (AP) and Dual Credit programs offered at his high school.
Ella Lothringer is a third year member of the National English Honor Society and will be a senior at The Woodlands College Park High School in The Woodlands, TX. Ella has been an active member of The National English Honor Society and was elected as NEHS Secretary her junior and senior year. Ella enjoys helping others foster their love of reading and believes that by being part of this esteemed Honor Society more people can learn to love literature. Outside of National English Honor Society, Ella participates in multiple Advanced Placement and Dual Credit classes, plays snare drum in the high school marching band, is Captain of her percussion section, and volunteers in the county animal shelter.
Elizabeth Dillard is a rising senior from The Woodlands College Park High School in The Woodlands, TX, and a third year member of the National English Honor Society. Elizabeth has been elected for Historian both her junior and senior years. Elizabeth enjoys spreading her love for literature by documenting and highlighting the successes of her school’s NEHS chapter. Outside of the National English Honor Society, Elizabeth participates in many Advanced Placement and Dual Credit classes, participates in her school’s clinical program, is one of four Drum Majors in the band, and is a dedicated flute player during concert season.
Jacob Carlin, from The Woodlands, TX, is a rising senior in his third year with the National English Honor Society. Serving as Treasurer for both his junior and senior years, Jacob leads the society’s fundraising efforts and community outreach. Outside the classroom, he is the president of his school’s DECA chapter, plays the snare drum in the marching band, and partakes in various community service projects to give back and make a difference. Jacob’s diverse interests and dedication to his roles exemplify his well-rounded character and drive to contribute positively to NEHS.
National English Honor Society
The National English Honor Society (NEHS), founded and sponsored by Sigma Tau Delta, is the only international organization exclusively for secondary students and faculty who, in the field of English, merit special note for past and current accomplishments. Individual secondary schools are invited to petition for a local chapter, through which individuals may be inducted into Society membership. Immediate benefits of affiliation include academic recognition, scholarship and award eligibility, and opportunities for networking with others who share enthusiasm for, and accomplishment in, the language arts.
America’s first honor society was founded in 1776, but high school students didn’t have access to such organizations for another 150 years. Since then, high school honor societies have been developed in leadership, drama, journalism, French, Spanish, mathematics, the sciences, and in various other fields, but not in English. In 2005, National English Honor Society launched and has been growing steadily since, becoming one of the largest academic societies for secondary schools.
As Joyce Carol Oates writes, “This is the time for which we have been waiting.” Or perhaps it was Shakespeare: “Now is the winter of our discontent made glorious summer . . .” we celebrate English studies through NEHS.
National English Honor Society accepts submissions to our blog, NEHS Museletter, from all membership categories (students, Advisors, and alumni). If you are interested in submitting a blog, please read the Suggested Guidelines on our website. Email any questions and all submissions to: submit@nehsmuseletter.us.
