7th Graders Offer Up Words Of Wisdom Through Student-Made Inspirational Book

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) - Some seventh graders at Sutter Middle School are spending their summer vacation in the classroom in an effort to help others through the Summer of Service program.

Instead of spending their summer outside or on their smart phones and tablets, these kids are instead working on a one-of-a-kind book made by kids for kids.

"We are creating a book like 'Chicken Soup For The Soul' designed to help uplift the spirits of someone who's feeling down," program leaders Monica Ramos said.

It's for kids like 12-year-old Cecilia Vigil-Ruiz, who says spending her summer working on the S.O.S. project has been like therapy to her after suffering two recent losses.

"Two of my grandmas died and it was like a hole in my family, because that's where everything happened," she said.

So joining about two dozen other 7th graders to write a book for kids suffering from depression or other hardships has helped her turn her sadness around.

"I feel happy. I think it's a great way to help kids deal with depression. It certainly helped me," said Vigil-Ruiz.

For the past six weeks, the group has been working on the project six hours a day, four days a week, filling it with mostly handwritten, inspirational quotes, messages, pieces of advice, real stories of depression and personalized artwork.

It's all created by the kids, offering love, support and wisdom well beyond their young years.

Seventh grader Isaac Thomas offered up some of his words of wisdom, reminding us "to keep strong, be mentally tough, don't get down and know you are number one."

The finished book will be presented at a showcase at McClatchy High School on July 25.

About 700 middle school students from eight other schools are participating in the federally funded program.