Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley this week met with a trio of fifth-graders after they wrote award-winning essays as part of their school’s Peace Night writing competition.

Earlier this year, the John Marshall Elementary School challenged its fifth grade class to write an original essay, poem, or song to explain how they would bring peace to the world. The assignment asked students to identify their dream careers and explain how they could improve their communities and promote peace through their goals. The school invited members of Conley’s office and local community groups to choose the top three essays from 100 entries.

On June 1, after a guided tour of Roxbury District Court, Conley took winners Kashaye Everette-Charles, Leidineice Pereira, and Alysha Baez to lunch at The Olive Garden in Dorchester’s South Bay Shopping Center.

“These were the faces of Boston’s youth,” Conley said. “They were bright, committed, and ready to change their world for the better. It was an uplifting meeting, but at the same time very poignant – two children not much older than them had been slain within the past month, and they’re as aware of that fact as anyone.”

After the sumptuous repast, Olive Garden manager Adan Rosado refused payment for the meal. Rosado and The Olive Garden have been stalwart supporters of youth anti-violence programs, providing food and drinks at no cost to participants of Conley’s annual Soccer for Peace and Basketball for Peace tournaments.

Children’s Hospital Neighborhood Partnerships also donated savings bonds for the top three essay winners in denominations of $500 for first place, $250 for second place, and $100 for third place.

Everette-Charles was awarded first place for her essay about her to dream to become an attorney.

“As a lawyer, I will promote peace by helping those who are being accused of false accusations,” she wrote. “There are so many people I would like to help. Also, when I am a lawyer, I will offer free service to poor people or those receiving low income in their household. I plan to serve my city of Boston as a lawyer, because I love it.”

In addition to the district court tour and luncheon, Everette-Charles also had the opportunity to read her first-place essay at the May 6 Peace Night celebration.

Pereira, who took second place, wrote of her dream to be a pediatrician.

“Being a pediatrician is very important because they have to make sure their patients are treated the right way. Also, they have to provide everything their patients need to be healthy,” she wrote. “In order to fulfill my dreams, I will need people to believe in me and also to support me on the way. My plans for college and medical school are to study hard, and to try to get good grades.”

Third-place winner Baez wrote about wanting to help animals.

“My peace is to be a veterinarian,” she wrote. “This will help the world because then there won’t be any sick animals giving diseases to people and making the world sick. When I grow up I want to be a veterinarian because I love and adore animals and want to care and help them.”

“Take a look at these essays,” Conley said. “Each one describes helping others more vulnerable than themselves. That’s the kind of altruism that makes great leaders. With Kashaye, Leidineice, and Alysha in our midst, I have a lot of confidence in today’s young people.”