Grab Bag Writing Challenge - June 2016
- accomplish - ceremony - dare - effort - graduate - highlight - hope - journey - master - opportunity - pursue - reward - sharp - strive - talent -
by Arianna Stonewater
As many of our friends and family members prepare to graduate, we normally take time to highlight their accomplishments throughout the previous school year. Everyone gets ready to celebrate their freedom (or at least their break from responsibility before starting a new career or working on a master’s degree) and works hard on those last speeches. We dress in our sharpest outfits, ready for long nights of celebrating loved ones and their classmates. Once the ceremonies start, we hear of the time and effort spent on homework, after school jobs and extra-curricular activities. Teachers tell us of the journey students undertook in chasing their diplomas, striving to do their best work. Coaches speak to us about the talent of their players and how it improved over the past year to help win that championship. Finally, the valedictorians try to express the hopes and dreams they fostered and achieved over the past year, and the opportunities available now that they are educated. They leave their classmates with one final dare, to be the best they can be in whatever they pursue. The principal congratulates all the students, and we watch as our students and their friends are rewarded with their diplomas. With one last burst of energy, they toss their caps into the air and head out. They spend the next few weeks attending parties in each other’s honor, soaking up the summer sun before the next step in their lives begins. As these precious times go by, don’t forget to reflect on your part in their successes, and remember its never too late for YOU to start something new!
As many of our friends and family members prepare to graduate, we normally take time to highlight their accomplishments throughout the previous school year. Everyone gets ready to celebrate their freedom (or at least their break from responsibility before starting a new career or working on a master’s degree) and works hard on those last speeches. We dress in our sharpest outfits, ready for long nights of celebrating loved ones and their classmates. Once the ceremonies start, we hear of the time and effort spent on homework, after school jobs and extra-curricular activities. Teachers tell us of the journey students undertook in chasing their diplomas, striving to do their best work. Coaches speak to us about the talent of their players and how it improved over the past year to help win that championship. Finally, the valedictorians try to express the hopes and dreams they fostered and achieved over the past year, and the opportunities available now that they are educated. They leave their classmates with one final dare, to be the best they can be in whatever they pursue. The principal congratulates all the students, and we watch as our students and their friends are rewarded with their diplomas. With one last burst of energy, they toss their caps into the air and head out. They spend the next few weeks attending parties in each other’s honor, soaking up the summer sun before the next step in their lives begins. As these precious times go by, don’t forget to reflect on your part in their successes, and remember its never too late for YOU to start something new!
by Ashley Margaret
As the beginning of my seventh and final year of my time at Hogwarts draws nearer, I find myself reminiscing about the past six years. I would have never dared to believe how much my life has changed because of this school. I have been given so many opportunities to do things I have never done before and meet people I never would have otherwise.
Over the past six years I have accomplished so much, both inside and outside the classroom. The classes have certainly required quite a bit of effort, but it has been rewarding as I believe I have become sharper of mind and a master of many subjects. Perhaps one day these classes will come in handy for the field I pursue.
One of the highlights of my time at Hogwarts has been Quidditch. I am not the most talented player on the pitch, but I certainly do have fun every time I push off the ground and fly into the air. Perhaps the best thing about Quidditch is the friendships that have formed as a result. I cherish the friends I have made and I hope these friendships last a lifetime.
My experiences at Hogwarts and the people I have met have always pushed me as I strive to be the very best person I can be. As my graduation ceremony approaches, I realize I am not sure what my plans are for after I graduate, but I certainly know that it has been quite the journey.
As the beginning of my seventh and final year of my time at Hogwarts draws nearer, I find myself reminiscing about the past six years. I would have never dared to believe how much my life has changed because of this school. I have been given so many opportunities to do things I have never done before and meet people I never would have otherwise.
Over the past six years I have accomplished so much, both inside and outside the classroom. The classes have certainly required quite a bit of effort, but it has been rewarding as I believe I have become sharper of mind and a master of many subjects. Perhaps one day these classes will come in handy for the field I pursue.
One of the highlights of my time at Hogwarts has been Quidditch. I am not the most talented player on the pitch, but I certainly do have fun every time I push off the ground and fly into the air. Perhaps the best thing about Quidditch is the friendships that have formed as a result. I cherish the friends I have made and I hope these friendships last a lifetime.
My experiences at Hogwarts and the people I have met have always pushed me as I strive to be the very best person I can be. As my graduation ceremony approaches, I realize I am not sure what my plans are for after I graduate, but I certainly know that it has been quite the journey.
by February Fortescue
The day had finally arrived! Six years previously, Danica had announced her hopes of pursuing a Master of Library Science degree, and today her efforts were finally being rewarded.
Danica had always loved to read and had shown a talent for writing early on. For her, the happiest place in the world was not the inside of an amusement park, but inside a library, with its peace and quiet, the smell of books, and all that knowledge just waiting to be discovered. Danica could not possibly imagine anyone daring to travel on a journey through life without a book as a roadmap. After her graduation from high school, she decided that a career as a Librarian would be the perfect opportunity for her to devote her life to books and the printed word, and to strive to help others see how much more focused and sharp the road ahead could be with a book as a roadmap.
The biggest battle was Danica's mother, Orpah. Orpah was convinced that books were becoming a thing of the past and that no-one would be reading them anymore. She believed most people, if not all people, would be using electronic media, and thus when Danica graduated and found herself strapped with all of those college loans to pay back, she would be unable to find employment. Orpah had warned her daughter on several occasions and often teasingly told her to practice saying, “Would you like fries with that?” But Danica stood firm in her resolve.
Towards the end of Danica's six years of college, she began putting in applications. Two months before graduation, she had an interview at a university with a gorgeous library. The library's Director was wanting to hire a recent college graduate for the university's Reference Department. Danica believed this position would be an excellent fit for her, and she did a wonderful job at the interview. Three days before the graduation ceremony, Danica received a phone call, telling her she was the university's new Reference Department Librarian, Master's Pending.
One of the biggest highlights of Danica's life was just before her graduation ceremony. Not only did her belief in herself pay off and she accomplished her goal to get her degree, but she got to smile at her mother and tell her that her new job working in a library would begin on the Monday!
The day had finally arrived! Six years previously, Danica had announced her hopes of pursuing a Master of Library Science degree, and today her efforts were finally being rewarded.
Danica had always loved to read and had shown a talent for writing early on. For her, the happiest place in the world was not the inside of an amusement park, but inside a library, with its peace and quiet, the smell of books, and all that knowledge just waiting to be discovered. Danica could not possibly imagine anyone daring to travel on a journey through life without a book as a roadmap. After her graduation from high school, she decided that a career as a Librarian would be the perfect opportunity for her to devote her life to books and the printed word, and to strive to help others see how much more focused and sharp the road ahead could be with a book as a roadmap.
The biggest battle was Danica's mother, Orpah. Orpah was convinced that books were becoming a thing of the past and that no-one would be reading them anymore. She believed most people, if not all people, would be using electronic media, and thus when Danica graduated and found herself strapped with all of those college loans to pay back, she would be unable to find employment. Orpah had warned her daughter on several occasions and often teasingly told her to practice saying, “Would you like fries with that?” But Danica stood firm in her resolve.
Towards the end of Danica's six years of college, she began putting in applications. Two months before graduation, she had an interview at a university with a gorgeous library. The library's Director was wanting to hire a recent college graduate for the university's Reference Department. Danica believed this position would be an excellent fit for her, and she did a wonderful job at the interview. Three days before the graduation ceremony, Danica received a phone call, telling her she was the university's new Reference Department Librarian, Master's Pending.
One of the biggest highlights of Danica's life was just before her graduation ceremony. Not only did her belief in herself pay off and she accomplished her goal to get her degree, but she got to smile at her mother and tell her that her new job working in a library would begin on the Monday!
by Ivelisse Ada
Allyson and Ivelisse were determined. Their graduation ceremony was nearly upon them. Over the past couple of months, they had put a lot of effort into their plan, and now the time was here. The time to graduate and move on to another year – a year without OWLs looming over their heads. In commemoration of their accomplishments, they had planned out an elaborate end-of-year prank. It was a bit daring and a little unlike them, but they wanted to let off steam after a year of hard work. A little bit of leniency in their usual good behaviour seemed like a fitting reward.
They started the day of their prank off with high hopes. The prank involved a lot of balloons, and the weather was perfect for it. “Stay sharp,” Allyson reminded Ivelisse. “We only have a small window of time to pull this off.” Ivelisse nodded, and with simultaneous winks to each other, they went off in separate directions down the corridor.
Allyson was the mastermind of the plan. She had drawn up all the charts and directions, figured out all the details, and followed the professors to understand their schedules. Ivelisse was very skilled with charms – she was the talent. At exactly 12 o’clock, the perfect opportunity for their prank had arrived. Ivelisse and Allyson quickly walked down separate hallways, carrying armfuls and bags filled with balloons and confetti. Once outside, Allyson stuffed the confetti in the balloons while Ivelisse magically filled them with air. All at once, they let the balloons go.
Dozens of balloons filled the air around the castle. In moments, the Castle was surrounded with balloons. Students gathered around the windows to watch while professors tried to get them to sit back down and pay attention. Then, all at the same time, the balloons popped, and confetti rained down on the castle! Some students were unable to see anything out the window but confetti! Knowing the professors would be right on their heels, Ivelisse and Allyson sprinted towards the lake. The professors couldn’t pursue them in the water!
They dove into the lake and started swimming. Of course, neither of the girls were excellent swimmers – at least not enough to cross the lake! But they had been on a second journey the past few months; a journey to befriend the Giant Squid. And it appeared to have paid off, because the Giant Squid picked up Ivelisse and Allyson and started taking them across the lake. Ivelisse laughed. “That was fun, but we should strive for better next year!” Allyson nodded. “Way ahead of you – I’ve already started working on the plans.” The girls smiled; this had definitely been the highlight of their year.
Allyson and Ivelisse were determined. Their graduation ceremony was nearly upon them. Over the past couple of months, they had put a lot of effort into their plan, and now the time was here. The time to graduate and move on to another year – a year without OWLs looming over their heads. In commemoration of their accomplishments, they had planned out an elaborate end-of-year prank. It was a bit daring and a little unlike them, but they wanted to let off steam after a year of hard work. A little bit of leniency in their usual good behaviour seemed like a fitting reward.
They started the day of their prank off with high hopes. The prank involved a lot of balloons, and the weather was perfect for it. “Stay sharp,” Allyson reminded Ivelisse. “We only have a small window of time to pull this off.” Ivelisse nodded, and with simultaneous winks to each other, they went off in separate directions down the corridor.
Allyson was the mastermind of the plan. She had drawn up all the charts and directions, figured out all the details, and followed the professors to understand their schedules. Ivelisse was very skilled with charms – she was the talent. At exactly 12 o’clock, the perfect opportunity for their prank had arrived. Ivelisse and Allyson quickly walked down separate hallways, carrying armfuls and bags filled with balloons and confetti. Once outside, Allyson stuffed the confetti in the balloons while Ivelisse magically filled them with air. All at once, they let the balloons go.
Dozens of balloons filled the air around the castle. In moments, the Castle was surrounded with balloons. Students gathered around the windows to watch while professors tried to get them to sit back down and pay attention. Then, all at the same time, the balloons popped, and confetti rained down on the castle! Some students were unable to see anything out the window but confetti! Knowing the professors would be right on their heels, Ivelisse and Allyson sprinted towards the lake. The professors couldn’t pursue them in the water!
They dove into the lake and started swimming. Of course, neither of the girls were excellent swimmers – at least not enough to cross the lake! But they had been on a second journey the past few months; a journey to befriend the Giant Squid. And it appeared to have paid off, because the Giant Squid picked up Ivelisse and Allyson and started taking them across the lake. Ivelisse laughed. “That was fun, but we should strive for better next year!” Allyson nodded. “Way ahead of you – I’ve already started working on the plans.” The girls smiled; this had definitely been the highlight of their year.