Another great 6th grade essay! Gabi makes writing seem easy and she describes her love for Shakespeare. Keep up the good work Gabi, I look forward to your essay next year! Kylie
Gabi S
Ecker Hill International Middle School
Sixth Grade
What If There Was Time Travel?
What if there really was time travel? What would you do with that privilege?
Beep, ding, whoosh. Back to the year of 1592!
I opened the big, heavy doors of the library and took a step in. It was enormous.
All I could see was rows and rows of books, from fantasy, to science, to everything. I
could smell the pages of the millions and millions of fabulous books. It was an earthy
smell, more so then libraries today. I could hear the librarians, old and brittle, whispering to be please be quite. I wandered down the shelfs looking at the spines of the books, some brand new, some old. As I was running my fingers along the spines of the books one of them caught me off guard. It had a leather cover with the words “Romeo and Juliet” written in gold on the front cover...
If I could meet anyone in the world, from any country, during any time period, it
would be the extraordinary, outstanding, William Shakespeare. I want to meet him
because he wrote stunning books, romantic poems, and magnificent playwrights that blew people away! I think it would be really cool to hear him read some of his awesome books or poems in modern english. He would have so much emotion - fear, joy, love, hate, or horror in his voice! It would be so delighting! I would really like for him to teach me some of his secrets in writing. I think that he could be an inspiration
to my own writing. He would inspire me to write more often. I would also ask him how
he came up with ideas, got past writing blocks and made his way up to being famous!
William Shakespeare is the person I would meet if I could meet anyone, from any time,
anywhere!
I would want Shakespeare to feel comfortable, so I would absolutely insist that we
meet at a library in Warwickshire. The reason for it being in Warwickshire, is because he was born there and I think that most every body loves and enjoys their home town. I
think that the library would be appropriate because he wrote books and loved to read! He would feel comfortable because now a days libraries are full of his work and he loved to be in quite places.
The first question I would ask William Shakespeare would be, “Was the role of
Juliet based on someone in your love life?” I would ask that question because I have
always loved the story “Romeo and Juliet”! I have always wondered what it would feel
like to be Juliet. I would also ask him to explain exactly how he pictured the amazing,
comely, Juliet, and the buff, handsome, Romeo. Since Romeo and Juliet were madly in
love, I have always wondered if Shakespeare himself, ever felt love of that kind. If he
had, then I would insist on listening to him tell about that story of his past. It would be so romantic! That’s what I would ask him if I got to magically travel back into history, and meet the one and only William Shakespeare!
I would like William Shakespeare to know how his work changed history. I would tell him that today we still use a quite a few of the outstanding words he added to the
language, and we, very much appreciate them. I would also tell him that he is an
unmatched figure when it comes to writing breathtaking masterpieces! Most everyone in
North America knows of his prose. One of his most famous pieces, “Romeo and Juliet,”
have inspired writers of today for their own books, poems, and playwrights. They all look up to him as a fellow writer. In that library in Warwickshire, I would tell Shakespeare how he changed the future.
Going back in time to visit the superb, magnificent, William Shakespeare, I would
ask him some questions about writing, about some of his masterpieces, ask questions to
learn more about his life, and to be sure he knew of his impact.
...Then I saw him, William Shakespeare the writer of the book I had in my hand -
“Romeo and Juliet”! I was so excited, I had to hold my breath so I wouldn’t scream my
heart out! Is it really him? I don’t know. I think it is. I’m going to go up and talk to him, right now. Ready, set, go!
Friday, May 20, 2011
8th Grade, 5th Place (Tie) - Captain Kirk
So, this may be my favorite essay I have EVER received. I have read Ben's essay about Captain Kirk ten times, and each time I have to remind myself that Captain Kirk is NOT a real person, however Ben has done an amazing job of making him seem real! This essay is well-written and passionate! Great job!
Benjamin D
Dixon Middle
8th
If I could meet anyone in the world, from any country, during any time period, it would be James T. Kirk. I want to meet James Kirk because he saved earth and was a great captain. He was the most famous and most honored star fleet captain ever and he was the captain of the Enterprise. He was also the youngest captain ever. He was promoted to admiral 15 years after he graduated from the star fleet academy.
During his career he did many important things. He stopped V’ger, an unidentified energy field, from destroying earth in 2273 by helping it to evolve so it could understand other concepts it couldn’t understand before. In 2286 he saved the world from a probe that had come to earth and started transmit frequencies that were destroying earth. He went back in time to get whales to communicate with the probe. He saved earth yet another time when Nero a Romulan from the future comes to destroy the federation. He saved three races during his career. He went on many other journeys during his career.
He had good personality traits. He was fast thinking and loyal. He had high moral standards. He inspired loyalty in people for example when he set out to save Spock his crew risked their jobs to help him steal the enterprise. He was very patriotic, he had the preamble of the constitution memorized and his childhood hero was Abraham Lincoln.
I would want captain Kirk to feel comfortable so I would insist that we meet on the Enterprise. I would meet him there because he was the captain of it for a long time. He was promoted to be the captain on it in 2264 and he served missions on the Enterprise for the rest of his life. He spent a lot of his life on board the Enterprise.
The first question I would as Captain Kirk would be “What is it like to interact with other life forms?” because he handles relations with other life forms a lot. He was also a close friend with Spock. It would be really cool to interact with aliens. It would be interesting to learn about their cultures and languages. I would really like to know what aliens cultures are like, to see if cultures are similar or what makes them different. For instance are they affected by what their home planet is like or what type of animals are on their planet. Interacting with aliens would really be cool because it would show you how many different types of cultures there are.
When I met with him I would ask to see if he could take me to see the planet Vulcan because it would be cool to see another planet. I would also want him to teach me how to to fly space ships because knowing how to control something that advanced would help me become an astronaut. I would also have him teach me the basics on their machines to help me become a aerospace engineer (if I am not a astronaut). After a few days studying with Kirk I could lead the field of quantum physics.
I would like Captain Kirk to know that he saved earth more than five times. If he hadn’t humans would be close to extinct. This affects me because if he didn’t save the world most of the world’s creations in art, history, and science would be destroyed, all of the achievements of human kind would be forgotten eventually.
If I could meet Captain Kirk I would try to get Spock to come with Kirk. It would be interesting to meet Spock because he is part Vulcan. Meeting a Vulcan would be interesting because their life style is so much different from ours. The Vulcans are a lot more advanced. Volcans are very intelligent so it would be fascinating to see what Spock knew. It would also be cool because Spock accompanied Kirk on most of his voyages.
I would want Spock to be comfortable so I would insist we meet on the planet Vulcan because it is where he grew up. He would be most comfortable because he knows Vulcan. Another place we could meet is on the Enterprise because he served on her for a long time. He was with Captain Kirk for most of his missions so he would be comfortable there.
The first thing I would ask Spock would be “what is it like to be part Vulcan and part human?” because that would be weird to be part Vulcan and part human. It would be interesting to be Vulcan and human because Vulcans aren’t allowed to show emotion but humans show emotion on purpose. I would think being both Vulcan and human would be hard. I would a want to know how/if he mixed human and Vulcan cultures.
Spock and Kirk make a perfect team of reasoning and passion. Kirk is pro-active and impulsive. Quick to way risk without come. Spock is completely logical and valances that balances that impulsivity. Together they can accomplish great things.
Benjamin D
Dixon Middle
8th
If I could meet anyone in the world, from any country, during any time period, it would be James T. Kirk. I want to meet James Kirk because he saved earth and was a great captain. He was the most famous and most honored star fleet captain ever and he was the captain of the Enterprise. He was also the youngest captain ever. He was promoted to admiral 15 years after he graduated from the star fleet academy.
During his career he did many important things. He stopped V’ger, an unidentified energy field, from destroying earth in 2273 by helping it to evolve so it could understand other concepts it couldn’t understand before. In 2286 he saved the world from a probe that had come to earth and started transmit frequencies that were destroying earth. He went back in time to get whales to communicate with the probe. He saved earth yet another time when Nero a Romulan from the future comes to destroy the federation. He saved three races during his career. He went on many other journeys during his career.
He had good personality traits. He was fast thinking and loyal. He had high moral standards. He inspired loyalty in people for example when he set out to save Spock his crew risked their jobs to help him steal the enterprise. He was very patriotic, he had the preamble of the constitution memorized and his childhood hero was Abraham Lincoln.
I would want captain Kirk to feel comfortable so I would insist that we meet on the Enterprise. I would meet him there because he was the captain of it for a long time. He was promoted to be the captain on it in 2264 and he served missions on the Enterprise for the rest of his life. He spent a lot of his life on board the Enterprise.
The first question I would as Captain Kirk would be “What is it like to interact with other life forms?” because he handles relations with other life forms a lot. He was also a close friend with Spock. It would be really cool to interact with aliens. It would be interesting to learn about their cultures and languages. I would really like to know what aliens cultures are like, to see if cultures are similar or what makes them different. For instance are they affected by what their home planet is like or what type of animals are on their planet. Interacting with aliens would really be cool because it would show you how many different types of cultures there are.
When I met with him I would ask to see if he could take me to see the planet Vulcan because it would be cool to see another planet. I would also want him to teach me how to to fly space ships because knowing how to control something that advanced would help me become an astronaut. I would also have him teach me the basics on their machines to help me become a aerospace engineer (if I am not a astronaut). After a few days studying with Kirk I could lead the field of quantum physics.
I would like Captain Kirk to know that he saved earth more than five times. If he hadn’t humans would be close to extinct. This affects me because if he didn’t save the world most of the world’s creations in art, history, and science would be destroyed, all of the achievements of human kind would be forgotten eventually.
If I could meet Captain Kirk I would try to get Spock to come with Kirk. It would be interesting to meet Spock because he is part Vulcan. Meeting a Vulcan would be interesting because their life style is so much different from ours. The Vulcans are a lot more advanced. Volcans are very intelligent so it would be fascinating to see what Spock knew. It would also be cool because Spock accompanied Kirk on most of his voyages.
I would want Spock to be comfortable so I would insist we meet on the planet Vulcan because it is where he grew up. He would be most comfortable because he knows Vulcan. Another place we could meet is on the Enterprise because he served on her for a long time. He was with Captain Kirk for most of his missions so he would be comfortable there.
The first thing I would ask Spock would be “what is it like to be part Vulcan and part human?” because that would be weird to be part Vulcan and part human. It would be interesting to be Vulcan and human because Vulcans aren’t allowed to show emotion but humans show emotion on purpose. I would think being both Vulcan and human would be hard. I would a want to know how/if he mixed human and Vulcan cultures.
Spock and Kirk make a perfect team of reasoning and passion. Kirk is pro-active and impulsive. Quick to way risk without come. Spock is completely logical and valances that balances that impulsivity. Together they can accomplish great things.
8th Grade, 5th Place (Tie) Edgar Allan Poe
I love it that an 8th Grader wants to meet Edgar Allan Poe! This is a smartly written, well researched, believable essay. Great job Trystan!
Trystan P
Dixon Middle School
Grade 8.
Who I would meet.
If I could meet anyone in the world, from any country, during any time period, it would be Edgar Allan Poe. I would want to meet this person, because I love horror movies, scary things, anything freaky, and he was the father of scary stories. His poems such as The Raven really got me on the edge of my seat. along with the Pit and the Pendulum. A giant blade plummeting towards you while you are strapped to a slab of concrete? I was freaked. Tell-Tale Heart has such an eerie feeling to it, that you just have to read it and watch the movies they based off of it. Edgar Allan Poe would be the person I would meet because of how strongly he has influenced me.
I would want Mr. Poe to feel comfortable, so I would insist that we meet at the Poe Museum, a whole museum honoring him. I believe it would make Poe very happy to see he is still appreciated, and would make him very happy. I would be happy if I was taken to a museum honoring me and the works of art I created. I would also maybe take him to one of the huge Edgar Allan Poe birthday celebrations they hold ever year. Because Edgar was so unhappy, I'm sure it would delight him to know he is loved, and hasn't been forgotten.
The first question I would ask Edgar Allan Poe would be “What inspired you?”
Why? Because being an artist and some what of a poet myself, I would love to hear what inspired him to write such great works as Annabel Lee, Tell-Tale Heart, and Lenore. I would probably ask him what poet he thought most influenced him. I would be intrigued to know what poet or author that gave Edgar Allan Poe the drive an determination to write what he wrote. So many questions come to mind. What poem or short story he thinks was his best, how he thinks his poem affected people. I know that I want to know how he would answer.
I would like Edgar Allan Poe to know how his poems affected me. I love his poems, and think that people should read them if they already haven't. He has influenced me as an artist and a poet many times in the past, and still continues to influence me as I read his poems and short stories. I would let him know that I don't care what people label me if I read his poems, and that I love his work. I would tell him that many people all over the world read and enjoy his poems all the time, and he has a huge fan base. He has also affected my sister, as an amateur artist, she looks to Edgar Allan Poe to seek literary help. She thinks of him as a great author, and bases some of her works on Edgar's work.
I would also like to tell Edgar Allan Poe how his poems affected history. His works have inspired and influenced people to create a different type of horror and short story. His poem the Raven has gained world wide fame, and almost everyone has read it. He has affected Science Fiction with his stories, and is known as the father of modern Detective stories. He is also known as one of the first literary critics and theoreticians. If I were him, I would be proud of myself of creating such masterpieces to last through the ages.
I would love to meet Edgar Allan Poe, not only because he's affected me greatly, but because of how influential he's been to the rest of the world. I would love to share with him the stories and love notes people have wrote about him, even show him the art people have drawn of the characters he's portrayed in his poems. I'm sure this would delight him a great deal. He has affected me a great deal, artistically, poetically, and in my view on life. I hope you enjoyed my essay.
Trystan P
Dixon Middle School
Grade 8.
Who I would meet.
If I could meet anyone in the world, from any country, during any time period, it would be Edgar Allan Poe. I would want to meet this person, because I love horror movies, scary things, anything freaky, and he was the father of scary stories. His poems such as The Raven really got me on the edge of my seat. along with the Pit and the Pendulum. A giant blade plummeting towards you while you are strapped to a slab of concrete? I was freaked. Tell-Tale Heart has such an eerie feeling to it, that you just have to read it and watch the movies they based off of it. Edgar Allan Poe would be the person I would meet because of how strongly he has influenced me.
I would want Mr. Poe to feel comfortable, so I would insist that we meet at the Poe Museum, a whole museum honoring him. I believe it would make Poe very happy to see he is still appreciated, and would make him very happy. I would be happy if I was taken to a museum honoring me and the works of art I created. I would also maybe take him to one of the huge Edgar Allan Poe birthday celebrations they hold ever year. Because Edgar was so unhappy, I'm sure it would delight him to know he is loved, and hasn't been forgotten.
The first question I would ask Edgar Allan Poe would be “What inspired you?”
Why? Because being an artist and some what of a poet myself, I would love to hear what inspired him to write such great works as Annabel Lee, Tell-Tale Heart, and Lenore. I would probably ask him what poet he thought most influenced him. I would be intrigued to know what poet or author that gave Edgar Allan Poe the drive an determination to write what he wrote. So many questions come to mind. What poem or short story he thinks was his best, how he thinks his poem affected people. I know that I want to know how he would answer.
I would like Edgar Allan Poe to know how his poems affected me. I love his poems, and think that people should read them if they already haven't. He has influenced me as an artist and a poet many times in the past, and still continues to influence me as I read his poems and short stories. I would let him know that I don't care what people label me if I read his poems, and that I love his work. I would tell him that many people all over the world read and enjoy his poems all the time, and he has a huge fan base. He has also affected my sister, as an amateur artist, she looks to Edgar Allan Poe to seek literary help. She thinks of him as a great author, and bases some of her works on Edgar's work.
I would also like to tell Edgar Allan Poe how his poems affected history. His works have inspired and influenced people to create a different type of horror and short story. His poem the Raven has gained world wide fame, and almost everyone has read it. He has affected Science Fiction with his stories, and is known as the father of modern Detective stories. He is also known as one of the first literary critics and theoreticians. If I were him, I would be proud of myself of creating such masterpieces to last through the ages.
I would love to meet Edgar Allan Poe, not only because he's affected me greatly, but because of how influential he's been to the rest of the world. I would love to share with him the stories and love notes people have wrote about him, even show him the art people have drawn of the characters he's portrayed in his poems. I'm sure this would delight him a great deal. He has affected me a great deal, artistically, poetically, and in my view on life. I hope you enjoyed my essay.
8th Grade, 4th Place Winner - JK Rowling
Another great essay about JK Rowling. Nice job Chelsie! Keep writing, you do have a talent! Kylie
Chelsie C
Dixon Middle School
Eighth Grade
If I Could Meet Anyone, It Would Be…
If I could meet anyone in the world, from any country, during any time period, it would be Joanne Rowling. I want to meet Ms. Rowling because she is the world famous author who wrote the famous series of books called "Harry Potter". Her pen name is JK Rowling. Her publishers demanded that she used initials for the first part of her name because they feared that boys wouldn’t read her book because she’s a girl. She didn’t have a middle name so she chose to use the K from her grandmother’s name. If I could meet her, then the meeting place I would choose would be the Universal Studio’s Universal Orlando Resort in Florida. There are many questions that I would want to ask her, but the first one I would ask would probably be “Do you have any secrets that have helped you write such an incredible book?” I would want to ask this question because I hope to someday be a great author and she has influenced me greatly in this desire. JK Rowling and her books have changed my life quite a bit.
I would want Joanne Rowling to feel comfortable so I would insist that we meet at the Universal Orlando Resort in Florida. That place has a whole entire amusement park based off of her famous series. In this amusement park, they have rides, shops such as Zonko’s, a wizard’s prank shop, Ollivanders, a wand shop, Honeydukes, a shop filled with sweets, Filchs Emporium of Confiscated Goods, a store filled with clothing, toys and other things from the book, Dervish and Banges, a store filled with magical supplies and wizarding equipment, and a restaurant called the Three Broomsticks. All of these places are based on places in Joanne Rowling’s series. The restaurant would probably be the best place for us to talk. In JK Rowling’s series, she often had her characters have important conversations there. The restaurant even created a drink called Butterbeer based off of the Butterbeer in Joanne Rowling’s book. She has approved of it herself. She created this place. It came from her own imagination, so I’m pretty sure that she would be fairly comfortable there.
The first question I would ask Joanne Rowling is, “Do you have any secrets that have helped you write such an incredible book?” I would ask this question because I hope to be a published author someday. I don’t know if it’s possible for me to be nearly as good as JK Rowling, but I can try. An author can always learn more, whether it’s tips, information, or anything else. Everything can help an author write their books, and I’m sure that the best author would have the best tips. That’s why I would ask her that question. Other questions that I would ask would mostly, if not all be about things that would help me improve my book. They would be things like, “Are there tricks that have helped you come up with the things in your book such as names of places and people?” or “What are the things you feel are the most important to know and remember when writing a book.” There are so many questions that I would want to ask JK Rowling.
I would like Joanne Rowling to know how their life, or how one of their decisions or how one of their posterity changed history. I can’t imagine how many lives she’s changed. I don’t know how many authors decided to become authors because of her. I don’t know how many people have dreams to become authors because of her. I am one of the people who have a dream to become an author because of her. In fifth grade, I was writing a biography about JK Rowling when I came across her words on how she came up with her idea for her incredible, world famous series. She said, “It was after a weekend's flat-hunting, when I was traveling back to London on my own on a crowded train, that the idea for Harry Potter simply fell into my head. To my immense frustration, I didn't have a functioning pen with me, and I was too shy to ask anybody if I could borrow one. I think, now, that this was probably a good thing, because I simply sat and thought, for four (delayed train) hours, and all the details bubbled up in my brain. I think that perhaps if I had had to slow down the ideas so that I could capture them on paper I might have stifled some of them (although sometimes I do wonder, idly, how much of what I imagined on that journey I had forgotten by the time I actually got my hands on a pen).” She also talked about games that she played as a child that she used in her books. When I read this, the idea that I might be able to write a book about my childhood games “simply fell into my head.” I hadn’t written any of it down, but I had all of the details I came up with from years of only playing that game imprinted in my head. I doubt that I would be writing my own books and even be the person that I am if it hadn’t been for Joanne Rowling.
JK Rowling has changed my life so deeply in such a good way. She is the person I would choose to meet, out of all of the people in the world, from any time period if I could meet anyone. She has changed the world and made it a better place. If it weren’t for her, then there wouldn’t be as many good books in this world for people to read. If it weren’t for her, then many of the children and people that she effected wouldn’t have imaginations nearly as good as the imaginations that they have. Reading a book, especially a good book strengthens the imagination. I am so grateful for Joanne Rowling and her amazing books. She has changed the world.
Chelsie C
Dixon Middle School
Eighth Grade
If I Could Meet Anyone, It Would Be…
If I could meet anyone in the world, from any country, during any time period, it would be Joanne Rowling. I want to meet Ms. Rowling because she is the world famous author who wrote the famous series of books called "Harry Potter". Her pen name is JK Rowling. Her publishers demanded that she used initials for the first part of her name because they feared that boys wouldn’t read her book because she’s a girl. She didn’t have a middle name so she chose to use the K from her grandmother’s name. If I could meet her, then the meeting place I would choose would be the Universal Studio’s Universal Orlando Resort in Florida. There are many questions that I would want to ask her, but the first one I would ask would probably be “Do you have any secrets that have helped you write such an incredible book?” I would want to ask this question because I hope to someday be a great author and she has influenced me greatly in this desire. JK Rowling and her books have changed my life quite a bit.
I would want Joanne Rowling to feel comfortable so I would insist that we meet at the Universal Orlando Resort in Florida. That place has a whole entire amusement park based off of her famous series. In this amusement park, they have rides, shops such as Zonko’s, a wizard’s prank shop, Ollivanders, a wand shop, Honeydukes, a shop filled with sweets, Filchs Emporium of Confiscated Goods, a store filled with clothing, toys and other things from the book, Dervish and Banges, a store filled with magical supplies and wizarding equipment, and a restaurant called the Three Broomsticks. All of these places are based on places in Joanne Rowling’s series. The restaurant would probably be the best place for us to talk. In JK Rowling’s series, she often had her characters have important conversations there. The restaurant even created a drink called Butterbeer based off of the Butterbeer in Joanne Rowling’s book. She has approved of it herself. She created this place. It came from her own imagination, so I’m pretty sure that she would be fairly comfortable there.
The first question I would ask Joanne Rowling is, “Do you have any secrets that have helped you write such an incredible book?” I would ask this question because I hope to be a published author someday. I don’t know if it’s possible for me to be nearly as good as JK Rowling, but I can try. An author can always learn more, whether it’s tips, information, or anything else. Everything can help an author write their books, and I’m sure that the best author would have the best tips. That’s why I would ask her that question. Other questions that I would ask would mostly, if not all be about things that would help me improve my book. They would be things like, “Are there tricks that have helped you come up with the things in your book such as names of places and people?” or “What are the things you feel are the most important to know and remember when writing a book.” There are so many questions that I would want to ask JK Rowling.
I would like Joanne Rowling to know how their life, or how one of their decisions or how one of their posterity changed history. I can’t imagine how many lives she’s changed. I don’t know how many authors decided to become authors because of her. I don’t know how many people have dreams to become authors because of her. I am one of the people who have a dream to become an author because of her. In fifth grade, I was writing a biography about JK Rowling when I came across her words on how she came up with her idea for her incredible, world famous series. She said, “It was after a weekend's flat-hunting, when I was traveling back to London on my own on a crowded train, that the idea for Harry Potter simply fell into my head. To my immense frustration, I didn't have a functioning pen with me, and I was too shy to ask anybody if I could borrow one. I think, now, that this was probably a good thing, because I simply sat and thought, for four (delayed train) hours, and all the details bubbled up in my brain. I think that perhaps if I had had to slow down the ideas so that I could capture them on paper I might have stifled some of them (although sometimes I do wonder, idly, how much of what I imagined on that journey I had forgotten by the time I actually got my hands on a pen).” She also talked about games that she played as a child that she used in her books. When I read this, the idea that I might be able to write a book about my childhood games “simply fell into my head.” I hadn’t written any of it down, but I had all of the details I came up with from years of only playing that game imprinted in my head. I doubt that I would be writing my own books and even be the person that I am if it hadn’t been for Joanne Rowling.
JK Rowling has changed my life so deeply in such a good way. She is the person I would choose to meet, out of all of the people in the world, from any time period if I could meet anyone. She has changed the world and made it a better place. If it weren’t for her, then there wouldn’t be as many good books in this world for people to read. If it weren’t for her, then many of the children and people that she effected wouldn’t have imaginations nearly as good as the imaginations that they have. Reading a book, especially a good book strengthens the imagination. I am so grateful for Joanne Rowling and her amazing books. She has changed the world.
8th Grade, 3rd Place Toph Bei Fond
I love this essay. Hannah did something very, very difficult...she took a fictional character, puts her in our modern world, and explains very clearly and honestly why Toph is who she would most want to meet. Hannah this is a beautifully written, very emotional essay; you should be very proud of yourself. Stay true to yourself and keep writing, you truly have a gift.
Hannah O
Mount Nebo Jr. High School
Eighth grade
If I could meet anyone in the world, from any country, during any time period, it would be Toph Bei Fong. I want to meet Toph because she is brave, strong, smart, has a good sense of humor, and most importantly she does not care what anyone else thinks of her. She knows who she is and nothing will ever change her. Everyone can learn a lesson from Toph. We live in a world where no matter who you are, what you do, or what you look like there is always going to be someone who judges you. They are not right to judge you, but we cannot let someone else’s opinion change who we are.
Toph is an earth bender, which is someone who can move earth as a martial art. She became, at the very young age of 12, the earth bending teacher for the Avatar, (who is Aang, he is the peace keeper of the world and is learning all four elements). Toph also invented metal bending, (which is a part of earth bending but you bend metal) I admire Toph for her creativity. Toph used her new talent to escape a metal crate she was held in by two men who were hired by her parents to bring her home.
Toph has a complicated relationship with her parents, which is something that most kids can relate to. Her parents think that because she is blind she is fragile, but Toph knows she is not fragile. Her blindness taught her to use her earth bending as not only as a martial art, but as an extension of her senses, just like her teachers the badger moles. Toph and the badger moles understand each other because they are both blind. They use their bending to interact with the world. Earth bending became a part of who they are.
As Aang’s old friend king Bumi once told him, “The key to earth bending is neutral jing, where you do nothing.” Because Toph is blind she uses earth bending to feel the vibrations in the earth to see. Toph mastered neutral jing because she has to wait and listen before striking.
I would want Toph to be comfortable so I would insist that we meet in any canyon, in the Earth Kingdom. This way, Toph would be able to see because the earth that would surround us. This place would be important and comfortable because Toph would feel safe being able to see. I, for one, think that having her gift would be great, but also hard because if you were not on any earth then you would not be able to see.
The first question I would ask Toph is how do you handle people making fun of you about the way you look even though you cannot see them or the way you look? I want to be able to be strong, but it is difficult especially when other people put you down. In seventh grade I was made fun of for the way I looked, all I wanted then was to be blind like Toph, so I would not have to care about the way I looked because I would not know how I looked. I wanted to not care like Toph and make a sassy remark but when I did it still hurt inside. I want to know how she cannot care because when it happened to me, it still hurt.
I would like Toph to know how her life has changed history, she taught the Avatar earth bending. She helped to save the world, and stopped the fire benders from completely destroying the earth kingdom even though her own life was on the line. She helped to bring peace love and balance to the world and helped end the war that had been going on for over one-hundred years. She showed love, compassion, understanding, and joy everywhere she went, she became the greatest earth bender in the world with had dedication and love for her gift of earth bending.
Toph affects me because she has taught me to stand up for myself even when it is hard or is not the coolest thing to do. She has taught me not to be a push over, and when something is not right, that I can help change it for the better. I have learned that just because someone may not be the most beautiful person on the outside, does not mean that they are not the most beautiful person on the inside. I now really want to enforce the saying “do not judge a book by its cover,” because it is completely true. We do not really know a person by the way they look. We can truly know them when we take the time to understand them. No one can know what is going on in anyone’s mind no one is a mind reader. We need to be kind and friendly to everyone; I think that is something that a lot of people forget. People think that just because someone is different that they have the right to judge them but they do not, whether it is cool or not, it is not right. I know now to wait and listen before I do something because even though I think I might know what is going on, I usually do not. I have learned to be brave and strong in all I do. Toph is my hero, she inspires me so much in all that she does and even though I know she is not a real person, I want to be just like her and change the world to make it a better place with love and peace that can surround everyone. Toph has taught me so much, but the most important thing she has taught me is to be myself in every circumstance, because the best person I can be, is me.
Hannah O
Mount Nebo Jr. High School
Eighth grade
If I could meet anyone in the world, from any country, during any time period, it would be Toph Bei Fong. I want to meet Toph because she is brave, strong, smart, has a good sense of humor, and most importantly she does not care what anyone else thinks of her. She knows who she is and nothing will ever change her. Everyone can learn a lesson from Toph. We live in a world where no matter who you are, what you do, or what you look like there is always going to be someone who judges you. They are not right to judge you, but we cannot let someone else’s opinion change who we are.
Toph is an earth bender, which is someone who can move earth as a martial art. She became, at the very young age of 12, the earth bending teacher for the Avatar, (who is Aang, he is the peace keeper of the world and is learning all four elements). Toph also invented metal bending, (which is a part of earth bending but you bend metal) I admire Toph for her creativity. Toph used her new talent to escape a metal crate she was held in by two men who were hired by her parents to bring her home.
Toph has a complicated relationship with her parents, which is something that most kids can relate to. Her parents think that because she is blind she is fragile, but Toph knows she is not fragile. Her blindness taught her to use her earth bending as not only as a martial art, but as an extension of her senses, just like her teachers the badger moles. Toph and the badger moles understand each other because they are both blind. They use their bending to interact with the world. Earth bending became a part of who they are.
As Aang’s old friend king Bumi once told him, “The key to earth bending is neutral jing, where you do nothing.” Because Toph is blind she uses earth bending to feel the vibrations in the earth to see. Toph mastered neutral jing because she has to wait and listen before striking.
I would want Toph to be comfortable so I would insist that we meet in any canyon, in the Earth Kingdom. This way, Toph would be able to see because the earth that would surround us. This place would be important and comfortable because Toph would feel safe being able to see. I, for one, think that having her gift would be great, but also hard because if you were not on any earth then you would not be able to see.
The first question I would ask Toph is how do you handle people making fun of you about the way you look even though you cannot see them or the way you look? I want to be able to be strong, but it is difficult especially when other people put you down. In seventh grade I was made fun of for the way I looked, all I wanted then was to be blind like Toph, so I would not have to care about the way I looked because I would not know how I looked. I wanted to not care like Toph and make a sassy remark but when I did it still hurt inside. I want to know how she cannot care because when it happened to me, it still hurt.
I would like Toph to know how her life has changed history, she taught the Avatar earth bending. She helped to save the world, and stopped the fire benders from completely destroying the earth kingdom even though her own life was on the line. She helped to bring peace love and balance to the world and helped end the war that had been going on for over one-hundred years. She showed love, compassion, understanding, and joy everywhere she went, she became the greatest earth bender in the world with had dedication and love for her gift of earth bending.
Toph affects me because she has taught me to stand up for myself even when it is hard or is not the coolest thing to do. She has taught me not to be a push over, and when something is not right, that I can help change it for the better. I have learned that just because someone may not be the most beautiful person on the outside, does not mean that they are not the most beautiful person on the inside. I now really want to enforce the saying “do not judge a book by its cover,” because it is completely true. We do not really know a person by the way they look. We can truly know them when we take the time to understand them. No one can know what is going on in anyone’s mind no one is a mind reader. We need to be kind and friendly to everyone; I think that is something that a lot of people forget. People think that just because someone is different that they have the right to judge them but they do not, whether it is cool or not, it is not right. I know now to wait and listen before I do something because even though I think I might know what is going on, I usually do not. I have learned to be brave and strong in all I do. Toph is my hero, she inspires me so much in all that she does and even though I know she is not a real person, I want to be just like her and change the world to make it a better place with love and peace that can surround everyone. Toph has taught me so much, but the most important thing she has taught me is to be myself in every circumstance, because the best person I can be, is me.
8th Grade, 2nd Place - Anne Frank
I love, love, LOVE IT when winners and finalists come out of small towns...probably 'cause I'm from a small town myself. This touching essay about Anne Frank is well researched and beautifully written. Great Job Casey! Keep writing, you have a real talent. Kylie
Casey M
Vernal Junior High
8th
If I could meet anyone in the world, from any country, during any time period, it would be Anne Frank, author of A Diary of a Young Girl. I want to meet her because she was an incredibly brave, smart, deep and funny person. She went through such unimaginable experiences and dealt with them with such wonderful grace and maturity. She was forced to grow up quickly, growing from a girl to a woman in just two years, all the while writing down her witty observations and interesting insights in her diary to her imaginary friend named Kitty. I feel like I am Kitty, that Anne’s writing to me, that she knows another girl, somewhere, is listening. I like many of the same things she does; movies, art, music, nature, writing, learning. I feel the same way she does about a lot of things too, from understanding myself and discerning my strengths to knowing optimism is the best way to go. Although I don’t live in a moldy attic behind a Dutch store and I don’t know anything about the atrocities of war and prejudice firsthand, I do know what it’s like to grow and learn and think and dream and hope. That is why I would like to meet Anne Frank.
I would want Anne to feel comfortable so I would insist that we meet at a park in Amsterdam called Vondelpark in high summer. We could go to Hollywood or the Louvre but I think she would like to be in Vondelpark best because it’s located in her favorite place in the whole world: the city of Amsterdam. It’s is the closest park to the Secret Annex, and it’s creators wanted it to look like a big beautiful English garden. It’s great for walking, jogging, roller skating or just lying in the sun. There’s also a film museum, an open-air theater for free concerts and live performances, and within walking distance of museums housing famous Dutch masterpieces. Whatever Anne wanted to do, we could do. She loved being outside and experiencing nature, but most of all she purely loved the city of Amsterdam, and I think just being there in the sunshine and grass would make her happy. We could go anywhere and everywhere in Amsterdam, or just stay and enjoy the park, getting to know each other and having fun.
The first question I would ask Anne is “What do you think your life would have been like if you hadn’t been forced into hiding? Would you have been the same person?” I would ask that specific question because if she hadn’t gone through that extreme ordeal, would she have still grown up the same way or learned the same things? I don’t think she would have, but I would have liked to hear how she thought she may have changed. In the beginning of her adolescence she wanted to be a glamorous movie star in Hollywood, enjoying the good life with loads of boyfriends and money. By the end of her diary her plans had changed: she wanted to be a writer, to tell the world about her experiences and hopefully changing it for good. I would like to hear her thoughts about making important choices such as deciding what to do in life and how she came to those conclusions. Mostly I feel after reading the things she writes in her diary that she’s an extremely wise person that could help me appreciate what I have and help me to learn more to make the future better.
I would like Anne to know how her life and her decision to keep a diary during her confinement changed history. She has affected the world in the way she describes the harshness of prejudice and intolerance, painting a picture of truth and unfairness that she and millions of others experienced. I want her to know that Anne Frank, a thirteen year old girl, was speaking the words of masses of people explaining in clear, understandable language the unjustness of it all. But the message she wrote was not of revenge or anger against her oppressors, but of optimism and peace. She hoped people would see that, no matter what, there can still be good in the world, still be love, peace and happiness. She showed the world an attitude we should all live by.
She said in her diary that she wanted to live after she died and she has, through the publishing of her diary, but also in the hearts and minds of people who read it and understand where she’s coming from. She taught me that it’s okay to not to feel understood, that being young is part of the process to becoming a person. She’s inspired me to be happy and to count my blessings every day. She also has stirred me to dream and make goals without any limits to the impossible because she hoped and dreamed, even if she wasn’t sure if there was a tomorrow to fulfill those dreams.
I feel like we are very similar, Anne and I, and Anne has helped me to see things in a new light. Her words ring true to me, almost as if she knew people would read her story and understand what she went through. Anne has inspired me to write more and to start a journal; both for posterity and to show myself how I’ve grown. I’m thankful she wrote a diary and I’m grateful for the miracles that came about so it could be published. Anne Frank is truly one of my heroes and if I could meet her, I would thank her for everything she’s done for me and others like me. I want her to know that what she worked and hoped for do live on, long beyond her death.
Casey M
Vernal Junior High
8th
If I could meet anyone in the world, from any country, during any time period, it would be Anne Frank, author of A Diary of a Young Girl. I want to meet her because she was an incredibly brave, smart, deep and funny person. She went through such unimaginable experiences and dealt with them with such wonderful grace and maturity. She was forced to grow up quickly, growing from a girl to a woman in just two years, all the while writing down her witty observations and interesting insights in her diary to her imaginary friend named Kitty. I feel like I am Kitty, that Anne’s writing to me, that she knows another girl, somewhere, is listening. I like many of the same things she does; movies, art, music, nature, writing, learning. I feel the same way she does about a lot of things too, from understanding myself and discerning my strengths to knowing optimism is the best way to go. Although I don’t live in a moldy attic behind a Dutch store and I don’t know anything about the atrocities of war and prejudice firsthand, I do know what it’s like to grow and learn and think and dream and hope. That is why I would like to meet Anne Frank.
I would want Anne to feel comfortable so I would insist that we meet at a park in Amsterdam called Vondelpark in high summer. We could go to Hollywood or the Louvre but I think she would like to be in Vondelpark best because it’s located in her favorite place in the whole world: the city of Amsterdam. It’s is the closest park to the Secret Annex, and it’s creators wanted it to look like a big beautiful English garden. It’s great for walking, jogging, roller skating or just lying in the sun. There’s also a film museum, an open-air theater for free concerts and live performances, and within walking distance of museums housing famous Dutch masterpieces. Whatever Anne wanted to do, we could do. She loved being outside and experiencing nature, but most of all she purely loved the city of Amsterdam, and I think just being there in the sunshine and grass would make her happy. We could go anywhere and everywhere in Amsterdam, or just stay and enjoy the park, getting to know each other and having fun.
The first question I would ask Anne is “What do you think your life would have been like if you hadn’t been forced into hiding? Would you have been the same person?” I would ask that specific question because if she hadn’t gone through that extreme ordeal, would she have still grown up the same way or learned the same things? I don’t think she would have, but I would have liked to hear how she thought she may have changed. In the beginning of her adolescence she wanted to be a glamorous movie star in Hollywood, enjoying the good life with loads of boyfriends and money. By the end of her diary her plans had changed: she wanted to be a writer, to tell the world about her experiences and hopefully changing it for good. I would like to hear her thoughts about making important choices such as deciding what to do in life and how she came to those conclusions. Mostly I feel after reading the things she writes in her diary that she’s an extremely wise person that could help me appreciate what I have and help me to learn more to make the future better.
I would like Anne to know how her life and her decision to keep a diary during her confinement changed history. She has affected the world in the way she describes the harshness of prejudice and intolerance, painting a picture of truth and unfairness that she and millions of others experienced. I want her to know that Anne Frank, a thirteen year old girl, was speaking the words of masses of people explaining in clear, understandable language the unjustness of it all. But the message she wrote was not of revenge or anger against her oppressors, but of optimism and peace. She hoped people would see that, no matter what, there can still be good in the world, still be love, peace and happiness. She showed the world an attitude we should all live by.
She said in her diary that she wanted to live after she died and she has, through the publishing of her diary, but also in the hearts and minds of people who read it and understand where she’s coming from. She taught me that it’s okay to not to feel understood, that being young is part of the process to becoming a person. She’s inspired me to be happy and to count my blessings every day. She also has stirred me to dream and make goals without any limits to the impossible because she hoped and dreamed, even if she wasn’t sure if there was a tomorrow to fulfill those dreams.
I feel like we are very similar, Anne and I, and Anne has helped me to see things in a new light. Her words ring true to me, almost as if she knew people would read her story and understand what she went through. Anne has inspired me to write more and to start a journal; both for posterity and to show myself how I’ve grown. I’m thankful she wrote a diary and I’m grateful for the miracles that came about so it could be published. Anne Frank is truly one of my heroes and if I could meet her, I would thank her for everything she’s done for me and others like me. I want her to know that what she worked and hoped for do live on, long beyond her death.
8th Grade Winner - Al Capone
Creepy, dark, intense, however very, very well researched and very, very well written. Awesome job Chayeh, you absolutely deserve $100 for your work. Keep writing, you have a great talent.
Chayeh P
Dixon Middle School.
Eighth Grade.
If I Could Meet Anyone, It Would Be…
If I could meet anyone in the world, from any country or time period, it would the infamous mob boss Al Capone. I want to meet Mr. Capone because of his reign of crime on the entire world, and because I have an interest in the minds of the criminally insane and plan on making it a career someday. I believe that he has such an influence on the mobs and gangs today because of what did and believed in, so being able to meet him would be a very big and educating opportunity. There would be many questions I would want to ask him, things I would tell him and things I would record if I was able to finally meet him. His impact on the crime world and also the well-known Italian mob is huge, and dreaming of being a criminal psychiatrist, meeting Mr. Al Capone would be a very opportune moment to look further into the mind of one of the most criminal men of all history, perhaps find one common factor between different crime lords to why they do what they do.
I would want Al Capone to feel as comfortable as ever, so I would want to meet him at his Florida home near Miami where he returned after being held in a prison institution in 1939. Personally, it would be comfortable for him because that is where he lived the remaining years of his life after serving seven years in there very harsh environment of the Atlanta Prison Alcatraz. It would the best for him, because he lived there with his wife for eight years before he passed away of a stroke and pneumonia. Perhaps if he was comfortable enough I would be able to ask the questions I wanted without any distractions.
Certainly, I would not meet him in Alcatraz because of the mental stress put on him being institutionalized. Not only did he leave with paresis (a disease derived from Syphilis); which lead him to live with the mentality of a 12-year-old, but Alcatraz was known for being strictly disciplinary, which most likely lead to the stress. The home would be very friendly and nostalgic for him, so that would be the ideal place to meet him if I were to meet him.
The first question I would ask Mr. Capone is: “Why did you do the things you did?” I would ask this question because it would let me know a lot more about his life rather than searching up the information in encyclopedias and media from the internet. This question would be very informative coming from him because the things said about him could be misunderstood and taken differently by others because of opinion. Not only could this let us know the way he rationalized it, but it could also give us more insight on why usual mobsters kill and do the things they do. There could be similarities between his gang and the gangs of today. Because I am fascinated with the criminal mind, this could give me great experience and it would also let me know how some criminals make the things they do okay.
It is a very intriguing, the mind of the criminally insane. The way some of them think and rationalize the crimes the commit is very interesting, and seeing Al Capone try to persuade into thinking what he did was right might let me understand the things some criminals do. As I said earlier, there are many other questions I would ask him such as ‘Why would you risk being executed at Alcatraz for the people you’ve killed?’ and ‘Why would you put your family’s life in danger, especially your wife Mae?’ There are a lot of things I would ask him, just like I said in the previous paragraphs.
I would like him to know that his life has affected me greatly because it has boosted me to look more into criminal insanity cases than just domestic and simple mental instability. He has affected my country in a way that no one can really describe in a concise way. Crime rates weren’t exactly sprung by him, but I believe the mob world has grown since Al Capone’s crime spree in the early years of America. He is a big inspiration to me despite his wicked motivations of the things he did such as the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre. No matter the intimidation inflicted upon me by his wide range of body-guards, gang members, and him added onto it, I would be elated to meet with him and see how he reacted with the changes of society since his life in the early 1920s.
Al Capone was originally the mobster I wanted to research in my elementary days, he pushed me to think that psychiatry was my trail to my future, but I never took the path because I was only a child. Crime has always been an interest of mine, but the minds behind it all always have got me researching the things that have happened in said cases. Mr. Capone was a huge inspiration to many king pin’s and crime lords that have gangs started today, I’m convinced. Because of the turn of style of the gangs doesn’t mean the violence and rivalry is different in any other way. I know that Mr. Capone was a ruthless, wanted man. But behind all his hostility towards gangs in the world then, there was a boy who hadn’t lived in society normally since he dropped out of sixth grade and turned the streets at such a young age. In my opinion his power-hungriness drove him to do everything he did, like an addictive drug it was not to be stopped or it would go somewhere that America would regret more than they did.
I believe meeting this man would change everything, my understanding, the world’s understanding if I shared with them his opinions and thoughts, and the way his story was portrayed. His reign of crime locally and not only nationally was huge and it certainly inspires me in ways indescribable. I would love to meet the well-known Italian mob-king Al Capone; if I could have been alive to meet him I would have so much experience.
Chayeh P
Dixon Middle School.
Eighth Grade.
If I Could Meet Anyone, It Would Be…
If I could meet anyone in the world, from any country or time period, it would the infamous mob boss Al Capone. I want to meet Mr. Capone because of his reign of crime on the entire world, and because I have an interest in the minds of the criminally insane and plan on making it a career someday. I believe that he has such an influence on the mobs and gangs today because of what did and believed in, so being able to meet him would be a very big and educating opportunity. There would be many questions I would want to ask him, things I would tell him and things I would record if I was able to finally meet him. His impact on the crime world and also the well-known Italian mob is huge, and dreaming of being a criminal psychiatrist, meeting Mr. Al Capone would be a very opportune moment to look further into the mind of one of the most criminal men of all history, perhaps find one common factor between different crime lords to why they do what they do.
I would want Al Capone to feel as comfortable as ever, so I would want to meet him at his Florida home near Miami where he returned after being held in a prison institution in 1939. Personally, it would be comfortable for him because that is where he lived the remaining years of his life after serving seven years in there very harsh environment of the Atlanta Prison Alcatraz. It would the best for him, because he lived there with his wife for eight years before he passed away of a stroke and pneumonia. Perhaps if he was comfortable enough I would be able to ask the questions I wanted without any distractions.
Certainly, I would not meet him in Alcatraz because of the mental stress put on him being institutionalized. Not only did he leave with paresis (a disease derived from Syphilis); which lead him to live with the mentality of a 12-year-old, but Alcatraz was known for being strictly disciplinary, which most likely lead to the stress. The home would be very friendly and nostalgic for him, so that would be the ideal place to meet him if I were to meet him.
The first question I would ask Mr. Capone is: “Why did you do the things you did?” I would ask this question because it would let me know a lot more about his life rather than searching up the information in encyclopedias and media from the internet. This question would be very informative coming from him because the things said about him could be misunderstood and taken differently by others because of opinion. Not only could this let us know the way he rationalized it, but it could also give us more insight on why usual mobsters kill and do the things they do. There could be similarities between his gang and the gangs of today. Because I am fascinated with the criminal mind, this could give me great experience and it would also let me know how some criminals make the things they do okay.
It is a very intriguing, the mind of the criminally insane. The way some of them think and rationalize the crimes the commit is very interesting, and seeing Al Capone try to persuade into thinking what he did was right might let me understand the things some criminals do. As I said earlier, there are many other questions I would ask him such as ‘Why would you risk being executed at Alcatraz for the people you’ve killed?’ and ‘Why would you put your family’s life in danger, especially your wife Mae?’ There are a lot of things I would ask him, just like I said in the previous paragraphs.
I would like him to know that his life has affected me greatly because it has boosted me to look more into criminal insanity cases than just domestic and simple mental instability. He has affected my country in a way that no one can really describe in a concise way. Crime rates weren’t exactly sprung by him, but I believe the mob world has grown since Al Capone’s crime spree in the early years of America. He is a big inspiration to me despite his wicked motivations of the things he did such as the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre. No matter the intimidation inflicted upon me by his wide range of body-guards, gang members, and him added onto it, I would be elated to meet with him and see how he reacted with the changes of society since his life in the early 1920s.
Al Capone was originally the mobster I wanted to research in my elementary days, he pushed me to think that psychiatry was my trail to my future, but I never took the path because I was only a child. Crime has always been an interest of mine, but the minds behind it all always have got me researching the things that have happened in said cases. Mr. Capone was a huge inspiration to many king pin’s and crime lords that have gangs started today, I’m convinced. Because of the turn of style of the gangs doesn’t mean the violence and rivalry is different in any other way. I know that Mr. Capone was a ruthless, wanted man. But behind all his hostility towards gangs in the world then, there was a boy who hadn’t lived in society normally since he dropped out of sixth grade and turned the streets at such a young age. In my opinion his power-hungriness drove him to do everything he did, like an addictive drug it was not to be stopped or it would go somewhere that America would regret more than they did.
I believe meeting this man would change everything, my understanding, the world’s understanding if I shared with them his opinions and thoughts, and the way his story was portrayed. His reign of crime locally and not only nationally was huge and it certainly inspires me in ways indescribable. I would love to meet the well-known Italian mob-king Al Capone; if I could have been alive to meet him I would have so much experience.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
.jpg)