Writing of February: Seniors

 First Place:  Lauren Cellini

  Second Place:  Lismergi Bouret

Third Place:  Brianna Pennicott

Honorable Mention:   Jamie Oliva    Lisa Marie Savino  

Shana Williams

First Place:  My Worst Day Ever  by Lauren Cellini  (Grade 12)

            “Lovely Day” by Bill Withers is blasting out of my alarm clock, pretty ironic, I would say.  It’s Monday morning, 8:45 a.m., and I’m starting the week off horribly.  Already I’m an hour late for school and I still have to get dressed, walk the dog, and catch the bus.  It’s 10:36 a.m. when I arrive at school, after missing the bus and getting caught in the rain.  My shoes are squeaking so loudly that the whole world must think I’m cheap.  And to make things worse, which seems pretty impossible, I have four more days of detention from Mr. D.!

            The afternoon wasn’t as rough as the morning, but it was still long and draining.  Mr. S. gave us a pop quiz on the subjects learned in Friday’s class.  It would have been simple, but as usual I was absent Friday.  Ms. V’s class flew by, maybe because it was the last academic class of the day.  Afterward I helped Ms. Dragone tutor, which was fine until a huge textbook fell on my foot.  At 2:30 p.m. the bell rang and I was on my way to club 204—until I met Dawn who seemed upset and talked to

me for ten minutes, making me late for detention.  Not only was I late, which meant I received another day, but detention was so packed I had to stand.  Please take into consideration that ten minutes earlier a five-pound textbook, The Western Heritage, flew four feet and landed directly on my foot.  At 2:46 p.m.

I was standing next to an open window, on my bruised foot, sneezing, and counting down each tedious second until I would get home.

            “I’m home,” I said as I walked through the door.  The note on the table read: “Dear Lauren, Me and Christine went to get our nails done.  Figured you didn’t want to come.  There is meat loaf in the fridge.  Mom”  Wow!  My mom and my sister went to get their nails done and left me home with a cold meat loaf?  A lot of other things went wrong after that.  The lights went out because of the rain and the TV didn’t work.  The faucet did, however.  I filled a glass with water, took two Advil PMs and ended the worst day ever.

Second Place:  Versions of Who I Am    by Lismergi Bouret  (Grade 12)

            I think that everyone has different versions of themselves.  As humans, we all have multiple sides to our personalities.  I know for a fact that my sides are the complete opposites of each other.

            To everyone else, I may appear as a happy-go-lucky kind of girl.  It may seem as if I live the perfect life.  I’m happy with everything and don’t let anything get to me.  I always have a smile on my face, and I like to make people laugh.  That’s the usual version of me that people are exposed to, but

my other version is the complete opposite.

            Pessimistic, gloomy, listless, and dark are just some words to describe my other version of me. 

It is as if I make myself a bed at the bottom of the blackest hole.  I just keep to myself and don’t want to deal with anything or anyone.  All the good times and smiles are gone—welcome to the frowns and pain.

            When I become my dark, listless version of me, I don’t really like people to see me because they might think something is wrong and interrogate me about it and I don’t like dealing with that.  I try to conceal that side because I feel that I need to put up a front.  It’s kind of as if I need to hide my feelings and can’t let people see me when I am vulnerable.  I am so used to people being attracted to the happy version of me that I am scared of what they may think or say when they see the other side.  So when I am around people, I immediately put on a face, smile, and act as if nothing is going wrong, when in reality, deep inside I am truly broken.

            My other version of me is my angry version.  When I become angry, I strike at everyone and don’t really think or care about the consequences.  I just blank out and let my anger get the best of me.

Sometimes I think of how I must look when I get angry—a relentless, overreacting person—but that’s not really who I am.

Third Place:  American Teenagers, Poor Students  by Brianna Pennicott  (Grade 12)

In the past, America was one of the most intelligent countries in the world.  However, in recent times, America is doing poorly when it comes to education.  Statistics show that 50% of teenagers don’t finish high school, and 50% of those who attend college don’t get their degrees.  I think that there are three main factors as to why American teenagers are doing so poorly in school.

The first reason is the parents.  Parental involvement in their child’s school work is important.

A parent’s attitude towards a child’s education affects how that child does in school.  For example, students won’t care about failing math class if their parents don’t care, and vice versa.  This is also one of the reasons why college students drop out of school, because parents don’t have access to their child’s work.

The second reason why American teenagers are doing poorly in school is peer pressure.  Often teens tend to do things they would never normally do because of peer pressure.  Some teenagers would be willing to smoke or steal as long as they are able to fit into a group.  In the past, it was always a good thing for a teenager to be educated.  In modern times, teens are bullied and taunted for being intelligent.  My older brother once told me that he felt bad for me because I grow up in an age where being smart isn’t cool.

The final reason why American teenagers are doing poorly in school is the environment.  Where you live usually affects your education.  A child living in a poor neighborhood may not have the same

opportunities to develop his or her abilities as a child living in an excellent neighborhood.

            All in all, I believe that parents, peer pressure, and the environment in which a person lives

directly affect a teenager’s performance in school.

Writing of February:

                               Juniors

 First Place:  Blessing Eke

Second Place:  Rosemarie Baggio

 Honorable Mention: Rana Huggins    Misha James   

                                  Tiffany Smith     Nallely Tovar

    First Place:  American Teenagers, Poor Students by Blessing Eke (Grade 11)

            We are dumb.  We are fat.  We are ignorant.  We are stuck up.  We are wasteful.  We are Americans.

Our test scores are horrendous when compared with those of the rest of the world.  We do not

put an emphasis on education.  We need to teach our kids the value of knowledge.  We have to start

at a young age.  Other countries have a culture that thrives on learning.  As a country of immigrants,

we have no set culture.  Our children want to grow up to become rich and famous.  Children in other

parts of the world want to become scientists, lawyers, and doctors.  These children are emerging in a

culture that praises knowledge.  In America, being smart is often scorned.  We would rather be beautiful. 

            We need to challenge our young.  We need to get involved in their education.  We need to make sure that our educational system is strong and that our children are getting the very best.  We need to make sure that we have qualified teachers in our classes and a good working environment in our schools.

We need to invest more money, time, and effort into our education.

            Once we get serious about our education, others can take us seriously.

 Second Place:   Being Superstitious  by Rosemarie Baggio  (Grade 11)

            Being superstitious brings out a different side of you.  You find yourself being more cautious, more alert, more focused, and scared.  People can take it to an extreme.  I am a victim of superstition. 

I don’t go crazy over it, but I do believe in superstitions.  For example, take the saying that everything happens for a reason.  I believe the daily tasks and obstacles you experience lead up to certain results because it was fate.

            My grandmother, my dad’s mother, is very superstitious.  She won’t leave her bag on the floor, or have umbrellas in the house, and she hates when people wear shoes by the kitchen table.  I’ve also heard her say that her hand is itchy, which meant money was coming to her.  I definitely get my superstitiousness from my grandmother.

            My family is Italian and very large.  A big Italian superstition is that if your feet get brushed by a broom, you won’t get married.  I’m very careful that my feet will never be swept.  Another thing I’m big on is not walking under a ladder, or opening umbrellas anywhere inside.  I believe in luck/bad luck, yet I also believe that you bring either good or bad luck to yourself. There have been many times when a superstition has been proven right.  I find a lot of Italians to be very superstitious, especially my family.  One thing I’ve learned is that you build up your own beliefs based on what you see.

            Being superstitious isn’t good or bad in itself.  It will keep you thinking, but sometimes it may have you thinking too much.  One thing I do believe in and find very interesting are horoscopes.  I always read them and overthink them, but I find them to be very true.  I do believe that everyone has

to have a little superstitiousness in them.

Writing of February:

                              Sophomores

     First Place: Shanice Morris

Second Place:   Phylicia Green

Honorable Mention:      

Manon de Fleurac      Melinda Martinez     Thomas Nevins       Ruben Quispe         Asad Richardson       Kirsten Walters

  First Place:      American Teenagers, Poor Students by Shanice Morris  (Grade 10)

The United States is an advanced country, especially when it comes to technology.  Unfortunately, technology has become a negative factor in the United States.  Although inventors intended to better the life of Americans, that didn’t always happen.  Currently, American students rank near the bottom in academics when compared to students from other countries.

Technologies created an easier way for students to do everything besides what they’re supposed to do.  Computers, cell phones, televisions, I-pods, are all main focuses of an American teenager.  The computer allows teens to access online chatting programs and websites that are used to communicate with one another. Those programs and websites have taken away from the positive aspects of the computer, such as being able to prepare professional documents or researching useful topics.  Cell

phones are no longer just a way to communicate in emergencies.  Cell phones now offer texting, which is another popular way for teens to connect with their families and friends.  As a result, some teenagers spend the majority of their time texting or sitting at their computers.  And television and I-pods help display celebrities who often don’t present themselves in an honorable manner.

            Every teenager wants to be cool.  Teens look up to celebrities at times, and if the celebrities aren’t reading or going to the library, nine times out of ten, teenagers aren’t either.  If celebrities promoted reading and doing well in school, I think there would be a big difference in the way teens approach learning.  Also, teens need support and encouragement, not just from celebrities but from their families at home too.  If parents or guardians don’t care about the teen’s education, most likely the teenager doesn’t either.

            Hopefully, with our new president and his new laws about education implemented, our country’s rank in academics will be back at the top.

Second Place:  A Bad Hair Day!  by Phylicia Green    (Grade 10)

During your high school years, there are some things that just so aren’t important to you any-more, but there is one thing that is always important to me.  What might that be?  My hair, of course!

I always try to make sure my hair is in place, but of course there are some days where things don’t go my way.

            It was a hot summer evening.  My hair was looking right.  I had just gotten it washed and blow dried.  It was flowing in the summer breeze and as I walked up the street, I saw people watching me. I heard little comments like, “Her hair is on point and dang, I wonder where she gets her hair done.”  I felt like a million bucks.  When I got home I looked in the mirror and said to myself, “Hmm.  My hair could use a little bit of shine.”  So I grabbed the grease and sprayed and sprayed and sprayed.  Now my hair looked extra shiny.  I couldn’t wait to show my friends my new hair style.  I decided to go to bed early, but—wait—I forgot to wrap my hair.  Oh well, since my hair was so silky, I didn’t have to wrap it.  It was extremely hot overnight but I didn’t keep my air conditioner on to keep my hair okay.  Finally it was morning.  I woke up and I felt something sizzling.  I jumped out of bed.  It was my hair!  I had a big Afro.  I was so upset that I didn’t know what I was going to do.  I was supposed to meet up with my friends in an hour.  I thought, let me get into the shower so the heat and the grease will melt down. 

            I got into the shower and it felt cool, but wait—oh no, my hair just got wet.  What was I going to do now?  Then I took the blow dryer and blew the water out, but now my Afro had gotten ten times worse.  Then I jumped.  My straightener should do the trick.  I ran downstairs and searched everywhere.

Where on earth could it be?  I found it in the garbage can covered with ketchup and mustard and glue.  I

was doomed.

            Suddenly I got a phone call.  It was my friend, saying she was on her way to pick me up.  What should I do?  I told her I was sick and couldn’t go.  She said “Nonsense.  You have to go, and your crush is going to be there.”  I screamed, “This can’t be happening!”  She yelled back, “I’m outside—hurry up.”  There was nothing else to do, so I put my hat on and hurried into the car so no one would see me.

Everyone was in the car, including my crush, George.  I sank down into the seat so no one would see me, but my friend yelled, “Let me see your hair!” 

            It was over, my popularity was finished.  I just didn’t care any more so I took the hat off, and waited for people’s cruel responses.  Everyone just stared in shock and went “Wow!”  I felt the tears come down my face, and said “This is the worst hair day ever.”  They laughed it off and someone said, “It doesn’t matter, it doesn’t ever look that bad.”  I sighed in relief, laughed, and thought to myself,

“NEVER AGAIN WILL I LET MY HAIR LOOK LIKE THIS!”

            Now that’s what you call a bad hair day.

 Writing of February:

 Freshmen

         First Place: Lynda Fields

Second Place:   Trudy-Ann Evans

Honorable Mention:   Tiffany Harris     Manfred Jean-Louis

                              Ariana Robinson                      

First Place:  American Teenagers, Poor Students   by Lynda Fields  (Grade 9)

.Despite our country’s prosperity and technology, students in the U.S. frequently rank near the bottom in academics when compared to students of other countries.  There are many different reasons why American teenagers do so poorly in school.  There are also many different ways in which they can improve academically.

The first reason I feel that teenagers are doing so poorly in school is because we are lazy.  We do not want to put effort into anything, and we are too worried about things that do not have to do with school, especially the opposite gender.  Another reason I think we do poorly in school is that sometimes teenage athletes make their sport the number one priority in their lives and feel that they can just forget about their school work.  Teenagers who are talented at what they do think that their talent is going to get them through life.  The last reason I feel that we Americans are doing poorly in school is that some parents do not even care about how their child is doing or about what their child is doing in class.

The first way I think that we can improve is by putting more effort into our school work and by taking school seriously, not as a joke.  The next way we can improve is that every school that has athletics should make a policy that any student who fails a class cannot play for the whole season, and that any student who is retained cannot play at all during their school years.  I think that if schools made this policy, it would teach students that school is not a game.  Also, if parents put more effort into caring about their child’s education, then we as students will start caring about our education as well.

There are too many reasons for American students to be considered poor students.  In fact, there should be no reason for students to be doing so poorly.  We really need to get our lives together if we want someday to be successful adults.

Second Place: American Teenagers, Poor Students  by Trudy-Ann Evans   (Grade 9)

American students are often such poor students.  I did not know that students in the United States rank at the bottom of the list when it comes to academics. At first I found it very surprising, but the more I thought about it, the easier it became to believe.

There are many reasons why American teenagers might be less educated than teenagers in other countries.  I think the main reason is because American teenagers have it too easy.  Some teenagers in other countries barely have water to drink, so they know that at the end of the day, if they want to make it in life, they have to depend on their education.  Another reason might be because we are distracted by a lot of things—not only by the excessive amount of technology, but also by drugs and sex.

I think that the main way this can be improved is if parents become a lot stricter on their children.  Parents need to show their kids that their education is more important than all the other inauspicious things they watch on TV and see on the Internet.  I also think that teenagers need to stop taking things for granted, because we’re not always going to have the good things in life.

It is very unfortunate that American teenagers rank at the bottom of the list when it comes to academics.  I feel that everyone can always do better if they try harder.  A lot of us like to underestimate ourselves and say we can’t do something, but if we try our best, we can usually do or be anything in life.

A lot of American teenagers need to wake up and smell the coffee because at the end of the day, our education is what’s going to help us in life.