Summary of Freshman Year

The Dance of December

Eagle Rising

An eagle bound to Earth
its feathers tethered to
the ground
His cry would break glass
None paid heed, the sound

He used the weights for reps
Flap, flap, to make his wings
stronger.
The rock that holds him
will soon no longer.

Burden subsided, he
soars high in the
sky free
And heaviness leaves
him to be happy

But strength had
never come
freely.

I like to say that the only bad thing about something good is when it's gone.

Achievement is a wonderful sense. You've worked on something, had low expectations, and next thing you know you've wrote the best speech of 66 other people. Woo-hoo, you say for 15 seconds. And then nothing happens. The principal turns around after congratulating you and you go on with your school stuff.

Our school had been awarded by the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program for its "overall academic excellence" and "progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups." Look it up.

Anyway, the school held a contest for students in each grade to write a speech on a specific event that made our school worthy of this win. Being a new Freshman, it was quite hard to find such an event. I just picked some random event out of the two there were, and next thing I know, I'm talking in front of the entire school students and staff.

Fun.

But I must say it was a pretty uplifting experience. I am glad only a handful of peeps said anything the following Monday, as I was scared of social pressures and all that good stuff. It also did help that this was the first time a principal of my school knew me for something other than my delinquency. And of course, it looks good on a college resume.
Side note, thank to my ELA teacher for editing and of course, my Global History teacher for helping me practice when they both had better things to do. (What kind of adjective is "indescribable?")

Out of this sparked an interest in writing. Of course, it won't some career or anything, as I think a more technical career would pay much nicer (unless you're Ms. Joanne or Mr. Stephen). Perhaps it will be more of a side thing, or perhaps this is just a phase of hobby-exploration, which I hear that teens have many of. (Also, can you end a sentence with a preposition? My French teacher says it was something the Late President Winston Churchill "up with which [he] will not put.")

But I must say, it was nice to be known in the school for something good for a change.