Sample 1 Life Lessons by XXXXX If We Are an Average Class, in Fifty
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Sample 1 Life Lessons by XXXXX If we are an average class, in fifty years we could possibly be sitting at the eighth grade graduation of our grandchildren. At that time, we will probably not remember many of the details of our junior high experience. We may not remember that Drew Kluemke made it to the National Spelling Bee. We may not remember begin loyalists and patriots in history class with King Ibbotson. We probably won’t remember Mrs. Thomas’s earthquake enthusiasm that sent our third hour class under our desks. We are not likely to remember all of the times that our class made it to state in sports or that Mrs. Henderson and Mr. Farley almost led our scholastic bowl team to victory at regionals. But we should. There are also many aspects from pop culture that we also may not remember. Are we really going to remember our Taylor Swift ring tones or our addictions to My Space and text messaging? Do you think we will remember the “Fans vs. Favorites” season on Survivor , the Soulja Boy dance, or watching The Notebook and crying with our friends? We are not going to remember voting for Kevin Covais on American Idol during our sixth grade year or Sanjaya Malakar in seventh grade; and we might not even remember voting for David Archuleta this year. But there are some memorable life lessons we can take from American Idol . Four of these American Idol lessons illustrate what we have learned from Williamsville Junior High – lessons we should never forget. Lesson One : Just because your mama tells you that you can sing, it doesn’t mean that you can. We have watched as hundreds of people made fools of themselves on national television, and most thought that they were the next big thing. The truth is that few people will ever get that big break. One hundred thousand high school seniors play football every year; only 215 will ever make it on an NFL roster. Of the 215, only a few will ever have pictures hanging in our lockers. Success only comes from hard work and education. So dream your dreams, but at the same time, do you homework. Lesson Two : Choose the right song. We are always tempted to sing the song that is more popular or acceptable. But I have learned that you must sing the song that is right for you. I have learned from my time at WJHS that you have to know who you are and what you can do. Don’t try to be someone you are not. Lesson Three : Listen to the right critic. Paula will always tell you that you are great and she’s your fan; Simon will always tell you that you are forgettable and destined to work on a cruise ship. You have to listen to the right voice. When your friends are telling you one thing, your parents are telling you another thing, and teachers are telling you something else, you have to hear what they all say and follow the truth. Lesson Four : Sing like you are singing your last song. It may seem like we are all still warming up, but we are only guaranteed the opportunities we have today. Live like you are going home tomorrow. If we do have the opportunity to attend the 8 th grade graduations of our grandchildren, we may not remember everything that happened in junior high, but we will definitely remember the life lessons that were learned during our time here. Thank you classmates, friends, and parents for the lasting memories we have made together at WJHS. (596 words) Sample 2 Now Is the Time by XXXXX Now is the time for us to have courage as we leave Williamsville Junior High School and move on to a bigger, different, and more challenging environment in high school. I recognize that we are all vulnerable individuals who are still developing into the kind of person we will be as an adult. A favorite quote of mine, that I hope we will all remember, is stated frequently by Mr. Pruitt. “It’s not IF we will be remembered. It’s HOW we will be remembered.” My challenge to all of us is to respect our differences and help each other develop so that we can be proud of HOW WE will be remembered. While I watched the popular musical Wicked, I found some of the main characters resemble people we will meet throughout our lifetime. Through life, and high school, I expect we will always know of Glenda’s, The Good Witch of the North. These people might not always travel in a bubble (they’ll probably drive a cool car). They will appear to “have it all.” They’ll appear beautiful, smart, popular, and seemingly untouchable. We will also come across individuals who, on the outside, appear less attractive and look different. They might not dress very nice. They might display evil behaviors, and generally, won’t be viewed very positively. Similar to Elfaba, The Wicked Witch of the West. We’ll find ourselves among people who have special needs, or handicaps that unfortunately might lead people to hold minimal expectations for their potential, like Nessa Rose, The Witch of the East. Let’s not leave out Fiyero, the Scare Crow, who is good looking, popular, but brainless. Lastly, there was Boq, the Tin Man. He lacks a heart and he uses people to get what he wants. In our future, I expect we will always know Glenda’s, Elfaba’s, and the others. I believe it is important for us to recognize and respect that we ALL have strengths and positive things about ourselves that need shared and supported. Together, I believe we can create a fantastic story in high school if we remain understanding, courageous, and determined. When I was ten years old, I earned my license to scuba dive. As a ten year old, or even an adult, some would think it is absolutely insane to strap heavy weights on your body and plunge fifty feet in an ocean, relying on air contained in a big tank strapped to your back. Courage and an open mind have allowed me to explore the beautiful and amazing underwater world that most people will only view on television or in pictures. My courage and attitude has allowed me to enjoy adventures such as seeking and finding enormous eels and morays, as they hide in beautiful coral and reef systems. I’ve swum along side of sea turtles, sting rays, lobster, and bigger than eight foot long tarpon fish in their natural habitats. Through perseverance, I’ve been able to find and watch amazing octopi as they hover and transform their beautiful pastel colors underwater. Achieving meaningful goals will take perseverance, a good attitude, and determination. I recognize that we WILL experience disappointments in our future (I’ve certainly had plenty so far). I KNOW that our hard work and efforts won’t always get us what we want. WE WILL face let downs and adversity. I believe champions in life are defined by HOW they respond to their disappointments, their losses, and their set backs. True champions will continue to seek their dreams. They won’t quit when things get tough, or don’t go their way. They will look at what can be done to improve the outcome. A favorite poster that I’ve seen states it well: “You WILL miss 100% of the shots that you don’t take.” Whether your dream is to plunge fifty feet below sea level, soar the sky to explore the solar system, or simply get your driver’s license and own a car, I challenge each and every one of us to let ourselves continue to develop as persons, so that we can ALL become our own champions. Respect yourself. Respect each person’s individualism. Have the courage to maintain strength and perseverance in the face of adversity. (698 words) Sample 3 The Era of Discovery by XXXXX In eighth grade history, we learned about young America and its eras. The Era of Good Feelings and The Era of Reform were just a few of the many different times that mark the changing of our nation. So I decided to give a formal name to my three years at Williamsville Jr. High: The Era of Discovery. The Era of Discovery contains many different things that I learned about life in junior high. It truly surprises me. Jr. High is supposed to be the time that your acne is uncontrollable, drama becomes a way of life, and boys don’t look icky to you anymore. Besides the traditional teenage worries, I’ve tried to make sense out of things that sometimes remain unexplainable. I took the cliché “everything happens for a reason” to the next level. In The Era of Discovery, I found out things I didn’t expect. You’d assume that something that had to do with discovery would be more scientific in the modern day. New life on other planets or cleaner ways to burn fuel are common applications for the word discovery. We often overlook the fact that every day we can discover something new about ourselves. Discoveries can be found anywhere. Sometimes they’re within us; sometimes they’re far away. Sometimes they’re right under our noses, and we haven’t noticed them before. A few weeks ago, I stayed after school for an extra-curricular activity. Nobody was left in the school, and I was the last person here.