SALT Homeschool Connection
LanguageArts
On this page you will find writing samples from some of SALT's Middle and High Schoolers.
Enjoy perusing works from Robin Becker's Grammar and Composition classes as well as Tracy Workman's Creative Writer's Workshop!
How I Got a Snake
by Ashton M.
Grammar/Composition
It was a struggle. A war between beliefs. Two different sides with opposite opinions. It was brutal. Every time the thought of this kind of responsibility crossed my opposer’s mind, it was a hopeless cause. But I would soon learn that persuasion and research will do justice to any argument worth time.
The thought had first crossed my dad’s mind years ago. He had contemplated and desired an addition to his life, a change in his daily procedures. He had hoped and tried, but then he was hit by a “bullet”: my mom. They fought, but his compassion made him susceptible to surrender, and soon did. It wasn’t until recently the tragic outbreak manifested once again, only this time, for the better.
It was around July 2019, when my dad saw a video on YouTube. This video relit a fire extinguished in his heart. This time, because of a previous loss, this “civil war” would be harder to fight. He did, of course, now have my brother and me persuaded in this particular topic, and we were willing to fight alongside him. We also had our sister who would be of no use seeing she had mixed feelings on the subject.
We did research on YouTube, Google, and even talked to some locals. We gathered up our information, persuasive and relative only to our opposer’s opinion, to prove her point wrong. We went back and forth, firing our shots, running out of “ammunition”, and eventually, we pulled it out. Our “engineer” had the perfect idea for an “atomic bomb”: a snake show.
-If you haven’t guessed yet, I have been talking about getting a snake. I have wanted one for a while, and my dad, even longer. -
We were successful in our first endeavor: getting my mom to the snake show. We had to be careful. We were now treading in hazardous territory. We were to be entering a zone where we would find the thing we desired. Though it was our plan, it could go very wrong seeing our targets were not as comprehending as we needed, nor as predictable. We were delicate with the situation, taking heed to the fact that one wrong “step” could set off the “mine field”.
We scouted the area. We pulled the plan together thread by thread. Slowly and steadily, over the course of 5 hours, we worked, keeping all opposing arguments “at bay”, letting our plan fully commence. That’s when our most helpful ally offered us a deal. He had two of our targets and no use for them. We negotiated and eventually got them for free. This would be a monumental turning point in the “war”. My mother found one of our target’s sisters, and she only helped us and our cause. When the time came, we enacted the final faze of our plan. We went accessories shopping for our targets.
-It was very fun to be at the snake show. I had to be careful, but my mom had herself occupied with holding the snakes, which to me doesn’t make any sense. She claims she dislikes snakes, but I think she only means wild ones. -
In the end, we won. I learned two things. Most “decent” human beings (in the sense of not being murderers or despising of animals) can be softened or persuaded by animals. I also learned that persuasion and research will do justice to any argument worth time. We got the snakes, three of them from the show and one from a friend, and also ended up going to another snake show, and getting seven more. We got one more from online and even convinced my mom to let us breed rats. But that’s another story...
The Raid
by Julia A.
Creative Writer's Workshop
Another day, another dollar. Yeah, wouldn’t that be nice, Nylah thought, as her and her friend, Lydia galloped into a new village on horseback. Heads all around turned in their direction as they passed by the residents of this sorry excuse for a village. They continued down the muddy path, scanning for any potential places to stay for the night. A man whose hair was caked in dirt and grime trudged past them, carrying a sack of blighted vegetables. Dirty children poked at a stray cat with a stick in the middle of the road. The cat hissed at Nylah and Lydia as they rode by. Parents called for their children to come inside from behind the doors of their small, stone structures Nylah presumed were their houses. There were scarcely any cattle or horses anywhere around. The whole village reeked of mold and desperation.
“Man, this place is even worse than I imagined.” Lydia said, looking out at all the dirty faces staring back at them.
“I know, right? I’ve never seen so many children in my life.” Nylah said, crinkling her face in disgust, as a child picked up a small, mud-covered carrot that had fallen out of the man’s bag and shoved it into her mouth.
Lydia laughed. “There probably won’t be after Ranger shows up with his raiders,” she said. Nylah had never actually seen a raid, but she didn’t like the sound. She just knew she didn’t want to be a victim. Lydia had allowed her to tag along for this one. She wasn’t sure what exactly their job was, but she figured she’d find out soon enough. They were both part of a larger group of thieves, but Lydia had gotten involved with a few money sources outside their circle.
“This place is an easy target. I’m glad we chose this village instead of the one across the marsh. That would have been a nightmare…” Lydia finished.
They pulled their horses up to an old, wooden shack that seemed to be abandoned.
“Well, this will do until the rest of the group gets here at sundown.” Lydia said, dismounting off her horse. “You want to go and see what treasures we can snag for ourselves before the raiders get here?” she smiled and raised one eyebrow.
“Yeah, sure. I doubt I’ll find anything in this place, though.” Nylah replied.
“You never know. Do you remember when we found fifty gold coins under the floorboards of that old man’s house in the village down by the South Stream?”
“Yeah, he creeped me out but it was totally worth it. What is there to lose, really?” Nylah plopped her bag on the ground. “Just watch the horses and my bags, please.” She said.
“Ok. Bring home the gold, Nylah!” Lydia said enthusiastically.
Nylah scoffed and started walking back down the road the way they came.
​
.......................... click the link below to continue the story
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Avarice: The Desire for Riches
by Mallory C.
Grammar/Composition
The Merriam Webster Dictionary defines avarice as “excessive or insatiable desire for wealth or gain.” According to the catechism of the Catholic Church this is considered one of the Seven Deadly Sins. Greed, materialism, rapacity and cupidity are all synonyms for avarice. When someone has an extreme want for money, wealth, or power it falls under the sin avarice.
The causes and effects of avarice are quite predominant in today’s society. Social media is always showing what we don’t have. It is always trying to show a perfect lifestyle through photos and video clips. Another cause is peer pressure. When we always want what someone else has we become super greedy. The effect of avarice actually leaves people poorer both financially and mentally. When someone spends all their money to get that one thing that they really wanted they will have not enough money after. But it also leaves them wanting more mentally. If someone is only focusing on what they don’t have in their life and only want they want, they are going to be living a very sad life.
Over the course of history many leaders have shown avarice. Adolf Hitler wanted all the power in the world. He was so greedy and he only thought about himself. He wanted fame, power and wealth and he did anything he could to get it. Scrooge, a fictional character, was very greedy for money and didn’t care about other people. Although avarice is a wealth-wanting and money-grabbing sin there are ways to overcome it.
A virtue that goes with avarice is charity. When we focus on the good and positive in our lives by helping and showing compassion towards other people, especially people who can’t afford basic things like food or clothing or people without a place to live, it really can put our life in perspective. For people who are struggling with avarice I would tell them that thankfulness and gratitude are ways to step back and focus on what is good in their own life and what they already have instead of always wanting more.
I know that I have definitely experienced avarice in my own life and I really like this verse, Luke 12:15 “Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” This verse is really helpful when it feels like greed and avarice is taking over. It’s reminding us that someone’s life is not made up of what they have but rather what is in their heart. We should also try to fill our lives with memories and not materials.
Poetry
Free-Verse from Picture Prompt
Creative Writer's Workshop
A night like no other night, a
small lantern in thick fog my
only light. Walking steadily
onward with all fear removed
and a will to fight. My path is
narrow as I follow the railroad
track and the darkness
surrounding me shall not steal
my sight.
-Jadon M.
​
The train tracks beneath my feet,
The thick air that I breathe,
Walking for miles into the darkness of night,
Traveling forward until I find the end,
My lantern as my only friend,
Into the suffocating shadows,
As I walk this path once again
-Julia A.
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Alone.
I wander the railroad
Where does it lead?
I do not know
Illuminated by the golden glow
From the lantern in my hand
But then another light, getting closer
Is it a train or another wanderer?
-Paige W.
The Heart is a Lonely Hunter, but Don't Rely On People Too Much
by Elysia T.
Grammar/Composition
The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter, by Carson McCullers, centers around John Singer, a deaf-mute. The one thing that really stuck out to me was how Singer was so dependent on his friend. He had grown so used to someone making decisions for him that he forgot how to do it for himself
John Singer, the deaf-mute, starts out in Georgia with his friend, a Greek deaf-mute named Antonapoulos. However, his friend begins to develop an obsession with food or anything edible, to the point of his being sent to an asylum. Singer then moves into a boarding house, and there he starts to become sort of like a moral pillar to four other characters: an African American doctor, a wandering protestor, a musically inclined girl, and a cafe owner. All of them have their own problems, and whenever they get the chance, these individuals rant to him about everything that’s on their mind, seeming to forget the fact that Singer would not be able to reply verbally. However, amidst all of this, Singer still thinks all the time of Antonapoulos.
The main flaw with John Singer is that he relies too much on Antonapoulos. His friendship with Antonapoulos is a one-sided relationship. Antonapoulos, with his often childish and immature actions, controls the actions of their lives. When Antonapoulos leaves, Singer is still so integrated in those ways that it affects the way he interacts with other people. When the other misfits are consulting him, they project their own thoughts onto him. While he cannot hear them, he can read their lips, but even then, he does not try to insert his own input. They all interpret his looks or the expressions on his face in their own way, regardless if he can reply or not. For example, the doctor often rants to Singer about how he wants “his people,” the African-American people, to march to Washington and to enforce a social change that entails treating the white people as the black people had been treated. All the while, this doctor interprets Singers little glances and smiles as a sign that the mute supports all of the doctor’s intentions and motives.
The thing that I learned from this book was that one should not depend on one’s friends or other people. This could lead to things like being too influenced by and because of others, and, like John Singer, eventually, forming a habit of waiting too much for others. For example, John Singer never does anything out of the ordinary to correct or give some input. This leads to his being pushed around by all the other people in subtle ways. For example, one of the people who talk to Singer has a habit of drinking excessively whenever he has the chance. Usually that chance is when he spends time with the deaf-mute. As a result, Singer lets him stay over every time and gives the man the meals that were originally meant for himself. Another lesson is that obsessing over a person is very harmful. John Singer is so occupied in planning gifts and visits to Antonapoulos in the asylum, that it becomes the only thing he looks forward to. When Antonapoulos dies, Singer shoots himself that very day.
I think the most important thing I took from this book was to try not to be influenced too much by others. Obsessing over people isn’t healthy, and the obsession itself influences almost everything that one does. Overall, I think this book induces a lot of contemplative moods through the actions and thoughts of the characters.
Aaron
by Kylan M.
Grammar/Composition
There was a kid named Aaron, a tall boy about 6’4” at the age of 17. He was a very chill laid back kid who loved the game of football, was extremely good at it, and had Division 1 offers to lots of schools.
He had a very big championship game coming up that he dedicated his time to, so he stopped hanging with his friends, went to no parties, and trained.
One day was left until his big game and he decided he would take a break from training and go party with some friends from his football team. 12am came and he received a text from his friends saying, “We're on the way to get you.” Aaron got ready and waited. Fifteen minutes later his friends were at his house and Aaron got into the car and they drove to the party.
When they arrived, there were already hundreds of people there. They walked into the house and saw some other friends from their school. They said “Hey” to them and started to have fun.
Thirtyminutes into the party some guys from the team they were playing against walked into the party. They took a couple of drinks and started talking trash to Aaron, trying to annoy him. Aaron’s friends were telling him, “Let's just leave.” Aaron tried walking out of the party with his friends when he got tossed on the floor. Aaron got up. Then he punched the guy in the face, knocking him out on a table, causing a huge fight. The guy's friends then grabbed Aaron's friend, throwing him into a glass table. Aaron tackled the guy who threw his friend onto a glass table, and then started punching. After about five minutes of fighting Aaron and his friends ran to their car and drove away.
While they were driving, Aaron looked back and noticed an all-black vehicle following them, Aaron’s friend then said to him, “Why would you fight him? We told you not to.” They then started speeding up and taking random turns, but the car stayed right on them. After twisting and turning they decided to just stop and talk. They slowed down and got out of the car. When they got out they started walking to the car. As they were walking,the driver rolled down his window, shot both of Aaron's friends and immediately drove away.
As Aaron stood there completely stunned by what had happened, everything started to feel in slow motion for him. He picked up the phone and called the police. When the police arrived they picked up his friends and put them into the ambulance, assuring Aaron that his friends would survive.
Aaron arrived at home and decided to rest before the game. He entered his room, walked straight to his bed and fell asleep. When he woke up, he got ready and went to the hospital to check on his friends. When he arrived he went and saw his friends. He was so relieved to see that they were doing very well,so he left, and went to practice for the game at 7pm.
7pm came and he was in the locker room with his team getting ready. They all then ran out of the locker room with the crowd screaming. The game started and was going well. It was a tie game with a couple of seconds left and Aaron went off running. The quarterback chucked the ball and Aaron jumped, catching the ball on the touchdown. The crowd jumped and screamed. The players ran and jumped on Aaron in joy.
Aaron helped his team win their game that night, but couldn’t help but think about his two friends fighting for their lives in the hospital. Although he knew they would survive, he struggled with his thoughts of what could have happened. His decision to attend a pointless party could have ended with him, as well as his two friends,dying that night. He made a choice to always stay focused on the game, to remain positive and stay away from parties. He was thankful that he and his friends were given another chance at life, and this time he would continue to make much better choices. He learned success from this and realized to never give up and always push through your goals no matter what gets in your way.
Creating Emotion
Writing a scene with different emotions from Picture Prompt
Creative Writer's Workshop
3 Versions by Paige W.
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Simple scene description
The captain glared at the fighting that was spreading to the rest of the crew. Oh how one small dispute could spread when the ship had been away from land too long. The captain raised his flintlock into the air. “ENOUGH!” He fired it, the combined sound of the shot and his yell startling the fighting crew, causing them to freeze where they were. “I won’t have my whole ship fighting over something so trivial. You two!” He pointed at the two who had started the fight, “Take a break from your posts.”
“But cap’n!” One of them started.
“Go!”
“Yes sir!” They both said, scrambling to get below deck before their captain’s wrath was on them.
Happy
The captain laughed at the fighting that was spreading to the rest of the crew. Oh, how one small dispute could spread when the ship had been away from land too long. The captain waved his flintlock in the air and fired it, “THAT’S ENOUGH!” He shouted over the scuffle, causing the men to stop fighting and look at him expectantly. “I can’t have my whole ship fighting over something so trivial,” the captain smiled and shook his head. “You two!” He pointed at the two who had started the fight, “Take a break from your posts why don’t you.”
“But cap’n,” One of them started.
“Go get yourselves a drink!”
“Yes sir!” they both said, rushing below deck.
Angry
The captain sneered at the fighting that was quickly spreading to the rest of the crew. The fighting always spread twice as fast when the ship had been away from land too long. The captain fired his flintlock into the planks of the deck, just missing the foot of one of the fighters. “THAT’S ENOUGH!” He roared over the fray. Everyone stopped fighting, glaring at their other crew members. “I won’t have my whole ship fighting over something so trivial.” He growled, “You two.” He pointed with his gun to the two who started the fight. “Get off my deck, take a break from your posts.”
“Sir-”one of them started.
“GO!”
“Yes sir.” They muttered as they went below deck.
3 Versions by Julia A.
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Simple Scene Description
His heart began to pound as the majestic
ship crashed over the waves, spraying his hair
with cool sea water, closer to the island he
had been yearning to explore ever since his
father told him the old tales. Tales of danger
and adventure, of victories and hardships.
The tales of the ancient temple were finally
springing to life, the only thing standing in
between him and adventure being his own
fear to overcome. The fear of failure, the fear of death. But he wasn’t going to let that stop him. Not now. Not when he was so close.
Reminiscence
His heart began to pound as the majestic ship crashed over the waves, spraying his face with cool sea water. The sound of the waves had always soothed him. As he gazed at the approaching island, he began to recall a tale his father told him many years ago on this very ship. He could remember his charismatic father with his warm smile that brought joy to the hearts of all who met him. His storytelling of the adventures to the ancient temple were always filled with twists and turns, and the way he delivered each line had all who were listening on the edge of their seat. He smiled as he replayed his father’s voice in his head, urging him to explore the island one day, as he grew old and never got the chance to. As the setting sun casted beams of light over him and his crew, he took a longing look at the path that lay ahead of him. “This is for you, father.” He whispered before sailing on to meet his destiny.
Angry
His heart began to sink as the sturdy ship crashed over the waves, spraying cold sea water all over his face. The ship neared closer to the barren island he vowed never to return to again. He furrowed his brow and shouted orders at his crew. He remembered the tales his loony old dad would tell him right on this ship. His father who would bark commands at him ever since he could remember. The one time he had been to this wretched island was an experience forced upon him by his father. He wished this cursed ship would sink right where it was. But he was caught in a promise, and he was always a man of his word, even if it meant returning to the very place he wished to destroy.
Nearly Heaven
by Samantha B.
Grammar/Composition
This beautiful but perilous little mountain getaway, which is in Georgia, sits on Mountain Uniqua. The scaly jagged rocks lie perfectly on top of each other, so nothing falls out of place. A light dusting of garnishing snow rests perfectly on each tree. There is one crooked tree that sits on the very edge of the cliff with a couple of roots keeping it from plummeting straight through the vertically faced keen-honed rocks. The tree has uneven engraved lettering that reads, “Tilly”. The pastel purple and orange colors that have been cast on the rocks look like a luminous heavenly choir scene.
In the chasm are hordes of abundant botanical gardens. Not one rock is seen because each one is dressed ever so beautifully in the majesty of our Creator’s artwork. On top of each rock are trees of which roots penetrate the solid rock and somehow manage to extract nutrients from the thick soil below. Each rock is separated with a barrier of pine. From afar, the deep redness can be mistaken for oozing lava falling slowly into each groove.
It is still morning so a soft velveting fog lies peacefully over the elevated cliff. The water fall in the chasm sounds pleasant, not too loud nor too soft. Birds chirp around the sweet berry bush looking for anything to fashion a warm nest for their cup-sized hatchlings to nest in. Snakes creep along the chasm floor in search of a tasty bite to munch on. A golden glare from the sun shines on the chasm, giving everything a sense of life. To top off this gorgeous getaway, the sweet smell of nature and bee honey perfume the whole area, making this unknown habitat a near-heaven experience.
Poetry
Acrostic & Haiku
Creative Writer's Workshop
D rop it
I t won’t break
A stone so valuable
M ake it into jewelry
O nly shining bright
N ever ceasing to amaze
D azzling in the sunlight
- Julia A.
Green turns to red hues
The trees shed their dying leaves
With the autumn breeze
- Julia A.
Frostbite
White pain on my skin
A crisp cold burn on my tongue
It’s sharp, I taste blood
- Paige W.
"Speak Life" the Musical
by Nathaniel B.
Grammar/Composition
The first thing I hear is the rumble of the seventh graders’ feet, slamming and rubbing on the bleachers, causing an excruciating noise to echo across the massive school gym. I hear their voices as they call out at each other, calling their friends’ names and messing around with each other as the teachers are putting mounds of effort into settling them down. What on earth am I here for? Who are those voices on the other side of this curtain? Why is it so dark? Suddenly I realize what is happening. I am in a performance… a performance that is about to start! I open my eyes and see that I am surrounded by curtains and my cast members. I realize the crowd of middle schoolers have shut their mouths. A school bell indicates that the show has started. In front of me is a line of my cast members (my friends) and they all are in a queue leading to a door that leads onto the stage. Suddenly music starts blasting through the air and that is the cue for my friends and me to come out of our hiding. Elizabeth, the first one in the line, swings the door open and enters the stage. Immediately afterwards the person behind her files onto the stage. Soon enough I realize it is now my turn to walk through that door. I walk forward. The second I step onto the stage all I see are lights viciously beaming into my eyes. Here we go…
***
“Oh my gosh! The show went PERFECTLY!” Lexi screams as we all start making our way to the dressing rooms to get into our tour outfits. After this we will sit in on lunch with the whole school. We will get to speak with them and see how the show has impacted their life and just to hang with them.
“Yeah! It really did,” I reply.
Lexi and I split to our separate changing rooms and I soon enough get my tour outfit on. About five minutes later the whole cast is ready to head to the cafeteria to hang out with the kids. We are first going to meet with the seventh graders and, later on, the eighth graders. As we make our way there we laugh and talk about how much fun we had doing the three shows for each different grade.
“Hey, Nano, why did you scream at me so loud in the artsy scene? Man, that was hilarious,” Lexi says.
“Oh yeah. I was just getting into character,” I say with a playful grin on my face.
“Oh yeah, right!” she replies, elbowing me in the shoulder.
Despite the fact that we are all pretty terrified to go into the cafeteria with those kids, we still laugh with each other and try blocking off the imminent terror that is behind those doors, which are currently right in front of my face. Aw, dang it. Why do I have to be the first one in the cafeteria?Behind me all of my friends cheer me on saying “NANO! NANO! NANO!” Ah jeez. I open the double doors revealing the rows and rows of middle school kids. For a couple seconds they don’t realize that we all just entered the room. Then all of a sudden hundreds of pairs of eyes dart our way. The room goes quiet for five seconds and then a ton of cheers and chants start cracking through the air. “YEAH!” all of the school says in unison. They keep yelling until some of the teachers start telling them to sit back down and wait for us to come to them, but most of the kids didn’t listen a single bit. About a hundred kids sprint our way, bumping through each other just to get to us. I start hearing kids calling out names of different cast members and asking us for autographs, Instagrams, and Tik-toks. My friend Kage and I get bombarded by nearly thirty kids, a majority of them girls. What on earth?! These kids are crazy!
A group of girls shuffles their way over to Kage and me. “Hey can we take a picture with you?” Kage (the one who does all the talking) says, “Yes! Of Course!” and as soon as he says it the group surrounds us and one girl stands in front of us holding the camera. We say “cheese” and the group of girls gives us all hugs and they all walk away, still staring at us as they take their seats. I spot all of my fellow cast members and see that I am not the only one getting bombarded by kids. I see my brother with my friend Mish, both talking to kids at the table they are sitting at. I see Lexi being asked for her phone number by a group of boys. I see my friend Alexa being given a leaf by a seventh grader. What even…?After a bell signals that its time for the kids to go back to their classes, they all start getting up and giving us hugs goodbye and slowly walking out the door.
***
The eighth graders are a little more quiet and introverted than the seventh graders were. They don’t seem to have as much of an interest in us as the seventh graders did. They all stay sitting at their tables and stick with talking to their friends. That being so, now weare the ones who have to walk over to them. For me, it is two times scarier than it was with the younger kids. What feels like an eternity passes, as we awkwardly walk around the tables, looking for someone who looks like they want us to sit with them, and the kids pack up their lunches and throw their backpacks over their shoulders and walk out the double doors.
After the last of them leave we all start packing up our lunches and heading back into the gym, which is where we perform. After three minutes we finally make it back to the gym and start waiting for our next show to start (It will happen at 8:00 and it is currently about 3:00). We all start pulling out our blankets and pillows to sleep through this long wait. Then as I lie down with a big group of my friends we all start watching Disney+ on my friend Lexi’s phone. We lie in a circle with blankets scattered on the gym floor (We were not going to sleep on the bleachers… those things were disgusting). Suddenly EDM music starts playing and we all slowly start standing up. I realize the director’s son, Tyler, has connected his phone to the speaker system and has started playing his music. The whole cast starts laughing and one by one we start dancing to the music. Soon enough we all are dancing and having fun, laughing and smiling at each other as we wait for our last show of the day to come.
VBS Play
by JoJo A.
Grammar/Composition
Every year in June my church holds a play for Vacation Bible School, and many kids from our youth group volunteer. Last year was my second time volunteering for the event. Every kid signs up for drama. The drama team is in charge of the play. Everyone gets there assigned role. My brother is in charge of that particular team. I Rehearsed like everybody else and my brother gave me the role of narrator for the play. I was so scared. I practiced every day, even though all I had to do was read words on a piece of paper.
On rehearsal days I would be so nervous that I would stutter so badly I would mess up wholescenes. My brother just told me to relax, but I always had a hard time relaxing. When I was littleI would have such bad anxiety attacks that I would throw up! So now I had to speak in front of a whole bunch of people. I was scared that if I messed up that people would gossip about me and no one would like me. And by thinking that, I did what I didn't want to do: messed up!
The day came closer for us to perform in front of people. My stomach turned and I was always light-headed. But as the days got closer the whole team got better. I don’t like to brag but I improved in my reading skills greatly, and we were able to get through whole performances without any interruptions. The director (my brother) was so happy that we were finally getting it down. He was even happier that I stopped stuttering! Everything was going according to plan.
A few weeks before VBS, one of the actors could not play her part and that set us off track. Maddie, the girl who dropped, had many health problems, and that got in the way of her performing. We were all really sad for her, because we knew how much she wanted to be a part of the play, and her health was stopping her. Leonard (my brother) had another girl play the part. The other girl was good at the part, but no one could do it as well as Maddie. The new girl had only three weeks to learn all her lines. Right when we thought we were on top of it we fell right back down. Leonard thought we would never make it, but the girl learned her lines in one week!
On the last day to practice Leonard said, “I am so proud of you all. Y’all did your best. But remember do it for the Lord, not yourselves.” We all took his kind word of wisdom and acted to the best of our abilities. The day came. The lights dimmed, and it was time to act. When my friend Ian walked on stage I said my first line. It turned out fine. The whole play went smoothly and we finished gracefully. We did the same thing the next day and the next. My fears subsided and I was able to narrate the whole play. I learned that I should not be afraid to try something new. A lot of people complimented me, and honestly, it made me feel like I did a good job.
Planet 87-E
by Paige W.
Creative Writer's Workshop
“Now docking at: port A” said the shuttle’s computer, “welcome to Planet 87-E, also known as Caeli, home of Hyacinth McCarthy, executive manager of the irrigation department at Terra Inc.”
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“Gosh, stop talking,” said Star, the only other living thing in the empty shuttle compartment, which looked much bigger than it actually was, due to just how empty it was. Her violet scales contrasted violently with the white and grey of the room. She flicked her tail impatiently, making the black chains around her ankles rattle. “I want to be outsidealready.” Her scales were dull, I observed. Presumably from being inside all the time. They were, however, the only dull thing about her. “Have you ever been outside Iris?” Her eyes flashed as she turned to me.
​
“Me?” I said. Despite the fact that I was the only person in the compartment to talk to, I was still surprised to be spoken to at all. “Oh, yes.” My companion had been very talkative the whole ride, surely, I had been spoken too more today than I had been in the past five years.
​
“The first time I was outside was when they took me to the shuttle.” She beat her wings in excitement, filling the compartment and pulling on the metal clip that held them closed at the wrist as she tried to open them.
​
PHHHHSSSH
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Pressurized air rushed out of the compartment as our human handler opened the door. She grabbed the chains that lead from the collars around our necks and yanked us onto our hind legs and outside. The humans liked us to walk on two legs. I didn’t mind, I was comfortable walking on four or two, but I had noticed that walking on two legs made it harder to walk quietly. Light from the sun of solar-system 87 shimmered and danced off of my white scales, and turned blue as it fell through the blue-green membrane between my wings. Our claws clicked on the metal of the port floor, which quickly turned to grass. It felt nice on my talons, and the sun felt nice on my scales. As I stretched my arms up towards the sky, teal sparkles reflected off of my underbelly and shone all over the grass, Star, and our handler’s face.
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Worship Music
by Dylan R.
Grammar/Composition
Do you have a favorite type of music genre you love to listen to on a daily basis? With there being so many types of different music genres, a lot of them are very good and catchy, so it can be a hard decision for some people. For me, my favorite genre is contemporary worship music (CWM).
Christian music has grown over the course of time and is actually becoming similar to pop music. Instruments typically used in this specific music genre are: vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, drums, bass guitar, keyboards, piano, and synthesizer. There are a couple of other popular styles of worship music such as Christian rock and Christian hip hop. The genre became known as contemporary Christian music as an outcome of the Jesus movement in the later 1960s and early 1970s. It was originally called Jesus music.
I listen to worship music every day, because for me it has made a very big impact in my life. It always sets a positive tone in my heart. When I really press into the words and meaning of the songs, they quiet my soul and bring me closer to Jesus. Whenever I deal with stress, anxiety, and doubt, I immediately listen to worship music. It never fails to take my mind off of the negative and unfaithful things in the world. It is my favorite way to get into my quiet time with the Lord, whether I’m praying and talking to the Lord or sometimes just quiet and eagerly waiting to hear His voice.
Another one of the reasons why I love this type of music, is because I found myself wanting to play an instrument that would be involved in worship music. So I chose to learn how to play the acoustic guitar, and I have been playing for almost three years now. I’ve learned how to play so many worship songs. It definitely has been something I have been able to grown in the Lord with, and hopefully I will use it to guide people to Jesus. Playing worship music with my guitar will always be my way of representing God in my everyday life.
I would recommend worship music to anyone, it can make a difference in anybody’s life and turn things around for good and point back to Jesus. And in my opinion it is the best way to calm your heart whether things are going really good or may seem like things are the worst they have been.
Social Influence and Peer Pressure
by Canyon S.
Grammar/Composition
People can have a big influence on what we think and do. Sometimes they can make us do something that we might not want to do but we feel pressured by a group or person to do. This is called peer pressure. They also have social influence on us. This is when we do something because we want to feel socially accepted.
A time I experienced peer-pressure was when I was in the 6th grade. The soccer team and I were all sitting in the bus after our game. Our coach was off the bus and we were all alone. There was only one girl on the team, “Beth”, and the rest were boys. One of the boys on the team, “Jim”, had a crush on “Beth”. So, he played truth or dare with her and she chose dare. He dared her to kiss him in front of everyone. Immediately I could tell that she was uncomfortable in the situation. She said no to the dare but everyone kept chanting for them to kiss. So, she fell under the pressure of others and kissed him.
You can see social influence everywhere in today's culture. From what shoes we wear, what music we listen to, even what our hair looks like. So many times I've seen myself and others conform to what society likes. High School is where we see this the most. It's when we feel most pressured to be like others.
I experienced something like this when I was in middle school. A lot of my friends were changing to what was culturally trending. So, naturally I wanted to also fit in, so I changed. I started to talk and act differently. I changed in a negative way. During 8th grade I took a step back and did a self examination and realised that the way I was acting wasn't good. I took steps to change myself for the better. I am still trying to do so but there were and still will be struggles that I need to fight through.
From these stories and interactions with social influence and peer-pressure I’ve learnt that people have the ability to alter our feelings and actions about something. We should never do something just because someone wants us to or pushes us towards it. When in those situations the best thing to do is get away if you can. It is always better to be safe than sorry.
Ricky
by Isaiah W.
Grammar/Composition
My dog Ricky is a bothersome
combination of a jumpy Catahoula and
a sneaky and smart bull terrier. He may
look innocent with his sad eyebrows
but don’t let that fool you. He is silent
and greedy. Ricky will jump over any
gate or fence even a 5 foot one. His
small nimble body lets him walk past
you undetected. If you catch him doing something bad he will run away.
Ricky is about one and a half feet tall with short hair and muscular legs and body. His face is shaped like an egg and he is white with black and brown splotches. His tail is small and skinny and his ears switch between floppy and straight. He also has blue eyes and looks suspicious.
The worst thing you can hear from Ricky is when he is scratching on something with his long claws. It sounds like nails on chalkboard. His bark and growl are loud and deep, and his walking is silent. He whines and barks every ten seconds and always wants to go in and out of the house, especially when another dog is outside.
Ricky’s fur is waxy and smooth and his coat is flat. He is light and strong but he smells musty and gaseous. It hurts when he jumps at you with his sharp claws and teeth.
He switches between hyper and calm, but when he is hyper he goes crazy. Imagine a white and brown block of meat bouncing around the house, jumping on all the furniture and going under the tables and chairs. That’s basically what its like when Ricky goes hyper. Then after about 10 minutes of this, he gets extremely tired and goes in his kennel and won’t get out unless you drag him. He also digs massive holes when you take him outside, then he puts stuff in them, such as; dog toys, bones, people’s clothes, random objects from the floor, etc. When he gets all dirty he goes in the house and shakes the dirt onto the floor and anything around him.
Even though he may be annoying, sneaky, and greedy, he is my dog and I will take care of him.
Poetry
Free-Verse from Picture Prompts
Creative Writer's Workshop
Steady your breath
Relax your body
Pay close attention to the most miniscule details
Watch the shadows
You are an artist, they are the canvas
The frosty air is still
Do not hesitate for even a moment
If you waver, your chance may be lost forever
That’s one less shadow that’s out of place
-Aidan J.
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The wind hits my arms with a mighty push, a push that turned the smallest of rain drops to thorns from a bush.
Hitting the rocks never with poise, behind me a monster made up of noise and distrustful water that can also bring joy.
As I walk alone was it meant to be, just a girl stuck between the land and the sea.
-PJ B.
A Story I Learned From my Mom
by Amanda S.
Grammar/Composition
My mother was in a domestically violent marriage and it took her 17 years to be set free from the abuse. I have listened to stories on the news or website articles talking about all types of domestic violence and it’s awful, but my mom’s story made me feel some type of way and it made me think. She is a very sweet and excellent teacher who cares for others deeply; it’s hard to imagine how she entirely lost her sense of worth and practically basic human rights due to one person. My mother’s experience with domestic violence has opened my eyes to the characteristics of abusive people and made me beware of letting myself fall into that situation.
What is thought of abusive partners? That they have a stereotypical aggressive and harmful nature, which seems to be easy to avoid. However, many abusers are excellent liars and put on a persona to get their way or trick others. In my mother’s words, her ex partner was the most caring and courteous man she’s ever met. He would be friendly to everyone around her, like friends and family, and made her feel special. Nevertheless, there was a warning sign telling her she was in a bad relationship. She met his family for the first time and they discussed getting married, but his sisters pulled my mother to the side and warned her not to marry him. They told her he was in reality mean and disrespectful to their own mother and it would be best not to marry him. She couldn’t fathom the words she was hearing; how could someone be so sweet and loving but also be cruel and mean? Well, after getting married he started to loosen his persona and show his true self: an aggressive and controlling partner.
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Wrath
by PJ B.
Grammar/Composition
Wrath has plagued mankind since the beginning of time and still affects people today, but what is wrath? “Wrath: strong vengeful anger or indignation'' is how the Webster’s dictionary describes it. To be a little bit more in depth, wrath is an emotion of extreme anger that can affect a person both mentally and physically. When a man’s mind is filled with wrath, he becomes irrational and harsh which causes him to verbally and physically abuse people and his surroundings. People all around the world are being affected by this: crimes are committed, wars are started, and people are hurt or even killed due to the wrath of others. There are many problems with wrath but God gives us the tools to fix them
There is a big problem with wrath when it is in the hands of man. Without the guidance of God, a vengeful and angry man is dangerous. The world today is no help with this; most major media today only spread news on the tragic events that are happening. The pessimism of media all around the world fills people with wrath causing them to want to act out on how they feel, but this is unrighteous. Doing this we are acting out of the satisfying of our own emotions, instead of listening to what God wants us to do about the situation. When we act out on emotions, we tend to think irrationally, causing more problems than the ones we set out to fix in the first place.
James 1:19-20 says, “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath. For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.” Reading this we can begin to understand how God wants us to think of wrath. Now this does not mean wrath is unholy; there are two types of wrath, the wrath of man and the wrath of God.
The wrath of God works not out of unrighteousness but rather against ungodliness. As we see in the Bible, when God shows wrath it is to fix the problems set out by the foolishness of man. For example, the great flood: during the time of Noah the Bible says people were so wicked they thought about evil all the time. These tendencies of man’s wrath upon the world created nothing but problems that were only to be fixed by the wrath of God. So, as we know, God sent a great flood; for forty days and forty nights it rained, until the world was swallowed in water. But God’s wrath didn’t only bring destruction, he was merciful by allowing Noah and his family to build the Ark and allow two of every animal to ride out the storm with them.
As we can see, God’s wrath isn’t a bad thing; it is more so a solution to fix problems created by man. The Bible tells us many ways man can deal with wrath, whether it’s our wrath or the wrath of others. The Bible wants us to be careful about what we think, because we become what we think. So, if all we think about is anger and wrath then we will become wrathful. It also tells us to pray; if we pray and ask God to help us, He will lead us out of anger and to where he wants us to be. Proverbs 29:11 says, “Fools give full vent to their rage, but the wise brings calm in the end.” People tend to use anger as an excuse for destruction. Some even acknowledge the fact that they are being irrational yet ignore it in order to vent their anger; but the wise man does not do this. Instead the Bible says to remain calm in times of turmoil and ask God what He wants us to do. The Bible is very persistent on telling us how important it is to ask God for help. Proverbs 17:16 “It does a fool no good to spend money on education, because a fool has no common sense.” No man is wise without God, but he can be by asking God for help; and if he does this, God will give him wisdom.
Personally, I have acted out of emotions a lot in my life, and because of this my wrath has hurt other people. Because I was careless and controlled by emotions, I said things to people that I would never say if I were thinking rationally. And that’s the problem with wrath: when in the hands of man, it only creates problems for God to fix. I hope one day the world will come to realize that we don’t always need to be angry or mad at something, that we can enjoy fellowship with other people and with God in peace.
“Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever.” Daniel 12:3