When I first arrived in August, I expected misery and pain. My older sister had always told me that seventh grade was the grade you get the most work and several hours of homework a night.

But I soon realized, it wasn’t that bad. I had made lots of new friends that were in my classes and the homework wasn’t as bad as I expected it to be.

By October, my life was not where I would have expected it. I actually enjoyed going to school. I know crazy right?!

Eventually I figured out that school wasn’t really so bad. I remember I was scared to death to go into middle school with all the added responsibility and longer school days. I was not looking forward to it at all!

In seventh grade, I learned that with age comes more responsibility and that procrastination take you nowhere in life. This year I would have to do more responsible things not only at school but around the house. All the “grown ups” that I begged and pleaded for more responsibility from finally gave it to me.

As the year comes to a close, I look back and smile. The year I thought I would regret and absolutely hate turned out to be pretty good.

If I had the choice to do it all over again I wouldn’t; I have no regrets about this school year. It’s helped me find out who I really am. Even through the ups and downs of this school year, there’s nothing I would change.

My advice to the new incoming seventh graders would be to attack the school year whole heartedly. Have no regrets and just go for it. Also, never procrastinate or put off assignments. If your given a project due Thursday, don’t start it Wednesday night. Trust me.

Good luck incoming seventh graders; don’t worry the year won’t chew you up and spit you out.

Amy Purdy found her passion for snowboarding when she was only 15. She began competing and decided this was what she was going to do for the rest of her life. Sadly in 1999, Amy had bacterial meningitis giving her only a two percent chance of surviving. She was lucky and survived with the cost of her legs. She became a double- below knee amputee at the age of 19. Everything got better from their until she needed a kidney transplant. Being her daddy’s little girl, her dad willingly gave up his kidney so she could have better health.

Amy never thought she could snowboard again which was something she would have to live with. After a long time, when she was feeling better she decided to give it a try. It felt good to be back out for her but she struggled when her new prothsetics wouldn’t cooperate with the board. With the help and support of her family, she built her own and got right back out there; becoming a Paralympic snowboarder.

Off the slopes, Amy has become an inspiration, a motivational speaker, and even an actress/ model. Amy Purdy shows that you can have a few bumps in the road and still make it to your final destination.

What did the carrot say to the wheat?

” ‘Lettuce’ rest, I’m feeling ‘beet.’ “

What did the paper say to the pen?

“I feel quite all ‘write,’ my friend.”

What did the teapot say to the chalk?

Nothing, you silly . . . teapots can’t talk!

~Shel Silverstein

The reason I like this poem is because it doesn’t have a deep meaning; it is a funny, laughable poem. It also has lots of figurative language and personification which makes it enjoyable to read.

I ripped open the package, not caring that I looked like an angry gorilla to find the soft, black and white plush doll underneath. It was my very own, brand new Webkinz stuffed animal. I had been hoping for this one stuffed animal for months now and finally it was in my hands.

“Pandi” was filled with hours of fun and was covered in fuzzy fur but best of all, she was all mine.

Webkinz are stuffed animals that come with a code to unlock their whole world virtually! You could visit and build a house for your animal(s) all while snuggling with them too. Webkinz come in all different animals and styles. There is the black and white panda like mine, the cocker spaniel, the cocoa lab and many more. No matter what kind of person you are, there is a Webkinz fit for you.

I loved my Webkinz with all my heart. It was the best companion. Even my parents loved my Webkinz. Being a kid meant I had a short attention span and my Webkinz were one of the few things that could keep me entertained for hours.

My Webkinz, Pandi will forever be a part of my childhood. She was there through the good the bad and everything in between.

I live in the sunny place of Austin, Tx. There are so many things you can do and so many sights you can see. Austin would be a great place for any family to visit.

First of all, Austin is the music Capitol of United States. So, if you are looking for great live music, you have come to the right place. Every year Austin hosts ACL or Austin City Limits and SXSW or South by South West. ACL is hosted downtown every year. All kinds of musicians gather and play on one of the many stages so there is sure to be a band or singer you like. This past year (2013) we had Vampire Weekend, Passion Pit, Fun., and many more. SXSW is held yearly where musicians and other celebrities come gather and have a good time. Tickets may be expensive but you can see people like your favorite YouTuber to your favorite musician. This year Tyler Oakley, Zac Efron and Seth Myers were all there. If you love music I’m sure you will love Austin.

Another reason Austin is a good place to visit is the outdoor scene. Downtown there is a place called Zilker Park. It is a spacious place for everyone to come and enjoy the outdoor weather. Pack a picnic and your family is set for a beautiful day. There’s miles of green grass and beautiful trees. You can bring kites and other activities… And even dogs. In Zilker Park, there is Lady Bird Lake. Lady Bird Lake it astonishing, clear blue water running on for miles. A fun thing to do at Lady Bird Lake is to go to the Rowing Dock- a dock where you can rent kayaks, canoes, boats, and paddle boards for the day. Hop on a kayak with you family and you can go down to Red Bud Isle. A small island with hiking trails, places for a picnic and a good time. Or you can go in the opposite direction and go closer to downtown. And, if your around at the right time of year, you can hear all of the music from SXSW and ACL from you kayak. The outdoor scene is gorgeous and will guarantee you with a good time.

All around, Austin is a great place to visit; filled with a breathe taking outdoor scene and lots of live music. I hope you decide to come to visit he Capitol of the Lone Star State.

When I was a kid
I believed many fairytales-
Tooth fairy, Santa, Cookie Monster

As I grew,
I found out they were just lies
I felt cheated, mocked, dumb
Nothing I knew was true

Lies
It was all just a web of lies

Now that I am older,
The cycle repeats and now I must tell this circle of lies

After that, it goes on…
A never ending chain of lies that we all live in

It was going to be a bitter day I just knew it.
Bitter freezing, cold weather.
Bitter test.
Bitter stinky bus.
Bitter day.

It 6:30 when I finally decided to drag my body out of bed. I put on my fuzzy slippers and threw open my closet door trying to decide what to wear. Purple shirt. Blue jeans. Black dress. So many things I had yet, none I wanted to wear. I ran down stairs to at least have my morning breakfast. I choose some hot tea to warm me up and a bowl Cheerios and fresh fruit (mmm… My favorite) to fuel my brain that day. After eating my breakfast, I knew I had to finally get ready. I threw my hair in a ponytail, brushed my teeth, and got dressed. I spent all this time in making myself look presentable for school and of course. Bring. Bring. The phone rang and a automated voice came on saying the words I only dreamed of hearing… “Due to weather conditions, all schools in the district have been canceled.” My prayers have been answered, I didn’t have to take on this bitter, dreadful day of school. My day ended up being pretty well. I crawled back in to fuzzy pajamas, drank hot cocoa, played with my dog, read, and watched Netflix movies.

Best snow day ever!

By: Aubrey I. And Lily S.

Freedom- A state where everyone is equal. It is an important factor in keeping out nation binded all together.

First off, freedom is essential for making a nation successful. We all need to get along for smooth sailing. For instance, with freedom, everyone has the right to make decisions on how to live their own life. Even our constitution gives everyone freedom of speech and the right to protest. As you can see, freedom is the glue that holds our nation together.

As a result of freedom, everyone had an even playing field for an equal shot at life. Wouldn’t you want to have the same chance as everyone else to attend school? For example, public schools now have to allow all kinds of kids, no matter the financial situation or race. It is crucial that everyone has the same chance to do what they want and not have to protest for it.

Nevertheless, freedom is the oil that makes our car run think back to before slavery was abolished. It was a hard, painful time for many and without freedom we could still be stuck in that rut today.

Freedom is important because, we are important.

Photo Credits: Flag Metpmorphoses. Http://flag-metomorphoses.net/tag/usa/, n.d. Web. 5 Feb. 2014.

You may have heard of the book and movie entitled soul surfer. About a young surfer girl who risks her life everyday on the waves and tragically loses an arm to a shark.

Bethany Meilani Hamilton was born February 8, 1990 in Kauai, Hawaii. Taking on after her parents and two older brothers, Bethany loved the beach. Living right on the beach, she would swim and help her father fix surfboards in his shop all day.

Bethany started competing in surfing competitions at the young age of 8. Her first ever competition was the Rell Sun Menehune event in Oahu, where Bethany won both the short and long board divisions. This sparked her love for competitive surfing. She continued to compete in many more surfing competitions and bring home the trophy almost every time.

When Bethany was just a teen, the -accident- happened. It was just a normal day, she was out surfing with her friends when a 14- foot tiger shark came out from below and took off her left arm. This tragic accident took more than 60% of her blood. Her arm had to be amputed. With only one arm, things were quite a struggle. Her family had to help her with almost everything; from making breakfast to putting her hair up.

She let the shark take her arm but she didn’t let it take her spirit. A little over a month later, her and her dad created a surfboard accustomed to Bethany. It had a rope handle on the front allowing her to hold on there since she could grab both sides. This allowed her to stay in the board while under a wave. After a few months of practice and hard work, Bethany was back doing her thing, surfing. In January, 2004 Bethany returned to surfing competitions. She wanted to show people that she could be different and still rise above. She wouldn’t take a pity or sympathy because even through it was harded, she wanted to learn things the right way.

In 2007, Bethany figured out what she wanted to do with her life and became a pro surfers. She gained many sponsors and lots of fans. She inspired many young girls, showing them you can do anything with a little blood, sweat and tears.

Bethany now lives happily at the age of 23 with her husband, Adam Dirk.

Bethany is a person who is a living miracle and shows that anything can happen!

Hellen Keller is a brave and courageous woman. She has fought many battles internally and externally. Helen was born as a healthy child in Tuscumbia, Alabama, on June 27, 1880.
At a very young age she came down with the deadly scarlet fever. With there being no cure, the chances didn’t fall in her favor.

Luckily, Helen survived. It was a sure miracle!

But, there’s a catch, she became both blind and dead. She had to learn to cope with everything new in her life. Her parents realized she was going to have to adapt to her new life. It wasn’t as easy as it seemed. Everyday tasks such as eating became a challenge for her and her family. At the dinner table, she would feel her way around the table and take off of everyone’s plate before they could. Her parents felt sympathy from her and accepted her poor behavior.

After a few years, it had gotten to fair. They Keller family needed help. They called the Nanny McPhee of the time, Anne Sullivan. Anne took hold of the reins and taught young Helen how to be a young lady. She started off with behavior, Helen was forced to learn proper etiquette. With Helen having a difficult time communicating, Anne attempted to teach her sign language. This was their most challenging battle yet. It couldn’t process in Helen’s mind. Her one break through moment was when Anne brought Helen to the water pump and ran water over her hand as she signed
W-A-T-E-R into Helen’s hand.

With success in hand, Anne began to continue teaching Helen how to communicate. After learning sign language and Braille, Helen learned to talk. She would feel Anne’s throat as she would say various words and spelling them into her hand. This taught Helen the vibrations for the words which she could soon replicate.

Helen and Anne’s bond lasted throughout their lives. The two began traveling the world and speaking to crowds seeking inspiration.

Helen Keller became a woman no one could ever forget. Sadly, she passed away on June 1, 1968. She lived a long, successful life of 87 years.

She will always have a special place in the world’s heart.