Daniela G

Dear future 8th graders,

You are going to eighth grade, yay! Although being an eighth grader might be strange at first, you get used to it. Some of the most memorable experiences occur in this year. In ELAR class, my class had debates, changemaker presentations, and a fashion show all in one year. With all these assignments, however, come responsibilities, decisions that have to be wisely chosen, and lessons that impact our way of life.

One of the most interesting assignments that my classmates and I had the opportunity to do were the debates. When it came to debates, we were assigned teams and sides. Each member of the team had a job to do. It was the responsibility of each member to do his or her job. If anyone failed to do so, the entire team would suffer the consequences. Accomplishing your responsibilities as an eighth grader will serve you for the better, not only academically, but it will reflect your character as a scholar. With this said, my tip is be responsible.

Throughout the year, we had the changemaker project. For this assignment, we were divided into groups, each with a different topic, and in our groups, we had to create a presentation that would help the community. The plan had to be thoroughly thought out. My team, though, decided to do a presentation with the idea of a car wash. To be frank, the choices my team and I took for the presentation could have been better. Although these decisions did not greatly affect our grade, the options preferred were still not the wisest ones, and, as a result, the grade could have been higher. Assignments are not the only matter that requires wise decision making. The choices related to our integrity need wise choice making. So, make smart choices.

Many of the situations that we faced daily as eighth graders were lessons, whether we realized it or not. This is a fact that you cannot escape. For example, recently, we had a fashion show project. Our teams were chosen by the teacher, which based it off on the people we would have liked to be with. Anyway, when I had gotten my team, I was satisfied. We all worked well together. In the end, my team and I had gotten a really high score. This entire project made me realize that there are in fact people that do help when it comes to assignments, this project, in a sense, helped increase my trust in people. My point, overall, is that you should be prepared to see meaningful lessons daily and be ready to take them.

As you can see, these are only a few tips for eighth-grade year, but they are tips worthy of taking. Be responsible and do your duties as scholar and classmate. Remember to always achieve towards the wisest decision, think through your options. Finally, take a look around you once in a while, and observe the lessons you can draw out from your daily life as an eighth grader. Best of luck!

Sincerely, Daniela.

Some of the most mysterious creatures roamed the forest centuries ago. Creatures like the oxygians. Over time, the populations diminished, and humans, who had forgotten the existence of these creatures, had gone into the forest without fear of what might be in there. One day, a young man, had gone inside the woods. He walked for miles until he saw the unexplainable. Giant Legs that were stuck in a tree. Odd, he thought. He continued to observe what was in front of him. He didn’t realize that what he was looking were the legs of an oxygian coming to life.

My torment  began after I laughed at my brother when he slipped. Honestly, it was hilarious. It looked like he flew off the ground. Anyways, that day I was supposed to take my goldfish to school. However, while I walked, I saw a man on a ladder trying to get his brown cat off the tree. After struggling so much, he finally got his cat. It happened slowly, the man was off balance and fell on me. Then, I went to school with no bowl and no fish. That day I got a fat zero and punished for a month .

“Mom!”, yelled Adam. “Take me to the park!” “Adam”, his mom said sternly, “stop acting like a baby. You are ten years old, act like it. I am not taking you to the park, by the way.” Adam turned to his dad, who was standing next to Adam’s mom, and said,” Dad, take me to the park!, Mom doesn’t want to.” Adam’s dad sighed, frustrated. Then he lowered himself to Adam’s height and said seriously,”Adam, we are not taking you to the park, and we are not, not going to what you want every time. Do you understand?” “Yes”, Adam responded.

A roar echoed throughout the intimidating jungle. Sweat poured from our faces as we ran. My crew and I had been trying to gather more information on tigers that lived, undisturbed, in the jungle. Later, we had found a tiger that was good enough to follow around. Now, we were being chased by that same tiger, running as fast as our feet could go. Another roar, this time closer. Nearing the end of the jungle, I saw the canoe. Then, I froze. The tiger was not chasing us anymore, instead the tiger was blocking out escape. Suddenly, the tiger pounced.

Emma hurried of into the woods with a book. Emma ran with full power, like a fully charged battery. As energetic as she was, Emma only came into the woods to eat a sandwich and enjoy herself. Emma arranged the blanket in a cursory manner and sat down. The white and gold cover she carried shinned. At first, Emma had surmised that the book was special. When, Emma opened the book, the winds shifted. The change in scenery only corroborated her theory. The book now glowed. It levitated and lead Emma to a path. A path where her destiny awaited.

I opened my eyes and  immediately sat up. At least I thought I did. I was standing in an ocean of people. The buildings around me seemed like giant walls that entrapped me. Some people where visible to the sight with regular, modern clothing. Others had a transparent appearance and fancier clothes. I, however, was dressed in all white. That’s when I realized this was not my time period. I was in the present, away from my time, the future. Yet, the ghost weren’t from here. They were the past. The times had intertwined, but only I could see it.

I rose from the heavy snow. An excruciating pain shot through my leg, but I had to get up. Looking around, I saw the bright, white snow had been tainted with red paint. I got the nearest bow and arrow, set a flame on the arrow, and released it. A symbol of our demeaning loss in battle. The other army would be swimming in gold, while we rise from the ashes. For the fire and the arrow also represent the light in the dark, and the hope for tomorrow. We lost a battle, but a war shall be celebrated soon.

About three kids were outside jumping in the trampoline. Most of us were inside, talking. I decide to go out and go in the trampoline. “Do you guys want to go outside and jump?”, I asked. Some rebuffed. I ran to the trampoline, along with some of my friends. Later, the door opened. As the door slammed, I knew the rest of the crew was coming. Minutes after, there was a turbulence inside the trampoline. Someone had even been pushed out, but it was not an excruciating fall. In the end, I enjoyed myself and continued jumping in the trampoline.

August 25, 4015

Photograph?

On July 19, 4015, a strange object was found. The founder, Bob Stuart, stated that he had located this item within the soil in which he was digging. “I had seen a peculiar spot in the earth and decided to grab it. When I saw it, and didn’t know what it was, I immediately dropped it, and ran for the authorities.” While it has been declared that this item was called a photograph 2,000 years ago, it is a dangerous anomaly to people today. Could this be the clue to an unsolved mystery in the 2000s? Or is it a curse?