Freshmen Published by Creative Communication
Fourteen freshmen students' essays have been selected to be published in "Celebrating What is Important to Me" by Creative Communication. The student essays were written as a writing assignment in Mrs. Holzwarth's English I class. The requirements for the students in writing their essays was produce clear and coherent writing in which style is appropriate to the task, purpose, and audience.
Bonna Worthen, Assistant Editor of Creative Communication, stated, "It is such a pleasure to read through so many excellent essays in the freshmen packet submitted. Ordinarily about half of the essays sent in are rejected during preliminary judging. However from the packet sent, it had an extremely high percentage accepted. This is very unusual."
"With that letter received, I was thrilled for my freshmen. Ninety-three percent of their submitted essays were selected for publication. What a great honor for these students! Many of their essays can definitely touch your heart in their writing! I'm very proud of their accomplishments!" exclaimed Mrs. Holzwarth, freshmen Language Arts instructor.
The selected freshman essays are below.
The Rollercoaster I’m On
by Danielle Frink
Most people think their freshmen year as being the scariest point in their life. Many people would be correct. Freshmen year is probably the longest year of your high school career. You get introduced to new teachers and upperclassmen. Frightening right? Here is my freshmen year roller coaster.
The first day back to school I was nervous; I was nauseous and most of all I was scared. I went to my locker, put my bag and binder into it. I waited at my locker for my sister. We headed to breakfast together. Everyone in the cafeteria looked straight at us. This made me even more nervous. I honestly didn't know how I was going to get through that day.
After my first day, I got home relieved I even made it through a half day. I threw my backpack on my bed, got on the computer, and thought about how this year was going to be. I knew there was going to be drama. I was more than positive there was going to be heartaches. I also knew I would gain and lose friends. What I didn't know was, if I could handle my freshmen year or not. I don't know why, but kept doubting myself.
Now that I'm towards the end of my freshmen year I realize I shouldn't have doubted myself. I regret nothing from this year. This year has made me a better person. It has pushed me past my limits and has thrown me on the ground so many times. It didn't phase me, though. As I like to say, "It doesn't matter how many times you fall, it matters how fast you get up." So there is the roller coaster of my freshmen year I'm on. What's your life's roller coaster?
Manhattan Bound
by Jenna Confer
On Friday, January 24, my friends and I loaded up in a car and headed to Manhattan, Kansas, for a special band clinic. I had my bacon and cheddar goldfish puffs in one hand and of course my phone in the other. I was ready for the journey.
When we arrived in Manhattan, we went to our hotel and let me tell you it was fancy. To make it even better, the Kansas University women's basketball team was staying there also! After we checked into our hotel, we headed to the K-State campus and started warming up for auditions. Around 3:30, I went in for my audition. I thought it went really well.
Later that night I found out I had earned second chair, fifth part. I was super excited and text my mom right away. Right after we found out what chair we received, we headed to our bands. That night we practiced two and a half hours.
The next morning we started practice at 8:30 in the morning and ended around 9:00 at night. I love band, but ten hours is a little much for me. While we practiced, I got to meet some really cool people.
Some workshops I participated in were a master's class about my clarinet, and an all woodwind sectional class. Both classes were very interesting.
After being in such a big band, I realize I wanted to play more instruments than just my clarinet. Before I graduate from high school, I want to be able to play the bass clarinet, saxaphone, and the oboe.
During this clinic, I learned so many cool things about what I love most. I hope to attend next year. Have you ever attended K-State Band Clinic?
“The Big Dipper”
by Jeremiah Neitzel
Has anyone ever heard of Wilt Chamberlain? If not, I’m here to tell about a remarkable basketball player.
Wilt was a 7 foot 2 inch monster with a 7 foot 1 inch wingspan. Which was highly rare for a man to be 7 foot, so when you see Wilt it’s a scary sight. He has been a gigantic kid all his life even in high school.
In high school, Wilt loved the University of Kansas and he had his mind set where he was going to go. He played every single season except his senior year at KU. Wilt averaged 33 points per game and an imaginable 25 rebounds a game. Safe to say, Wilt was a basketball prodigy. He was well underway for having a remarkable career in the pros.
Having such an amazing career in college, he was almost guaranteed to be drafted into the pros. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Warriors where he spent his first five years. In his third year of his career, Wilt set an imaginable record never thought to be even possible. On March 2nd, 1962, at Hershey Sports Arena, Wilt scored 100 hundred points in one game. Wilt had so many records in one game it’s hard to explain them all.
Wilt had a very sad ending to his life on March 1st, 1998. “The Big Dipper” died unexpectedly in Bel Air, Hollywood. Wilt Chamberlain will be included for the rest of his life as the most notable “Big Man” in the game.
The Wilderness
by Taryn Zweygardt
If anyone is ever looking for a vacation away from all of the stress of modern day life, they should go to the wilderness. There is no better place to go than the wilderness. Going there can get you away from the hustle and bustle of modern day life.
Wilderness can be found where civilization has not yet reached. There are many geologically diverse terrains. They can be from arctic to desert terrain. Each of these terrains have their own magnificence which can’t be find anywhere else.
There are many activities to be done in the wilderness. You can hunt, hike, and camp. If you are taking part in any of these activities, make sure you have the right supplies to do them.
Some of the supplies you could bring would be a map and a compass. These are essential because anything can happen while you are out in the wilderness. A rockslide can occur or maybe the vehicle breaks down in the middle of nowhere then they will come in handy.
The wilderness can be the most beautiful place in the world, or the most deadly. With wild creatures and society far from sight, it can be hard to survive without the right set of skills. If they are acquired; however, it may be a walk in the park, but you never know.
The best thing to do right before you go hiking, camping, or hunting is to tell someone when and where you are going and when you will be back. This is the only way to guarantee someone will come to your rescue if you get lost in the wilderness. If you do get lost, just remember to stay calm and try to survive the day.
If you were adventurous enough to go explore the wilderness, you know what beauty and danger is contained in the wilderness. For all the others who haven’t gone to the wilderness, would you explore it? Could you take the risk of being lost? Would you able to handle the wilderness?
Gulf of Mexico
by J. R. Landenberger
My parents were looking for a place to buy a new camper and Corpus Christi, Texas was the place to go. My parents, sister, and I traveled there to get it. Then next summer we decided to go back down for a vacation and took my cousin with us.
I thought it would be fun for my cousin Wyatt to go with my parents, sister, and I. The farthest away from St. Francis he has been is Kansas City. He said he absolutely loved the Gulf of Mexico because the water is somewhat warm and the beach was just amazing to him. The weather while we were down there was perfect except for one day, it was really windy.
Everyday we would go to the beach two or three times because it was so fun playing in the crashing waves. If we weren’t at the beach, we would be fishing. I learned a new style of fishing down there and I fell in love with it. The style of fishing I learned is called cast netting. It’s basically a rope tied to a net and it is super fun to do! While we were fishing one day, my dad caught a huge red fish on the surf side of the jeti. I caught a few little rock fish, but it was nothing compared to his red fish.
Another fun thing we did there was we visited the U.S.S. Lexington. It was really awesome seeing the guns and planes on the ship and being adventurous through the ship’s tunnels. It was really easy to get lost in the ship and it was very hot! What is the farthest away from home you have been?
It’s a Wonderful Life
by Katie Schmid
What??? Whoa! Whoa! You’re telling me life is wonderful; even though, I’m getting bullied, failing, and having trouble with family? That is exactly what I’m telling you. Life is what you make it, so make it wonderful. Having struggles is just another way in building character and confidence in this wonderful life.
Let me explain to you what may seem a confusing topic. The truth is everyone has a life full of wonder and excitement. People have ups and downs, but isn’t that what makes us stronger? We can’t go crawling around hiding like a scaredy cat. We need to get up again and again telling ourselves we can overcome.
Everyone has their own reason of being alive and living for choices which can build them up. I have a huge reason which some people haven’t realized yet. I live for something bigger and better than anything anyone could ever imagine. I live for God, the number one reason I’m alive today. I know it may sound crazy, but without Him, I wouldn’t be alive and writing this essay.
There are several ways of knowing your reason. Maybe it is school, work, family, or even friends. Don’t give up! Keep trying to find a reason because I know deep down you have one. Being loved is the second reason we should all be here. Without love, there is no hope. Be courageous and take chances with your life. How is your life, wonderful? What is your reason for living?
Chevrolet Stingray
by Jacob Hamilton
Stingrays are the first Chevrolet sports car that changed the automotive world. The Chevy Stingray was introduced in 1953. It was one of Chevrolet's first sports car.
Most of the Stingrays in the ‘50’s were owned by the rich and famous people, mainly because they were very high priced at the time. Many people in the ‘50’s thought the stingray was weird because it had a fiberglass body in a time when all cars were built with bulky metal.
Stingrays in the ‘50’s had a two speed manual transmission, a fiberglass body, and clip on windows. In 1955 the stingray had a V8 motor fitted to it. In ‘57 Stingrays got many upgrades like an automatic three speed transmission, roll up glass windows, and a split back window. By ‘63 it was put into mass production and released to the public with a V10 motor.
The Stingray was mainly used for racing throughout the United States. Chevrolet was losing business because critics said the car lacked comfort so Chevy made adjustments. Some adjustments made were more comfortable interior seats and a new suspension system. The car also had a wider wheel base to make the ride that much more comfortable. By then, the Ford Thunderbird was the only rival to Chevrolet stingray.
Chevy has made the car more comfortable with many changes including a V12 motor. These changes have put the stingray near the top of the list for fast and comfortable cars.
How would you like to ride in a Chevrolet Stingray?
Track Star
by Trinity Weers
Have you ever been interested in track? Track is a very competitive sport. It gets very mental and physical. If you’re a trackster, it’s always beneficial to train all year long.
The first step to getting into track is eligibility. If the trackster doesn't have decent grades, he will not be able to perform in track meets. School always comes before anything, and some people learn that the hard way. When you’re the track star at school and you’re not eligible, your team will get very mad at you.
I feel tracksters need to train at least five times a week, if you want to be the best you can be. It’s always beneficial to stretch and warm-up before starting to train. If you’re a sprinter, you might run 15 sprints a day. Distance runners might run 30 minutes a day. Throwers might throw the shot 15 to 20 times a day.
When in track, I feel it’s always caring to have family or your coach motivating you to keep you training and competing. My cousin Eric received a scholarship for cross country and track. He motivates me to train year around. It’s a great help to have a motivator.
You can’t forget about competing. Track can be very competitive, mentally and physically. The physical part comes in when you have been training and are prepared for the big race. The mental part comes in when the trackster knows he will win and has self-confidence. Do you think you have what it takes to be a track star?
Bolt of Lightning
by Quinton Cravens
Have you heard of anybody who can run 100 meters in 9.58 seconds? I have and he holds the world record time in the Olympics. His name is Usain Bolt from the Jamaican Islands.
Usain is the kind of guy who comes around ever so rarely on earth. He is six feet five inches tall which helps his chances in winning with his long stride. Usain takes 41 steps in the race compared to his opponents who take 44.
Usain Bolt is the highest paid athlete to ever run track and field. I can see why he is the fastest man to ever live. He holds the Olympic world record for the 100 and 200 meter races. Usain is also the only person to ever win six gold medals at one Olympic meet.
Usaine’s training method is all day, everyday. Everyday he wakes up and has the attitude to improve. Even the days he doesn’t want to, he still does because he knows what’s at stake. He eliminated important people in his life just for the Olympics. It takes away time from his family and I think that would be impossible for me.
Bolt is a human who has his mind set to improve everyday and that is why he is successful. He never thinks about the negative possibilities. If he thinks about what could go wrong, he tells himself to think about the positive outcomes which will come out of his hard effort.
What would your reaction be if you had a child, a child who has been where no person has been before, the Olympics?
Life of a Wrestler
by Ryan Grover
Wrestling is a very competitive sport. When wrestlers fail in wrestling, there’s no one else to blame, but themselves. I believe wrestling makes a person work harder than any team sport. All sports teach lessons about life. In my opinion; though, no other sport teaches more about life than wrestling.
Being a freshman in high school, I’ll be the first to say wrestling is a lot more work than it was in junior high. Just going out on the mat, scared, and praying you win, doesn’t work anymore. Now you have to put extra effort into making sure you win. You’ll never get anywhere in life if there’s no confidence in yourself. You have to trust you are a better wrestler than the man in front of you, and you are going to win, no matter the cost.
To certain people, wrestling is only a sport, but to others it’s a lifestyle. The people who go far in wrestling are the ones who dedicate themselves to it. Wrestlers are taught to succeed, but the man who works hard to win, is the one who wins.
Our opponents want to win just as much as we do, so we have to make sure we are the ones getting our hands raised. At the end of the day, the wrestler who thinks he can win is the wrestler who does. You will never regret working too hard for your goals, even if they don’t involve wrestling. So whatever you do, make sure you’re giving your best effort. Do you think you have what it takes to be a wrestler?
Teen Depression at Its Peak
by Sophie White
What does depression feel like to teenagers? It feels like they're drowning, except they can see everyone around them breathing. Depression is something which shouldn't be taken lightly or joked about. It is a very serious mental disorder and can lead to someone taking their own life.
Teens are so scared of what their peers will think of them if they know how depressed they are. That is why teens bottle their depression inside, which messes with their thoughts. That is when the terrible thoughts start taking over. Then they start losing interest in things they used to love. They become more disconnected and talk less. You see the spark leave their eyes when they talk about something they love.
One reason why teens may be depressed is because of being bullied. Also, they could be having some issues with their body image. "Skinny" boys and girls out there make teens feel fat and so starving themselves becomes a solution. They also start harming themselves by creating bruises all over their body, cutting, and in some cases, killing themselves.
The social media is not talking about depression because it's not happy, fun, or light. Because of this, it makes teens feel alienated from "normal" people. Teens get in their heads there is something wrong and nobody would miss them if they were gone.
Depression can be incredibly isolating. Would you want to be the person to make someone feel they aren't "normal" or to make them take their own life? Please keep these questions in mind before you speak.
On the Hardwood
by Taylor Rogers
Basketball is challenging, fun, exciting, and can be a very rewarding sport. I enjoy playing the sport so much! There is nothing better than the home crowd screaming when you make a basket.
This is my first year of high school basketball. It has been very fun. It has not been easy though. It has taken much hard work and dedication to get me to where I am. Last summer, I attended two camps; the first one was the M.E.B basketball camp. It was a great camp which I learned a lot. The second camp was at the University of Kansas. It was a team camp and we played other teams from around the state. It was a great experience. My team and I played in the KU facilities. I even got to see the new player for Kansas, Andrew Wiggins.
As I made it through football, I couldn’t wait for basketball. I was so eager to get my hands on a basketball and start shooting again. I even began to play after school before basketball practice actually started.
When the first of practice came around, I was filled with excitement. I was a bit nervous for that first day of high school practice. I practiced with great passion and intensity. I wanted to show the coaches what I could do; I worked hard. By the first game, I was playing varsity. It was a great accomplishment for me.
I love playing the game of basketball. It’s challenging, but I love the sport. Do you have a passion for a sport?
A Fight to the Finish
by Joel Hill
For the first time in twelve years, the Jamaican bobsled team has qualified for the 2014 Winter Olympics. They will travel to Sochi, Russia, to compete.
In 1988, Jamaica qualified for the bobsled event for the first time. That year the Olympic games were held in Calgary, Canada. Those Jamaicans made the trip to Canada and were considered a great underdog since they were from a tropical country. They competed in the games using spare equipment from the other teams. Many teams let them borrow their gear because they could not afford their own. Unfortunately, they did not place their first year competing in the bobsledding event.
When it was announced that Jamaica had qualified for the 2014 Olympics, the team was afraid they would not be able to fund the trip. The team needed to raise over $80,000 in just a week to cover the costs for the trip and their equipment. Amazingly after a couple of days, the team raised over $121,000 through online donations.
After the team raised the money they needed, the captain of the team was interviewed. He thanked the people who donated money and said it would be put to great use. The team wouldn’t have been able to make this trip without the help of donors.
After all their hard work, they completed their dream on making it to the 2014 games. Do you take steps every day to become closer to your dream in life?
Keeping Busy
by Makayla Rogers
Have you ever heard your parents say, “Get off your phone and do something productive”? If you have, you should take that advice and run with it!
With all life’s crazy events getting thrown at us, we teens tend to become absorbed into our phones. Surely there is something more productive to do. While you’re on the couch, you could be doing something exciting. It’s nothing short of a passion.
Finding a passion can be difficult at first. I know it took me a while to find something I love to do. I wasn’t the best with the photography of art and I was already participating in many sports activities. When I finally found riding dirt bikes and four wheelers, I felt like I was complete. Riding consumed me completely, and I never had to guess anymore about what I really wanted to do.
Having a hobby helped me to become a different person. It has taught me how to prioritize and work hard. Everything I’m involved in requires me to have a better attitude, too. Positive attitude is everything!
If anything, having a passion should be an escape. It should be something you want to make time for, not have to make time for. Most of all, it should keep pulling you back in for more. So go ahead and get outside. Wander around a bit and pick up a ball, hop on a bike, go for a run. Do you have a passion?
