Writers Workshop Overview:
Writers Workshop Reflection:
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Writers Workshop #1:
Prompt: What is one of the most difficult things you have ever done or experienced? What made it difficult and what did you learn?
Final Draft: College Essay;
We gave up on paddling about two hours in. We thought that the current would just carry us to our destination before the sun set. Little did we know the sun would set sooner than we anticipated. Almost eight hours after getting in the water the sun started to set. None of us brought watches or cell phones. “How were we supposed to keep track of the time” I worried.
All of us started to panic, the weather had gotten colder and colder. We all started grabbing our damp towels and placed them on us thinking that maybe they were dry enough to keep us warm. Then we see our teacher. Crying to him, he tells us we still have two miles to go.
Two more miles? How were we supposed to paddle in the dark for two more miles? Our teachers weren't trying to help us, they were trying to kill us! We all were cold, wet, tired, and we all just wanted to go home. Our paddles were just splashing more water onto us.
Why didn't I pack more dry clothes? I couldn’t do it anymore, I was done. Paddling in the dark was the hardest thing I had to do. The water was freezing, I couldn't see two feet in front of me, and only our teacher knew where we were going.
Paddling faster and faster, not even sure if we're going the right way. The current of the river is picking up. Were paddling faster than we did two minutes ago. At this point all of us were crying. There's no turning back. I’m scared. Will I make it to the end? Did we already pass the turnout that the teacher keeps telling us about? Running into bushes on the side of the river, hoping an animal doesn't pop out. I don't want to go home, I need to go home!
Then I see him. I felt like I was in a dream and I couldn’t get out. Am I really where I need to be? He’s standing there. One of the adults was on the hill flashing a light to tell us that we have arrived at our final destination.
I had never been so exhausted in my life and yet, I would do it all again because the lesson I learned was too valuable. Never stop paddling. Just because you have a current there to carry you does not mean the current will carry you the whole way. In fact the current is not there to carry you the whole way. The current is there to help you get to where you need to be.
Final Draft: College Essay;
We gave up on paddling about two hours in. We thought that the current would just carry us to our destination before the sun set. Little did we know the sun would set sooner than we anticipated. Almost eight hours after getting in the water the sun started to set. None of us brought watches or cell phones. “How were we supposed to keep track of the time” I worried.
All of us started to panic, the weather had gotten colder and colder. We all started grabbing our damp towels and placed them on us thinking that maybe they were dry enough to keep us warm. Then we see our teacher. Crying to him, he tells us we still have two miles to go.
Two more miles? How were we supposed to paddle in the dark for two more miles? Our teachers weren't trying to help us, they were trying to kill us! We all were cold, wet, tired, and we all just wanted to go home. Our paddles were just splashing more water onto us.
Why didn't I pack more dry clothes? I couldn’t do it anymore, I was done. Paddling in the dark was the hardest thing I had to do. The water was freezing, I couldn't see two feet in front of me, and only our teacher knew where we were going.
Paddling faster and faster, not even sure if we're going the right way. The current of the river is picking up. Were paddling faster than we did two minutes ago. At this point all of us were crying. There's no turning back. I’m scared. Will I make it to the end? Did we already pass the turnout that the teacher keeps telling us about? Running into bushes on the side of the river, hoping an animal doesn't pop out. I don't want to go home, I need to go home!
Then I see him. I felt like I was in a dream and I couldn’t get out. Am I really where I need to be? He’s standing there. One of the adults was on the hill flashing a light to tell us that we have arrived at our final destination.
I had never been so exhausted in my life and yet, I would do it all again because the lesson I learned was too valuable. Never stop paddling. Just because you have a current there to carry you does not mean the current will carry you the whole way. In fact the current is not there to carry you the whole way. The current is there to help you get to where you need to be.
Writers Workshop #2
Every storm runs outta rain
The look in his eyes made me tense up.
Her dad was always happy. What’s wrong?
The sound of his voice breaking like static on a messed up microphone
Had me on my toes
And then he told us.
There was a long silence, longer than ever before.
We walk slowly into the bedroom and sit on the bed.
Immediately tears start to form in our eyes
And before we know it tears are pouring down our face
I was trying to hold them in
But it was like they were coming quicker than a summer storm.
I no longer had the strength to hold them in.
We sat in silence for a little longer.
What is going through her head?
It was rare to have a silence between us.
Was she okay? Of course not why would I ask that?
I walked home that day out of words,
All I thought was how blessed I am to be able to go home to a Mother and Father
A blessing she will never again experience.
At 13 years old her mother died.
True friends stick by each other till the end.
There was a unbreakable bond between us and the world.
I wouldn’t even dream of leaving her side
For the fear that she would fall into a deep dark hole and never get out was too great.
This was her storm, and it hit her faster than a Hurricane can form in warm waters
They say time can heal the heart.
They say heartache will fade away.
It had been days, weeks, months
When will she get better?
Will she ever be the same?
I would often visit her, only leaving feeling worse about myself.
I would bring her favorite foods, drinks and candy but it just wasn't the same,
She just wasn't the same.
She would sit there on the floor for hours and stare at the blank wall
It was as if her spirit had left her and she could no longer move
She was depressed.
She would ask questions like
“When will I see her again?”
“Will I ever see her again?”
Just the tone of her voice made me cry
She was a wreck, but it was expected
I remember attempting to answer them, but it was like my brain had froze
I couldn't comprehend the words I wanted to say
My tongue could not speak the words I was thinking
The cat really did have my tongue.
I had no response, I had no idea how she felt!
She got worse before she got better
I missed my best friend.
I wanted to shake her and give her a reality check
but I knew by doing so, it would be selfish of me.
I knew she just wanted her back,
I mean who wouldn’t?
A old friend once sang to me,
“Every storm runs outta rain,
Just like every dark night turns into day.
Every heartache will fade away,
Just like every storm runs out outta rain”
Three years later, the storm had passed.
She’s better, almost back to the same girl.
I guess every storm does run out of rain,
But after every storm there’s always residue.
You always know a storm had passed through
That’s how I know, she will never be the same.
So what helped her get through all this?
Does time really heal the heart?
Does every heartache really fade away?
Maybe so, but I like to believe other wise
It was the memories, the photos
Everything that had to do with her.
And that’s what kept her going.
To this day she remembers every detail of her.
Everything from her kind spirit to her long brown hair.
She will never forget her. Never.
Her best friend, her Mom.