CECILY
Ooh good idea
From: Cecily Anderson
To: Edward Carransey
Subject: quick question
Dear Mr. C,
Will the winning essay contest essay be published or posted somewhere? Not that I think I will win or anything but I’m just curious. I am writing some personal things.
Thank you,
Cecily Anderson
I’m not afraid of storms, for I’m learning how to sail my ship. —Louisa May Alcott
ESSAY CONTEST
REFLECTIONS ON THE SCHOOL YEAR
by Cecily Anderson
Millionth draft (I’ve lost count)
I’m going to reflect on why this essay is so hard for me to write. It’s hard to sum up a whole year in a short essay. Sometimes I feel like each day lasts for a hundred years. And other times I feel like the weeks fly by. I’m not sure why that is. I think it’s because things are changing so fast. I’ve been pushing that feeling aside because I really do want to stay a kid for as long as possible. I like being a kid. I like not having to think about that many important, scary things. I like playing outside and riding bikes with my friends and even playing with dolls sometimes, too.
I think sixth grade was basically a year of huge change and growth and that made it hard. Looking back on it now, it feels like a major year. But as I was going through it, it just felt hard.
Maybe we don’t know what things really are until they’re over. Although we still have one more day.
From: Edward Carransey
To: Cecily Anderson
Subject: RE: quick question
Hi, Cecily,
We are not sure yet if the winning essay will be published. Perhaps we will leave it up to the winner. To be determined. Good luck! Happy writing!
All the best,
Mr. C
Be the change you want to see in the world. —Gandhi
From: Cecily Anderson
To: Gabrielle Katz, Prianka Basak
Subject: FWD: re: quick question
Guys, see below. Are we all okay with this?
Xoxo Cecily
From: Yorkville Middle School Tech Staff
To: Cecily Anderson
Subject: RE: computer question
Hello, Cecily:
Sure. Please stop in tomorrow before the charades competition! We will all be in the office.
Ms. Starr
BEST SQUAD IN THE WORLD
PRIANKA
I’m ok w/ Ms. Starr meeting
I didn’t want to reply on email
CECILY
K cool
GABRIELLE
I’m ok w/ it 2
We r just gonna be all TBH THERE HAS BEEN SO MUCH DRAMA WITH COMPUTERS PLEASE HELP US AHHHHH
PRIANKA
LOL
CECILY
Kinda that sounds like a good plan LOL
Cecily, Mara
CECILY
R u going to the surprise 4 Victoria
MARA
Yeah
It’s @ Prianka’s rite
CECILY
Yeah
R ur friends going 2
MARA
IDK
CECILY
K well c u soon
MARA
K bye
555-55
YORKVILLE MIDDLE SCHOOL TEXT ALERT: Reminder to all students that all school laptops must be returned by three p.m. today. Have a wonderful summer!
BFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
PRIANKA
Guys r we all ready for Ms. Starr meeting
GABRIELLE
but yea
CECILY
Same
PRIANKA
Honesty is best policy
Cheesy but true
Hope day goes fast so we get 2 Vic’s party
GABRIELLE
Same so pumped
Also gonna tell Col I just want 2 b friends
PRIANKA
LOL we r all anti the boys now
GABRIELLE
Haha I guess
PRIANKA
Cece we r all over boy craziness
CECILY
LOL
K time 4 meeting
Stay strong BFFs
GABRIELLE
On it
PRIANKA
Yup
CECILY
I you guyssssssss
From: Yorkville Middle School Tech Staff
To: Cecily Anderson, Prianka Basak, Gabrielle Katz
Subject: End of year computer turn-in follow-up
Hello, Cecily, Prianka, and Gabrielle:
The tech department and I are glad you stopped in today to discuss the state of your computers. First of all, it’s always best to be honest up-front. This applies to life and technology. So, good job with that.
Jamal was busy with other duties so was not responsible for wiping your computers.
The tech teachers and I will take care of making sure everything is off the computers. It doesn’t seem that there is anything too damaging. Please remember for next year—the computers are ONLY to be used for schoolwork. Do not even use them for iMessaging at night. As long as you keep it academic, you are OK. We will review this policy again in September.
Have a great summer.
Ms. Starr
PHEW
PRIANKA
Good idea 2 talk to Ms. Starr
GABRIELLE
Agree
CECILY
We just have 2 be so careful next year
Kinda glad school comps r turned in
GABRIELLE
Same
Really glad this year is over
PRIANKA
Imagine if we just never texted again & only did shared notebook
CECILY
How would we communicate @ night
PRIANKA
No idea
I just feel like texting makes things soooo complicated
GABRIELLE
Imagine after all this we r like no thank u phones
CECILY
Honestly could be simpler
PRIANKA
Pos we reevaluate after summer
CECILY
Yeah
PRIANKA
IDK if Vishal is coming 2 Vic’s party
CECILY
I feel like all boy craziness ended kinda suddenly
GABRIELLE
Yeah ur right
PRIANKA
Who knows
I am soooo ready 4 summer
CECILY
Me 2
Gtg finish essay
TTYL
Mwah
ESSAY CONTEST
REFLECTIONS ON THE SCHOOL YEAR
by Cecily Anderson
Gazillionth draft (I’ve lost count)
I’m going to reflect on why this essay is so hard for me to write. It’s hard to sum up a whole year in a short essay. Sometimes I feel like each day lasts for a hundred years. And other times I feel like the weeks fly by. I’m not sure why that is. I think it’s because things are changing so fast. I’ve been pushing that feeling aside because I really do want to stay a kid for as long as possible. I like being a kid. I like not having to think about that many important, scary things. I like playing outside and riding bikes with my friends and even playing with dolls sometimes, too.
I think sixth grade was basically a year of huge change and growth and that made it hard. Looking back on it now, it feels like a major year. But as I was going through it, it just felt hard.
Maybe we don’t know what things really are until they’re over. I think the best advice I could give to someone about to enter middle school is to try and stay calm and not get stressed every time something changes or something new happens.
Another thing I learned this year is that there’s only one way to go about life—and that way is to be yourself. Trying to be something that you’re not honestly makes no sense and is actually kind of impossible. You just won’t feel ri
ght. I mean, actors do it and that’s cool but unless you’re a professional actor, you need to be yourself to feel comfortable in this world. It’s the only way.
This year was also monumental because it helped us all realize that feelings can be hurt completely accidentally. Yorkville is a kind place and I don’t know many people here who go out of their way to hurt someone else. But it happens. I think we are all more aware now of our how actions impact others.
All in all, sixth grade was challenging and enlightening. I don’t think I’m the same as I was on the first day of school.
I’m looking forward to a restful, peaceful summer, and I hope that we can all come back to Yorkville Middle School in September feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.
CHARADES 4 LIFE
PRIANKA
OMG u guys we crushed charades
Sorry 2 brag but 4 real
Did u see how great Sanda & I did
CECILY
Yessssss u were soooo good
PRIANKA
Can we do charades @ the party 2nite
I am really feeling it
NICOLE
LOL ok
GABRIELLE
OMG I was soooo bad
I had no idea what Colin was doing
CECILY
Haha LOL
It was hard 2 tell he was playing hockey
PRIANKA
IK he looked like he was whacking bugs
KIMBERLY
LOL this school is sooo funny
We don’t have this much fun in Phil
Good thing Vic moved here
PRIANKA
OMG I almost put Vic on this text & ruined surprise
NICOLE
ACK thank the lord u didn’t
PRIANKA
K see u peeps later
Come any time u want 2 set up
My parents r so happy every1 is getting along they don’t care how many people come
CECILY
Love that, Pri
GABRIELLE
Me 2
Cecily, Mara
MARA
U want me 2 pick u up on the way to Prianka’s?
CECILY
Sure that would be fab
My mom can drive us home
MARA
Cool
Dear Diary,
I am bugging out right now. I am going to see Mara at this party for Victoria in a few hours and I feel like I need to tell her how I feel. But the question is—do I tell her in person? Write her a letter? Send her a text?
I just need her to know before we are apart for the whole summer. I wonder if we can still be friends even if she doesn’t like me like that. I mean, I doubt she does. I know she just thinks I’m a good friend. But I need to tell her anyway.
I have been debating telling Pri and Gabs about this since they love me and accept me no matter what. But I still feel weird about it. Am I the first girl at Yorkville Middle to have a crush on another girl? I have no idea.
xoxo
Cecily
Cecily, Prianka
CECILY
Pri?
PRIANKA
Yeah
CECILY
R u so busy getting ready 4 party
PRIANKA
Kinda but what’s up
CECILY
U know how we have been BFF since b4 we were born
PRIANKA
Haha yes
CECILY
I kind of have a big secret & I want to tell some1 but I am scared
PRIANKA
Ummmm u know I love secrets
CECILY
IK & TBH the meme thing still annoys me but ur my BFF 4evs & I need 2 talk 2 u
PRIANKA
Ok….
TBH I’m worried bc ur not using emojis rn
CECILY
No I’m ok
PRIANKA
If ur not ready to tell it’s NBD
CECILY
Yeah
PRIANKA
U r scared 2 tell Gabs?????
U know we said no side chats
CECILY
IK
PRIANKA
U know I am always here
Prob 2 much since I look @ my every second
CECILY
LOL
Thx, Pri
Cecily, Gabrielle
GABRIELLE
Cece?
CECILY
Yeah?
GABRIELLE
I just wanted 2 say sorry again
4 making that meme
I didn’t mean 4 it 2 go viral
& now I am kind of freaking out bc what if something else goes viral
CECILY
Just b careful what u send & 2 who
Hope Pri learns that 2 but maybe it was kinda NBD
GABRIELLE
Yeah I guess
I just feel bad
CECILY
IK
I gtg but ILY
GABRIELLE
Same
Cecily, Mara
MARA
Sorry my mom talks so much
CECILY
LOL it’s ok
MARA
Srsly she doesn’t stop
CECILY
All moms talk a lot
MARA
Y tho
CECILY
IDK they have a lot 2 say
MARA
IDK I guess
CECILY
It doesn’t bother me
MARA
K
Happy we r going 2 the party 2gether
CECILY
R Marissa & Mae coming
MARA
IDK they r weird lately
CECILY
Really? U never said anything
MARA
IK it’s awk
I’m glad u and me have become closer
CECILY
Same def
Can we talk @ party
MARA
Obv we can talk
What do u mean
CECILY
Like privately about something
MARA
Ummm now I’m nervous but ok
CECILY
Don’t be nervous
I promise
MARA
K
PARTY PARTY PARTY
PRIANKA
Guys every1 is having fun right
GABRIELLE
Totally
VICTORIA
Um yesssssss I can’t believe u guys planned this 4 me
PRIANKA
Vic, u & Arjun r sooooooo cute 2gether btw
VICTORIA
IK
PRIANKA
U have to really thank Kim & Nic 4 party tho
VICTORIA
IK but Pri, ur hosting so thx 2 u toooooooooo
Sooooo nice
PRIANKA
NP
This is so fun
Ok if I make an announcement?
I think it wd be fun if everyone wrote anonymous wishes 4 summer
& I put them all in a bowl
& then people reached in & pulled 1 out
GABRIELLE
LOL, Pri
That feels so school-ish
VICTORIA
I like the idea
DO IT
PRIANKA
K whatev Vic wants LOL
GABRIELLE
K true
PRIANKA
Where is Cece
GABRIELLE
I saw her b4 on the hammock w/ Mara in some serious conv
PRIANKA
K they r so serious
VICTORIA
Haha they really are
PRIANKA
Sorry we r texting about u Cece
Back 2 party
Bye
Vishal, Prianka
VISHAL
Can we talk
PRIANKA
Sure
VISHAL
Where r u
PRIANKA
Lol Vishal I see u texting me
I am by soda duh
VISHAL
K
PARTY PARTY PARTY
PRIANKA
1 more thing
Vish wants 2 talk now
So if u wonder where I am….
555-55
YORKVILLE MIDDLE SCHOOL TEXT ALERT: Happy summer! Sorry for the late text but we want to let everyone know that our essay contest winner is Vishal Gobin! We had hoped to announce this earlier but there were so many outstanding
entries to read! The Jennie’s gift certificate will be sent to Vishal at home. Have a safe, happy, fabulous summer! See you in September. #YorkvilleUnited