Good Life Award - Winners
2008
Good Life Award Writing Contest
Honorable Mention
Rachel Griep
8th Grade, Oakwood Junior High School
| As a teen, my life is driven by challenges, dreams I’ve yet to accomplish, and the choices I’ve made. Trying to find a balance between friends and family, interests and school, while at the same time, relaxing and letting out my feelings, is difficult for all teens. During my junior high and high school years, I will find myself thinking about my dreams and future accomplishments. For now I must find the balance between moving, making friends, and having a normal life. My dad is in the Air force, and we move frequently I’ve found it hard to start over at new places. Working in groups with people I don’t know, and being a team player at school was always a difficult task for me to overcome. While playing sports, I haven’t had trouble joining new teams and cooperating with the other players. Finding the balance between sports and school has been difficult, but I found that laughing and having fun will pull me through difficult times. I tried to have more fun in school and keep an open mind. I found that it wasn’t always others not wanting to work with me; it was me not working with them. I’d constantly questioned their thoughts and answers, caring more about my grade than being a good person. Starting every school year as the new kid, takes a lot of guts to voice my opinion and correct people. I learned that, like in sports, you have to work as a group and trust others. I’ve always lived my life by the choices I’ve made, challenges I’ve yet to overcome and dreams I’ve yet to accomplish. As my life goes on, I feel pressured to reach out to others on the first day of school and quickly make friends. Choosing to play sports is a great way to make friends; this is one choice to help you in life. Making friends at new places is one of my accomplishments. Your choices can affect your life in positive and negative ways. To have a meaningful life, you try to stay away from bad choices. Around every corner there’s a new challenge that must be approached in a different way, even if the challenge doesn’t end the way I want, I always leave with knowledge needed to overcome the obstacles if they appear again. Every challenge I complete prepares me for the next. Every choice I make is connected to my dreams and affects my life greatly. No matter how hard life is, with a little help from your friends and family you will easily find a balance. During my junior high and high school years, I’ll find myself asking about my dreams, choices, and challenges, but the only answer I will get, is from myself. |