| Ah The Good Old Days |
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| My grade eight class and I were nothing but a big happy family. I had two brothers, twelve sisters and a super intelligent mom. The small number of students made the atmosphere more pleasant because it gave us the opportunity to get remarkably close to one another. I�m so delighted that we did because it turned out to be one of the most memorable times of my life.
At recess, we were always in a bunch. No one was ever left out. No one was ever considered a �loser� or the �cool� one. Everyone was equal to one another. It was very rare to witness jealousy, envy, or rage. In our crowd, there was always a smile on everyone�s faces. We considered our teacher as one of us. Don�t get me wrong; we still respected her as an adult. We always loved to take in all the important knowledge. We all looked up to her because she was such a great role model. She was beautiful, smart, and so very nice. She was always there to help us whether we were having problems with our schoolwork or problems in life. I haven�t seen her since my very last day of elementary school. Even though she is not a part of my life anymore, her charm and wisdom will always be with me. Our class was always together, even after school hours. We would often get together to do homework because it was so much easier as a group. We would play outside day or night, hot or cold. We would even have social parties where everyone was invited. The amount of time we spent together was incredible! For our end of the year trip, we decided, with the help of our teacher, to go to Camp Edphy. It was an overnight trip that included a lot of outdoor activities. Since we were a group that got along so well, we knew that this trip was going to be a success. And was it ever! We did some rock climbing, competed in a canoe race, went swimming in the lake, played a lot of outdoor games, etc. No one got any sleep that night. We all stayed up to tell stories and pig out on junk food. Everyone shared by passing his or hers around. I swallowed almost every flavor of chip and tasted almost every type of candy. I loved the sweet taste of candy and how it made me so incredibly hyper. The memories we created from this trip remain clear in my mind. It almost feels as if I am still there with my beloved friends. I can still smell the wood burning from the campfire, the fresh outdoor air, and the fishy smell of the river. I sometimes wish I could go back to that place and relive all of those memories. Our graduation was a sad event. We listened to poems that were written and read by our classmates and we also listened to songs that were beautifully sung. The songs and poems signified parting. Tears were shed and a lot of hugs were given. Yearbooks were passed around with such messages as �good luck�, �I�ll miss you�, and �don�t change�. Even though we were a group of fourteen who always stuck together, we were all individuals who were able to make independent decisions. One decision that many of us made was to separate from each other by going off to different high schools. It was so sad; we were able to feel that our friendships were going to drift apart. Even though that it was a very strong feeling that laid in the pits of our stomachs, we all promised each other that it would never happen. Everyone had a trait that was appreciated by others; I call it a reminder. A reminder is what makes you such a great person whether it is intelligence, beauty, charm; etc. Mine was laughter. I was such a clown. Everyone swore that I was going to be a comedian when I grow up. They loved the fact that I was able to put a smile on their faces. And for me to see those smiles or to hear them laugh gave me such great joy, it just can�t be explained with words. It gave me so much motivation and was the reason why I never gave up. It kept me going. People change and grow apart over time. That�s what happened during our four years of high school. We made a promise that we couldn�t keep. I made a promise to myself, a different promise. I promised myself that these wonderful people would always remain in my heart along with the wonderful memories we made. I kept my promise and I always will. It is something that is so clear in my memory. I�m sure I will never forget it. When I look back on these times, I don�t consider it a loss. I consider it a gain because I have learned what the true meaning of friendship really is. |
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