The Silver Award It is nine in the morning at Coconut Creek Elementary school. The parents are assembling into the colorful cafeteria. They take their seats on the lunch benches, each eager to applause their child. Today is the honor roll award ceremony. It was the school’s attempt to celebrate the students who received bronze, silver, or gold awards for honor roll. I have been feeling indifferent the entire morning. Once again, I received the silver award; this was a continuous trend for me. Each report card period I fought to obtain straight A’s in order to receive the gold award. Instead I continued to receive the Silver award. My somber mood was written on my face. I did not want to smile as they called my name and announced the award. I did not want to shake my principal’s hand or stand in formation as every other parent but mine captured their child’s face. I hate these awards, I thought to myself. I can see my cousin across the row on stage, smiling contently. Well of course she was, I thought, her mother is here. …show more content…
This meant that no one took numerous photographs as I received my award. It also meant that after the ceremony, I would be sitting with the few of my friends whose parents could also not attend. My principal begins to greet the parents and guests in the cafeteria. He goes on to give information about each award ,and what the recipient would receive. The parents clap ,and adjust their cameras. My principal puts on his bulky reading glasses ,and begins to read out the names of the Bronze award recipients. The cameras nearly blinded me as parents captured the moment for their pupils. My friend Aakash stood beside me, and
Pashtana said she would rather die than not go to school and acted on her words. Her education is limited and she doesn’t have all the recourses to make school easier, yet she still loves and wants all the knowledge she can get. While I sit in my three story private school, a clean uniform free of holes or loose seams, my macbook air in my lap, the smell of cookies rising up from the cafeteria, wishing to be anywhere else but there. No one has beat me because I want to go to school, no one has forced me into a marriage, I’ve never put my life in jeopardy for the sake of education. Pashtana’s life and choices made me take a moment to stop and reflect on my own life and how fortunate I am to have what I have. We dread the thought of school because to us it is a chore, it’s a hassle, it’s something that messes with our sleep schedule, it is something that gets in the way of lounging around and binge watching Netflix. Pashtana doesn’t take her school and education for granted because she does not have the same liberties we do. While we enjoy driving into the city and shopping over the weekend, Pashtana unwillingly makes wedding arrangements with her cousin. While we complain about our mom nagging us to clean our room, Pashtana is getting beaten by her father because she wants to learn more about the world. While we have stocked fridges and pantries and
She sacrificed almost all her personal pleasure for studying, but she did not see the point why she should make such sacrifice since she found the class reading as well as essays hardly arouse her interests. As she finally laid her eye on the bookshelf, seeing all the certificates and awards she had earned, Jennifer suddenly thought of what her father had told her, “school always comes first”. Tiredly and aimlessly, Jennifer signed and looked at a picture of her father. Slowly closing her eyes, she temporarily forgot about all the things like a tough life and overwhelming schoolwork which could make her stressful, and let her beautiful childhood memories of balloons, carousels and her father’s smiling face come into
It was the fourth year of my school carrier. In other words, the year of truth if I would make the cut to the higher education track. I was nervous because I knew that I would be capable of going this route, but I the feeling of concern was stronger because I haven’t had performed very well in my fourth year so far. At the end of the school year, I received the shocking news that I didn’t make the cut to go to the school which would have had allowed me to go to University later on in my life. I was sad, disappoint in myself, and lost self-esteem in my educational abilities. At this time, I was more embarrassed then able to realize the real benefit of a system which early on tracks children’s
From the outset of the story there is an overwhelming sense of hope that has enveloped the entire community and school with the upcoming graduation. The communitie's involvement strengthens the authors excitement in her rite of passage. Everyone is preparing for the ceremony and seeking to see how it will affect the lives of those involved. "Only a small percentage would be continuing on to college" (835) and others were just excited for the "glorious release" (834) from school. She felt like she was on top of the world, after all, "the graduating classes themselves were the nobility" (834). It is obvious how much pride she takes in her community by the way she describes her class as "an extended family." (834). The author's school was not the most impressive school compared to the white schools in the area but that could not damper the spirit that was filling the air. Parents who were buying or making new outfits for their graduates made everyone including the author the center of attention. Her "momma launched out on [hers]," (835) and she was swollen with pride that she was going to be a walking mod...
My middle school’s dean smiles while handing me my certificate. I gave her my best fake smile and stood in line with the rest of my classmates who made the honor roll. I put my medal around my neck, held my certificate in my left hand, and put my right arm behind my back. I can’t believe I left my jacket in my mom’s car.
Growing up my parents always taught my sister and I that we should always be grateful for what we had. Take care of all our toys and expensive things that they brought us. They taught us that you have to work hard for what you want and nothing is handed to you. Even though me and my sister always got what wanted we also knew that we worked for it and that made getting it even better. I believe my parents raised me pretty good. I always respected them and knew my limits, me and my sister had chores we had to do and if they weren't done by the end of the week we would have a consequence. This taught us responsibility and that in the real world if you don't do your job you would be fired or there would be a consequence you would have to pay. Lately I have noticed that a lot of kids in today's society are very ungrateful. They feel entitled and believe that they shouldn't have to work for anything. They think things should just be handed to them without any questions asked. I think I have a way to stop this rising trait in today's youth.
Out of nowhere my name got called to claim the award of “Most improved student of Class of 2014”. I was so proud of myself, it felt so good to know that I achieved something that I really wanted. I knew I could do something if I put my mind to it, and I did and I was so proud of
For a young and passionate college student, expectations from peers, teachers, and parents can be intimidating and emotionally draining. For most parents, having their child succeed is a top priority, and children want to exceed parents’ expectations by achieving good grades and a high standard in school. In the poem “Suicide Note,” by Janice Mirikitani, a female Asian American college student is struggling to live up to her parents expectations. She does not receive a perfect grade point average that her parents are expecting, and she does not have the strength to face them in person. For this young college student, her strengths are not strong enough, and her will and determination are overcome by insecurities and discontent. The speaker is at in a constant battle with her self esteem; her womanhood is becoming a burden on her, and she believes her failure will bring much disappointment to her parents, and disparage their perception of her .
Anderson describes, “The hallways are alive with the sound of lockers slamming, kids laughing, and teachers yelling”(Anderson 25). This quote shows a chaotic and extremely overwhelming environment Melinda has to adapt to. Her school’s expectations of popularity are seen when she states, “cliques and crowds” (Anderson 30), that prove how she is silenced from the first day. Moreover, the empty yard symbolizes her emotions of being silent and the disconnection between her and her peers that contributes to a constant thought of Melinda’s depression. Through this setting at Merryweather High School, the author describes ways that the environment of students on campus can reflect on a person’s way of expressing one’s voice and personal experiences.
Over the past 40 years or so, the Juno Award statuette has been through many changes and adaptations. Here’s the journey of the metronome-shaped RPM Gold Leaf awards into the Juno Award of the present-day.
Cedric’s experiences at Ballou High School in Washington D.C. were ones that no one should have experienced. Cedric was a honor student who had little to no friends, and only worried about his grades. An honor student at Ballou is very different then it is somewhere else because it is an inner-city school with very low resources. Having the ability to be one of those students
During this ceremony, the students receive the standard awards. However, this is also another positive experience for Auggie as he receives an important award. “ Way to go, Auggie!” “ Nice going Auggie!” I even started hearing my name being chanted: “ Auggie! Aug-gie!
As Marguerite’s graduation approaches and passes, she begins to question herself and lose her self-confidence. In the end, though, she does a complete turn around and realizes that both she and her race are capable of more than what other people think. As the graduation comes closer, everyone begins to feel the anxiety and excitement of this special and important moment. This day is not only important to the graduates and parents, but to the community as a whole.
My eagerness to embrace life in high school squashed when I came face to face with extreme mean behavior at the hands of kids my own age. My grades started falling, from an honors student I had turned into someone who just hated school. From sulking, to rebelling to being remorseful, had become my permanent demeanor.
We got to the convention center where the ceremony was being held and the parking garage was so full we had to park three blocks away. As I walked through the doors of the convention center I found my to the sea of purple and yellow caps and gowns that were already forming a line. I quickly threw on my gown and walked into the back to find out where I was supposed to be and instead found my English teacher frantically running around trying to get everyone in place. I was pushed into my row and told not to talk, that’s not easy when you have to sit through 400 other people’s names getting called before yours does but I muscled through