My seventh grade year threw a lot of twists and turns at me. I had to learn A LOT of things to get through seventh grade.

When I first arrived in August, I expected not too much homework. But soon, I found myself up until 11 trying to get everything done. By October, I was drowning with homework, quizzes, tests, and essays due the next day. This was because I couldn’t manage my time very well. I saved my vocabulary packets and reading notes to the very last minute. But as the year passed, I got better and better at time management. I wouldn’t procrastinate. I was never tired in the mornings–okay, I was almost never tired in the mornings.

Another thing that took getting used to was a lower locker. Every time you wanted to go to your locker–which was almost after every class, you had to get down on your knees while there’s another person directly above you. I wish that we had lockers that were separated just by a little. But, it wasn’t too bad.

Don’t get me wrong, seventh grade was a really fun year. My advice for the next year seventh graders, is to not stress too much and have a good time.

There is a place where the sidewalk ends
And before the street begins,
And there the grass grows soft and white,
And there the sun burns crimson bright,
And there the moon-bird rests from his flight
To cool in the peppermint wind.

Let us leave this place where the smoke blows black
And the dark street winds and bends.
Past the pits where the asphalt flowers grow
We shall walk with a walk that is measured and slow,
And watch where the chalk-white arrows go
To the place where the sidewalk ends.

Yes we’ll walk with a walk that is measured and slow,
And we’ll go where the chalk-white arrows go,
For the children, they mark, and the children, they know
The place where the sidewalk ends.

Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein is one of my favorite poems. I used to read all of his poems when I was in elementary school. I really like the rhythm and the way he uses repetition. I also like how this poem starts and ends with the same line. The details for the imagery really explain a lot about this end of the sidewalk.

“Shoot for the moon, because even if you miss you miss, you’ll land in the stars.” -Les Brown

This quote is by far my favorite quote. It tells me so much in just two sentences– that you can never be a failure. You always learn something out of everything. Take the chances and go for your goals. Otherwise you’ll never know what you’re capable of. Even if you don’t achieve your goal, you’ll get there soon.

Les Brown is a motivational speaker. He inspires people in every way. In this quote of his, he tells us very clearly to never give up and take all the opportunities that you can in life. Nothing bad can happen to you if you don’t achieve what you aimed for. Only good can come from there.

This quote shows me that giving up won’t be an option in life.