Selected Writing
Below are some entries from my journal this year. Almost every day, we are given a prompt and 8-10 minutes to write what comes to mind. The entries below are just a few pulled from the collection in my notebook.
Journal Entry
Prompt: Write about a situation with an emotion attached to it without using the word.
- My face turned bright red and my lips quivered. I held back the tears for as long as I could, then ran. I had been betrayed, cheated, and lied to. I clenched my fists and dug my nails into my palm as I walked away. I could hear her apologizing, but it was too late. The tears were over. I was done being upset. Nothing could change what happened. I was done. I sat for a while to think, but the more I thought about it the more my blood boiled, and suddenly I remembered every horrible thing she'd ever done to me, which only made me feel worse. I locked myself in my room and paced back and forth. I just wanted peace and quiet. I just wanted my best friend back.
Journal Entry
Prompt: "I'm Sorry."
- "I'm sorry," I whispered with tears in my eyes. I looked down at my fidgeting hands and trembling knees. I could feel you staring at me. Your dark eyes I had found so beautiful were filled with hatred and judgement. It wasn't my fault, but I couldn't say. All I did was apologize and take the blame, preparing myself for you to walk away. You left and never looked back. I never saw you, spoke to you, called you, or texted you. I let you go, as you had already let go of me. I'm sorry for what happened, but it was not my doing. Please come back. Please forgive me.
Journal Entry
Prompt: What is something people don't get about you?
- I hear it every time. Whether it be at a school dance, a party, or just a friend's house, people always ask me the same thing. "But you're a dancer! Why don't you dance?" They can't grasp why I refuse to go to the dance floor. They all think that since I am a dancer, I should be up in front of everyone showing off and being amazing. I am a ballerina, a jazz dancer, and a lyrical dancer. I am trained, and I have learned countless moves, memorized choreography and danced. Therefore when it comes to dancing at school dances or parties, I am not equipped to walk onto the floor and dance. In fact, I am probably the worst one there, and no one understands why. I am not the type of person who can just get up and dance to party music, because I am used to methodical, choreographed dance. When people say, "But you're a dancer! You have to dance!", I have to explain time after time that I have no idea how to dance at a party, but if they want to see me dance, they can come to a recital.
Journal Entry
Prompt: Write about a scar you have
- I was swept off my feet by a rogue wave. It came so quickly I didn’t have time to move. Instantly, I was pulled into the ocean, dragged along the jetty, and drowning. Having no control over my body, my head ducked in and out of water and my arms flailed. All I saw was waves and the giant rocks that were cutting up my arms and legs. Every once in a while, I caught a glimpse of my mom back on the beach. I heard screaming: my own, my friends that were with me, and our horrified parents on the shore. I could see the bodies of my friends, torn up like mine, as they too tried to break free from the current. I swallowed mouthfuls of salt water and began to gag. The water stung the cuts in my skin.
It had all started because we wanted to walk along the jetty to see mussels, crabs, and seashells. Our parents were higher on the beach talking and watching us play. Suddenly, I was drowning. When I was finally free, my mom carried me to the lifeguard. I was covered in blood nearly head to toe and there was a gash in my side. I have never felt more fear than that day. I believed I was going to die, whether it would be from drowning or being impaled by a rock.
Even today, I stay away from the jetty.
Journal Entry
Prompt: "Thank You"
- Thank you for the memories. For the days where all we did was run and climb and be adventurous. Thank you for all the times you listened to me talk on and on about...everything. For the moments we shared, sitting in a tree or on the ground, expressing anything that came to mind. Thank you for all the times we laughed together. All the times I fell out of trees or slipped on rocks. I never see you anymore, but our little adventures made me who I am today. You cared about me, listened to me, and made me feel safe. I wish I could have told you this sooner. I wish I could have said it face to face. Thank you.
Journal Entry
Prompt: Technology, the human condition
- Last year, I wrote an essay on how technology has affected out society in different ways. Having just read Fahrenheit 451, I was beginning to realize how obsessed people were with their technology. I know some people that can't have conversations because instead of looking me in the eye and speaking to me, their face is buried in their phone. Our phones, tablets, iPods and computers have turned our world into antisocial social media addicts. We are losing touch and losing emotion as our heads are filled with touch screens and emojis. I used to think technology was great all around, but now I believe that although it does some good, it creates a barrier between people. They would rather text than talk face-to-face. They'd rather play scrabble online rather than host a game night at their home, and they'd rather pride themselves on 3 million fake friends than go outside and build real relationships. Technology can be good for staying in touch with far away family or friends, but there needs to be a fine line between using it for good or getting wrapped up and swept away into a world consumed by social media.
Journal Entry
Prompt: Write about a situation with an emotion attached to it without using the word.
- My face turned bright red and my lips quivered. I held back the tears for as long as I could, then ran. I had been betrayed, cheated, and lied to. I clenched my fists and dug my nails into my palm as I walked away. I could hear her apologizing, but it was too late. The tears were over. I was done being upset. Nothing could change what happened. I was done. I sat for a while to think, but the more I thought about it the more my blood boiled, and suddenly I remembered every horrible thing she'd ever done to me, which only made me feel worse. I locked myself in my room and paced back and forth. I just wanted peace and quiet. I just wanted my best friend back.
Journal Entry
Prompt: "I'm Sorry."
- "I'm sorry," I whispered with tears in my eyes. I looked down at my fidgeting hands and trembling knees. I could feel you staring at me. Your dark eyes I had found so beautiful were filled with hatred and judgement. It wasn't my fault, but I couldn't say. All I did was apologize and take the blame, preparing myself for you to walk away. You left and never looked back. I never saw you, spoke to you, called you, or texted you. I let you go, as you had already let go of me. I'm sorry for what happened, but it was not my doing. Please come back. Please forgive me.
Journal Entry
Prompt: What is something people don't get about you?
- I hear it every time. Whether it be at a school dance, a party, or just a friend's house, people always ask me the same thing. "But you're a dancer! Why don't you dance?" They can't grasp why I refuse to go to the dance floor. They all think that since I am a dancer, I should be up in front of everyone showing off and being amazing. I am a ballerina, a jazz dancer, and a lyrical dancer. I am trained, and I have learned countless moves, memorized choreography and danced. Therefore when it comes to dancing at school dances or parties, I am not equipped to walk onto the floor and dance. In fact, I am probably the worst one there, and no one understands why. I am not the type of person who can just get up and dance to party music, because I am used to methodical, choreographed dance. When people say, "But you're a dancer! You have to dance!", I have to explain time after time that I have no idea how to dance at a party, but if they want to see me dance, they can come to a recital.
Journal Entry
Prompt: Write about a scar you have
- I was swept off my feet by a rogue wave. It came so quickly I didn’t have time to move. Instantly, I was pulled into the ocean, dragged along the jetty, and drowning. Having no control over my body, my head ducked in and out of water and my arms flailed. All I saw was waves and the giant rocks that were cutting up my arms and legs. Every once in a while, I caught a glimpse of my mom back on the beach. I heard screaming: my own, my friends that were with me, and our horrified parents on the shore. I could see the bodies of my friends, torn up like mine, as they too tried to break free from the current. I swallowed mouthfuls of salt water and began to gag. The water stung the cuts in my skin.
It had all started because we wanted to walk along the jetty to see mussels, crabs, and seashells. Our parents were higher on the beach talking and watching us play. Suddenly, I was drowning. When I was finally free, my mom carried me to the lifeguard. I was covered in blood nearly head to toe and there was a gash in my side. I have never felt more fear than that day. I believed I was going to die, whether it would be from drowning or being impaled by a rock.
Even today, I stay away from the jetty.
Journal Entry
Prompt: "Thank You"
- Thank you for the memories. For the days where all we did was run and climb and be adventurous. Thank you for all the times you listened to me talk on and on about...everything. For the moments we shared, sitting in a tree or on the ground, expressing anything that came to mind. Thank you for all the times we laughed together. All the times I fell out of trees or slipped on rocks. I never see you anymore, but our little adventures made me who I am today. You cared about me, listened to me, and made me feel safe. I wish I could have told you this sooner. I wish I could have said it face to face. Thank you.
Journal Entry
Prompt: Technology, the human condition
- Last year, I wrote an essay on how technology has affected out society in different ways. Having just read Fahrenheit 451, I was beginning to realize how obsessed people were with their technology. I know some people that can't have conversations because instead of looking me in the eye and speaking to me, their face is buried in their phone. Our phones, tablets, iPods and computers have turned our world into antisocial social media addicts. We are losing touch and losing emotion as our heads are filled with touch screens and emojis. I used to think technology was great all around, but now I believe that although it does some good, it creates a barrier between people. They would rather text than talk face-to-face. They'd rather play scrabble online rather than host a game night at their home, and they'd rather pride themselves on 3 million fake friends than go outside and build real relationships. Technology can be good for staying in touch with far away family or friends, but there needs to be a fine line between using it for good or getting wrapped up and swept away into a world consumed by social media.