to read the Contest Winners Edition of The Writers' Slate 2014

53 Pages·2014·0.52 MB·English

Wr i t i n g C o n t e s t Wi n n e r s
Vo l u m e 2 9 • Is s u e 3
Vol. 29 Issue 3
Poetry Narration
2013-2014 2013-2014
High School Thicker than Water . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 High School Distractions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Elizabeth Tucker Zoe Rollenhagen
Middle School Competition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Middle School Chasing the Lost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Iris Kim Megan Ly
Elementary A Dream . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Elementary A Competition Competition . . . . . . . . . . 42
Maggie Scott Sophie Regeimbal
High School Only to Endeavor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 High School Misdirection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Mona Liu Elizabeth Merrigan
Middle School Heat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Middle School A Day to Remember . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Angeline Ma Angel Garrett
Elementary Competition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Elementary Torture to the Top . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Kavya Kamath Mikayla Piechotta
High School Burning Metal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 High School Untitled . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Naomi Siegel Allonna Nordhan
Middle School Untitled . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Middle School Nerves at the Microphone . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Andrew Zook Catherine Grosdidier
Elementary Compete . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Elementary Soccer Star . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Makena Sobczyk Elizabeth Russo
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Vol. 29
Exposition
2013-2014
High School Opportunity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Jason Fu
Middle School Competition: The True Stepping Stones . . . 78
to Success; Anika Bagaria
Elementary A Simple Solution to a Big Problem . . . . 82
Cameron Zollars
High School The Worth in Worthlessness . . . . . . . . . . 84
Sarah Welch
Middle School Fight for It . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Julia Suarez
Elementary Competition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
Thomas Schwarzrock
High School Competition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Biayna Ghahramanians
Middle School The Battle Within . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Bailey Storms
Elementary The Underdogs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Luke Kopco
iivv v
Vol. 29 Issue 3
N D
ote from the irector
It is, indeed, a pleasure to present this special issue of The Writers’ Slate because it contains the
winning entries of those young people who entered the 2013-2014 writing contest. This is one way
that teachers can support writing in the schools by encouraging students to enter contests. We at The
Writing Conference, Inc., hope that we can contribute to that effort by publishing the winning en-
tries.
These winners were chosen from a total of 220 entries. There were 116 high school students who en-
tered; 71 middle school students and 33 elementary students. We had entries from across the United
States.
The Writing Conference, Inc. is very proud of those students who write and of those teachers who
encourage their students to write.
Congratulations to the winners and to all who entered. May you continue to have success in writing!
We also want to thank the judges who gave of their time and talent to assess these entries:
Megan Gearhart, Overland Park, Kansas; April Hawkins, Wheatridge Middle School, Gardner,
Kansas; Bob Sailler, Eudora Middle School, Eudora, Kansas; Erin Foley Tegtmier, Julie Brown, Nata-
sha Van Dyke, and Brooke Kueser Basehor- Linwood Middle School, Kansas; Dan Doolittle, Eugene
Field Elementary School, Ottawa, Kansas; Carolyn Doolittle, St Mary University; Jaime Meyers, Eu-
dora High School; Susan Alexander, Washburn University; John Franklin, Pittsburg State University;
Kelly Doolittle, Baker University; and Stephanie Zecker, Auburn Washburn.
- John H. Bushman
vi vii
Vol. 29 Issue 3
N A e
ote from the ssistANt Ditor
In my family, the words "I'm bored" have always been answered with "read a book" or "go for a bike
ride." As a result, my parents produced two book worms and two athletes. If you have not guessed it
already, I was one of the book worms. Since the age of six, my only unwavering love has been litera-
ture, and so you can imagine my delight when I was invited to work with Dr. Franklin to help foster
that same passion in the next generation.
Working with Dr. Franklin has been both educational and enjoyable. He has guided me through the
editorial side of publication, encouraged me to experiment with design (an aspect of publication I
have always found terrifying), and kept me calm and organized in the chaos of approaching dead-
lines. Acting as his assistant editor and intern has been an honor and a delight.
Of course, this publication would not be what it is without the effort of the remainder of our team,
and I would like to give a special thanks to my predecessor, Alex Sheppard. Although it has been said
before, The Writers' Slate would not be what it is today without his bold redesign.
My final thanks goes to the young writers who have submitted their work. I know I speak for the
entire Slate team when I say that reading each submission has been a pleasure. As part of my contri-
bution to this contest edition, I have created graphics that I hope represent each piece (and, of course,
each student) as a unique and integral part of this publication.
To everyone at The Writers' Slate, thank you for this wonderful experience. I cannot wait to read
future editions.
- Michelle Gorges
viii ix
Poetry
Vol. 29 Issue 3
Thicker than Water
Elizabeth Tucker • Olathe North High School • Olathe, KS
Some share hair ribbons
others bedrooms or secrets.
Not us.
We share the vile inflammatory words of an argument and
the line in the sand we use to play war
with whatever’s handy.
Our grades, our friends, our looks
are all great accomplishments
on their own.
But feel somehow better on a ruler
where they can be measured against the other’s.
We live for the moments when we
Win.

But do we?
I don’t remember the last time I asked you about your day
and didn’t compare it to mine.
Even if I really just wanted to know how you were.
When we shop together, others think we’re at each other’s throats
even when we’re not.
Sniping has become like a habit for us
and I feel like I have an opponent
when all I really want is a sister.
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Vol. 29 Issue 3
competition competition
is snow is snow
glistening turning the air white
gracefully landing on freezing the paths
Competition
trees can't see
coating everything along
in powdery white the slippery way
luminescence coated with ice
Iris Kim • Princeton Day School • Princeton, NJ making it soft and beautiful too easy to fall
I. ANTIPHONY
II. EUPHONY
competition competition
is sun is sun
radiating beating down on
competition
light backs
is a fragile balance
brilliant rays shining down burning holes
between
focusing on you in confidence
elation
bask in with its glare
and despair
the praise killing wishes
victory
the glory killing hopes
and defeat
a fragile balance
between
competition competition
good
is wind is wind
and bad
a gentle breeze blowing on a cackling gust blowing on
but not one or the other
the glowing embers the fading embers
without it
of dreams of dreams
nobody would try
rekindling them extinguishing them
there would be
turning yearnings forever
nothing that propels us
into reality into smoky blackness
drives us
we wouldn't strive
to win life's
competition competition
game
is rain is rain
rinsing away sweeping away
the grime the ground
revealing the in a single surge
shining leaving roots
gleaming unsteady
side of you without a stable foundation
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Vol. 29 Issue 3
A Dream
Maggie Scott • Bellevue Elementary School • Bellevue, NE
It started as a dream,
the distance was great,
well that's what it seemed
I learned to be wise, learned to be quick
I learned that as bad as it seems, I can never quit,
I went from the playground, to walking on bars,
To swimming a mile, or running with all of my heart,
I was a little kid, but a kid with hope
With all the struggles I had I learned to cope,
Now I'm standing facing the field
Praying that with all of my strength my power I'll wield,
It was hard well that's what it seemed,
I'm all grown up, still following my dream.
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Vol. 29 Issue 3
Only to Endeavor A slow breath,
to steady himself,
a light breeze refreshing
his mind.
An opponent saunters by
Mona Liu • Lakeside School • Seattle, WA
scrutinizing him…
a crooked smirk,
surfing into her chest,
Arrogance.
But he returns a Calmness;
no malice
slithers
through his veins.
Wildfire ablaze,
like an alarm clock
reflecting in his eyes.
buzzing
Fervor
in his ear,
tickles his limbs
the audience cheers
…little by little…
as the start draws near.
…by little…
as the other contenders
Just Try.
slyly snicker.
But then,
Time dances closer.
A sharp kick of nerves
nips at his heart.
Sweating. Unease.
Panic swells in…
But what if?
failure. defeat.
utter humiliation.
No.
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