The Columbia County Board of Education recently honored the grade-level winners of the annual Young Georgia Authors contest. These are the entries from those winners.
Nahamani Gibson
Kindergarten
Stevens Creek Elementary
“The Missing Gift”
When it was March 4th my birthday I had five gifts. And it was hot. But the biggest gift got lost! “Elijah have you seen my fifth gift?” “No” Elijah said. “What!” I said. “Huh?” said Elijah. “Let’s search!” “What no way!” “We need to!” “I said why not? “Because I can’t open my gifts without the big one” I said. “Oh no!” Elijah said. “Yay an adventure” Elijah said. We went looking in the dining room, under the sofa, and ...”we found it!” “Yay!” “It’s time for gifts our mom said. Yes! It’s time.”
Melanie Gibson
First Grade
Evans Elementary
“Spring”
The birds came out.
Well here is what the birds do in spring.
Blackbirds sing a pretty song.
Hummingbirds drink nectar.
Blue jays store acorns.
Owls stay awake on spring nights.
Ducks swim in a lake.
Spring plants grow.
Small and tall.
Pink and white.
Big and tiny.
Ugly and pretty.
Stinky and sweet.
Weeds and flowers.
Sammie Gray
Second Grade
Lewiston Elementary
“Puppy Meets Panda”
Once upon a time there was a little pink puppy. It was really happy. But a little lonely. You see, the pup was a stray. Her mom and brothers and sisters lived in a pet store. So she ate her dinner alone, played alone, and slept alone. Finally, she said “I’m going on a quest to find friends” Puppy yelped. So off she trotted. She found a rat. “Wanna be my friend?” she asked. The rat looked at her but said nothing. “Oh well.” Puppy said “I shall go on.” Then she met a fox. “Want to be my friend?” she asked. “Shhhhhore!” the fox smirked. “What’s for lunch?” the fox asked. The pup figured out the puzzle. “Oh dear!” she cried, “You want to eat me!” She ran away! She met a cat. Lunch! She met a bat. Crunch! She met a pig, bug, boot (which she thought was an animal) and a goat! Nope! Soon she made it into a jungle! Lions, monkeys, tigers, toucans, she didn’t wait long enough to hear the rest. While she ran she met a strange creature. A panda! “Wanna be m-my friend?” She was stuttering now. “Shore!” the panda answered. Puppy was surprised. “Yay!” she shouted. “But a little more friends would be nice.” The panda called her family. “Wow! 100 friends!” The puppy has found her friends. Her family. Her home.
Nevaeh Guisao
Third Grade
South Columbia Elementary
Untitled
Once upon a time in New York there were these two little girls named Alisha and Star. They both loved to draw and color pictures. One day in the middle of winter there was a humongous snow storm. Their house was shaking so hard, right before you knew it “Boom!!” – a big, huge snowball crashed right in front of their house and suddenly right after that a snowball crashed right onto part of the house. Most houses would fall, but it was made out of a magical potion so if something falls on top of it, it will not fall no matter what. Then the two little girls heard a “Fe-fi-fo-fum, I am the giant of snow.” After he said those words the giant of snow put his big old head in to the front door. So the little girls were at the front door, too. The little girls said, “We think the giant of snow is angry because he hasn’t been colored on because he looks like paper that is white and has never been colored on. That’s why he came to us.” So the little girls pulled out their crayons and started coloring the snow giant’s head yellow, light blue, and orange. His head was so colored a storm started and after the storm he stuck his head up into the sky and the birds thought he was a rainbow. Then the girls got out their markers and started drawing on this whole body. When the giant was all done he looked so pretty that the animals crowded around him. They were animals like birds, squirrels, frogs, dogs, and cats. Then the snow giant flew up in the sky leaving colorful waves and lines in the sky.
Sophia Pitman
Fourth Grade
Bel Air Elementary
“Being a Christian”
In public school, everyone is different, but I think I stand out a little more. Being a Christian in public schools isn’t always easy. I need to act, talk, and be completely different than everyone else. I have two older sisters, one is in college and the other in high school. They have both had to learn things such as evolution. Something we don’t believe to be true. Even though I disagree, I choose to learn to make good grades. As a Christian, I know in my heart that God really made the Earth. In the Bible, God tells us that we are His army and that we represent Him. So, my reactions need to be different than everybody else’s. For example, if someone were to call me a mean name, it wouldn’t be very Christ like of me to be mean back. I ask myself, “What would Jesus do?” and try to react like He would.
Every morning, we have a moment of silence. Some students may use this moment to joke around or finish their work, but I like to say a small prayer. My classmates may laugh, but it’s my moment with Jesus to prepare for the day. Even though we don’t study about God in school, I still like to talk to Jesus and that’s why I like this quiet time.
Every Sunday and Wednesday I go to church. I choose to set aside this time to worship God. My friends may see Sunday as a free day, but I see it completely different. Church is not only a place where I go to worship God, but it’s where I learn more about Him and His word. Being a Christian in public schools helps me to be a peacemaker. The Bible tells us not only to love our friends, but our enemies, and that’s not always easy. My Christian faith helps me to be more kind to my enemies. Part of being kind is also being respectful to my leaders. God expects me to be obedient to those in charge of me. If my teacher tells me to do something, I do it without complaining. The Bible teaches me as a Christian that there is one commandment that is greater than all the rest. This commandment is that we love one another. Whether I am in public or private school, I will always try to love those around me. From classmates to teachers, from janitors to principals, they are all loved by God. By showing them love, it is my prayer they know God loves them.
I would like to end by sharing one of my favorite Bible verses about love: John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
Emily Tyler
Fifth Grade
Brookwood Elementary
“I Wish I Was”
A bird flies overhead,
“I wish I was,” I said.
I turn into a nightingale,
I spread my wings and sail.
The very next day,
I heard a mighty nay,
I look up at the horse,
“I wish I was,” I said with force,
My skin turns white,
Then I run with all my might.
The next day,
I find a tree there I lay,
I see a squirrel run on a limb,
“I wish I was,” I said envying him,
I grapple up the tree,
I bet the others envy me.
The after that day,
It was the first of May.
I see her on a flower,
She was so small I seemed to tower,
She’s an eye-catching ladybug.
“I wish I was,” I said slow like a slug,
I flutter towards a mirror,
I become nearer and nearer,
I look in and see a boy his hair red,
“I wish I was,” I said,
That boy is me,
Imagination is key.
Linda Wang
Sixth Grade
Stallings Island Middle School
“Fallen Stars”
Inspired by the shooting in Ohio, The Charlie Rape Gang, and the bullying that led to suicide in Ontario
I am beautiful and brave, me
I am judged by what you see
Every day you will try to break me
For your words have failed to destroy me
I am beautiful, confident, brave me
We are beautiful and brave, us
We will not be judged by you
For you have broken us
One by one we fell as your victims
We are no longer beautiful and brave us
We are fallen stars that once shined but are now dead
As we hit the ground you laugh
Your cackle fills the air
For you have broken us
We have been broken
We are gone
We are no longer beautiful and brave us
You are cruel and evil, you
Look around at the fallen stars
Do you feel self-satisfied
Ask yourself, is this what I wanted
IS IT
For you have broken the order
We are gone and destroyed by you
As I rise, you will fall
As we rise, you will be crushed
Not us, but you
We have regained our strength
We are no longer yours, this is our life
It is ours to control
NOT YOU
For we have finally broken you
We are brave, confident, beautiful us
Desiree Dean
Seventh Grade
Lakeside Middle School
“Life”
Life is short
Don’t ever waste it
Life is sweet
Take time to taste it
Life is a journey
Find the right path
Life is entertaining
Don’t be afraid to laugh
Life is for good times
So make them last
Life has its bad times
Just put them in the past
Life is a chance
Make sure you take it
But most importantly
Life is what you make it.
Morgan Brunty
Eighth Grade
Lakeside Middle School
“I am a Ballerina”
I walk upon the stage,
Into the brightness of the light.
I peer onto the crowd,
Glad I have no fright.
I curtsy to begin
Leaping and twirling until everything is out of sight.
The crowd starts to roar
As I begin to soar.
Like a bird in the wind,
Then I descend.
A pirouette here,
A tondu there.
I am a ballerina,
And this is my arena.
Landing with a thump
My feet hit the ground.
My hair, once in a careful clump,
Has now tumbled down.
This was my last jump,
I turn to face the crowd.
The crowd explodes,
My energy reloads.
I take my final bow,
My dance is complete now.
I beam, so happy.
My mother just looks like sappy.
I am a ballerina,
And this is my arena.
Jamie Boquist
Ninth Grade
Lakeside High School
“Into Anything”
Busy cobblestone street in a town close to my own,
A mid afternoon years ago,
I met a man, who asked me the greatest question I’ll ever know,
For someone starting on these streets,
It’s a make or break on your first day,
I found out,
When he stopped by that day,
Just watching, waiting on me.
Can I help you sir?
I spoke, nervous for my first trial,
Until he asked me:
What can you do?
Sir,
I can paint you into anything,
Anything you desire,
A walk on a beach you’ve never seen,
A stroll in a garden you’ll never own,
A journey you’ll never go on,
A rest you’ll never take,
Why even, I can put you right into the arms of a girl, who’ll never cross your path,
A joyride you’ll never have,
Sir, I’ll paint you into anything.
The ruins of a Roman temple no one’s found,
I’ll put you right on the third rock from the very top,
Smile on your face, perhaps an artifact in your hands,
Something to show your fans, or friends
I’ll drop you into an undersea treasure hunt,
You can find the long lost pirate ships,
Clad in scuba gear in the deep blue.
Kilimanjaro, high atop the world,
I’ll haul you up, paint you right on top.
A house that’s a home, with toys in the yard,
Kids in the swings and high up in the maple tree.
A woman for you to love unconditionally.
Anywhere on this earth and beyond,
The 7 wonders?
Done.
Deepest and highest points in the world?
Easy.
It won’t take me long,
I can paint your every dream unto my canvas,
Watercolor skies and acrylic mountains with meadows,
Redwoods turned to ants when you’re soaring above,
Anything you can think of,
I’ll do it.
Sir, I’ll paint you into anything.
Rebecca Christian
10th Grade
Harlem High School
Untitled
Nobody sees me
Nobody cares
I sit here alone in my big rock chair
Nobody seems to notice me
Nobody wants to talk to me
Everyday all alone and scared
Nobody sees me nobody cares
Nobody sees me nobody cares
All I do is sit and stare
At people I thought were my friends
And all they do is talk and talk
And they don’t see me ’cause
They don’t care
For nobody sees me
Nobody cares
And I sit here alone in my big rock chair
A chair of silence; a chair of thought
For that’s all I can do till the chair rots
Nobody sees me
Nobody cares
And I sit here in my big rock chair
Maybe one day I’ll break the silence
Maybe one day I’ll get out of the chair
But until that day all I do is
Sit oh sit in my big rock chair
Where
Nobody sees me
Nobody cares
As I sit in the chair in thought
All I think about is how to do away
With the silence; the never-ending silence
And all I come up with is
The thought of ending it all
Because oh because
Nobody sees me
And nobody cares
Nobody sees me
And nobody cares
If only I had the courage to end it all
Here right here
Then people could see me
And maybe even care
But as of now I have no courage so
I stay in the realm of
Nobody seeing me
And nobody caring
One day maybe not far off
One day just out of reach
It will end; it will end
It will all end
This thought and all others
That thought of
Nobody seeing me
And nobody caring
For it will finally break the silence
With my voice
Not used in a time remembered
I will break the silence
I will get out of the big rock chair
And I will speak
And I will say
“I’m here
See me, for me
Hear me for who I am”
And they will hear
And they will see
And finally they will care.
Abigail Anderson
11th Grade
Evans High School
“My Brave Soldier”
As I wave goodbye I start to cry
When will the war be over?
I look once more into the face I adore
Good luck my brave soldier
I long to hear your voice
I crave your warm embrace
No one can ever take your place
Good luck my brave soldier
The house feels empty when you are gone
I miss seeing your boots by the door
It is the simple things that remind me of you
Good luck my brave soldier
I shed a tear on Christmas day since the lights don’t shine the same when you are away
Carols just don’t sound right when loved ones are out of sight
May holiday cheer keep your memories near
Good luck my brave soldier
I let out a sigh as each day goes by and mark another “X” on the calendar
One more day down, I shall not frown for soon you will return
As you face a new tumultuous day,
Good luck my brave soldier
Each sacrifice is worth the fight
“Please be safe” I pray at night
With each mission that you are given,
Good luck my brave soldier
People always ask me when you will be back
Hope is something that we can’t afford to lack
I try to brush it off like it doesn’t bother me when deep inside I wonder the same thing
Good luck my brave soldier
You are such a loving father and husband of 20 years
The military has taught me to face my fears
Finishing one year of deployment is finally near
Welcome home my brave soldier
My stomach is full of butterflies
I feel like breaking down
When will your bus come into town?
Welcome home my brave soldier
I see you at last as you march into the room
The biggest smile covers my face as I run to you fast
We can’t wait to catch you up on the events that have passed
I love you my brave soldier
Corey Andrews
12th Grade
Harlem High School
“The Copperman”
Born a man of copper,
I will die a man of rust.
Winds of greed and deceit,
Precipitated lust.
My Mother bestows her nurture-
Uncongenial dissent-
Pervading nature’s course
From flint to sediment
I remain in my studio,
No one will ever see
The brazen, alloy structure
Made from brimstone and heat.
Would it dishearten her luminescence
For this stature of wonder
To be tossed and cast aside
To the lightning and thunder?
Or would it soothe those coruscations?
Glistening ever so proud,
Once corroded debris lie
Beneath an obsidian cloud.
