TBH #3 Read online

  CECILY

  Ooh good idea

  From: Cecily Anderson

  To: Edward Carransey

  Subject: quick question

  Dear Mr. C,

  Will the winning essay contest essay be published or posted somewhere? Not that I think I will win or anything but I’m just curious. I am writing some personal things.

  Thank you,

  Cecily Anderson

  I’m not afraid of storms, for I’m learning how to sail my ship. —Louisa May Alcott

  ESSAY CONTEST

  REFLECTIONS ON THE SCHOOL YEAR

  by Cecily Anderson

  Millionth draft (I’ve lost count)

  I’m going to reflect on why this essay is so hard for me to write. It’s hard to sum up a whole year in a short essay. Sometimes I feel like each day lasts for a hundred years. And other times I feel like the weeks fly by. I’m not sure why that is. I think it’s because things are changing so fast. I’ve been pushing that feeling aside because I really do want to stay a kid for as long as possible. I like being a kid. I like not having to think about that many important, scary things. I like playing outside and riding bikes with my friends and even playing with dolls sometimes, too.

  I think sixth grade was basically a year of huge change and growth and that made it hard. Looking back on it now, it feels like a major year. But as I was going through it, it just felt hard.

  Maybe we don’t know what things really are until they’re over. Although we still have one more day.

  From: Edward Carransey

  To: Cecily Anderson

  Subject: RE: quick question

  Hi, Cecily,

  We are not sure yet if the winning essay will be published. Perhaps we will leave it up to the winner. To be determined. Good luck! Happy writing!

  All the best,

  Mr. C

  Be the change you want to see in the world. —Gandhi

  From: Cecily Anderson

  To: Gabrielle Katz, Prianka Basak

  Subject: FWD: re: quick question

  Guys, see below. Are we all okay with this?

  Xoxo Cecily

  From: Yorkville Middle School Tech Staff

  To: Cecily Anderson

  Subject: RE: computer question

  Hello, Cecily:

  Sure. Please stop in tomorrow before the charades competition! We will all be in the office.

  Ms. Starr

  BEST SQUAD IN THE WORLD

  PRIANKA

  I’m ok w/ Ms. Starr meeting

  I didn’t want to reply on email

  CECILY

  K cool

  GABRIELLE

  I’m ok w/ it 2

  We r just gonna be all TBH THERE HAS BEEN SO MUCH DRAMA WITH COMPUTERS PLEASE HELP US AHHHHH

  PRIANKA

  LOL

  CECILY

  Kinda that sounds like a good plan LOL

  Cecily, Mara

  CECILY

  R u going to the surprise 4 Victoria

  MARA

  Yeah

  It’s @ Prianka’s rite

  CECILY

  Yeah

  R ur friends going 2

  MARA

  IDK

  CECILY

  K well c u soon

  MARA

  K bye

  555-55

  YORKVILLE MIDDLE SCHOOL TEXT ALERT: Reminder to all students that all school laptops must be returned by three p.m. today. Have a wonderful summer!

  BFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF

  PRIANKA

  Guys r we all ready for Ms. Starr meeting

  GABRIELLE

  but yea

  CECILY

  Same

  PRIANKA

  Honesty is best policy

  Cheesy but true

  Hope day goes fast so we get 2 Vic’s party

  GABRIELLE

  Same so pumped

  Also gonna tell Col I just want 2 b friends

  PRIANKA

  LOL we r all anti the boys now

  GABRIELLE

  Haha I guess

  PRIANKA

  Cece we r all over boy craziness

  CECILY

  LOL

  K time 4 meeting

  Stay strong BFFs

  GABRIELLE

  On it

  PRIANKA

  Yup

  CECILY

  I you guyssssssss

  From: Yorkville Middle School Tech Staff

  To: Cecily Anderson, Prianka Basak, Gabrielle Katz

  Subject: End of year computer turn-in follow-up

  Hello, Cecily, Prianka, and Gabrielle:

  The tech department and I are glad you stopped in today to discuss the state of your computers. First of all, it’s always best to be honest up-front. This applies to life and technology. So, good job with that.

  Jamal was busy with other duties so was not responsible for wiping your computers.

  The tech teachers and I will take care of making sure everything is off the computers. It doesn’t seem that there is anything too damaging. Please remember for next year—the computers are ONLY to be used for schoolwork. Do not even use them for iMessaging at night. As long as you keep it academic, you are OK. We will review this policy again in September.

  Have a great summer.

  Ms. Starr

  PHEW

  PRIANKA

  Good idea 2 talk to Ms. Starr

  GABRIELLE

  Agree

  CECILY

  We just have 2 be so careful next year

  Kinda glad school comps r turned in

  GABRIELLE

  Same

  Really glad this year is over

  PRIANKA

  Imagine if we just never texted again & only did shared notebook

  CECILY

  How would we communicate @ night

  PRIANKA

  No idea

  I just feel like texting makes things soooo complicated

  GABRIELLE

  Imagine after all this we r like no thank u phones

  CECILY

  Honestly could be simpler

  PRIANKA

  Pos we reevaluate after summer

  CECILY

  Yeah

  PRIANKA

  IDK if Vishal is coming 2 Vic’s party

  CECILY

  I feel like all boy craziness ended kinda suddenly

  GABRIELLE

  Yeah ur right

  PRIANKA

  Who knows

  I am soooo ready 4 summer

  CECILY

  Me 2

  Gtg finish essay

  TTYL

  Mwah

  ESSAY CONTEST

  REFLECTIONS ON THE SCHOOL YEAR

  by Cecily Anderson

  Gazillionth draft (I’ve lost count)

  I’m going to reflect on why this essay is so hard for me to write. It’s hard to sum up a whole year in a short essay. Sometimes I feel like each day lasts for a hundred years. And other times I feel like the weeks fly by. I’m not sure why that is. I think it’s because things are changing so fast. I’ve been pushing that feeling aside because I really do want to stay a kid for as long as possible. I like being a kid. I like not having to think about that many important, scary things. I like playing outside and riding bikes with my friends and even playing with dolls sometimes, too.

  I think sixth grade was basically a year of huge change and growth and that made it hard. Looking back on it now, it feels like a major year. But as I was going through it, it just felt hard.

  Maybe we don’t know what things really are until they’re over. I think the best advice I could give to someone about to enter middle school is to try and stay calm and not get stressed every time something changes or something new happens.

  Another thing I learned this year is that there’s only one way to go about life—and that way is to be yourself. Trying to be something that you’re not honestly makes no sense and is actually kind of impossible. You just won’t feel ri
ght. I mean, actors do it and that’s cool but unless you’re a professional actor, you need to be yourself to feel comfortable in this world. It’s the only way.

  This year was also monumental because it helped us all realize that feelings can be hurt completely accidentally. Yorkville is a kind place and I don’t know many people here who go out of their way to hurt someone else. But it happens. I think we are all more aware now of our how actions impact others.

  All in all, sixth grade was challenging and enlightening. I don’t think I’m the same as I was on the first day of school.

  I’m looking forward to a restful, peaceful summer, and I hope that we can all come back to Yorkville Middle School in September feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.

  CHARADES 4 LIFE

  PRIANKA

  OMG u guys we crushed charades

  Sorry 2 brag but 4 real

  Did u see how great Sanda & I did

  CECILY

  Yessssss u were soooo good

  PRIANKA

  Can we do charades @ the party 2nite

  I am really feeling it

  NICOLE

  LOL ok

  GABRIELLE

  OMG I was soooo bad

  I had no idea what Colin was doing

  CECILY

  Haha LOL

  It was hard 2 tell he was playing hockey

  PRIANKA

  IK he looked like he was whacking bugs

  KIMBERLY

  LOL this school is sooo funny

  We don’t have this much fun in Phil

  Good thing Vic moved here

  PRIANKA

  OMG I almost put Vic on this text & ruined surprise

  NICOLE

  ACK thank the lord u didn’t

  PRIANKA

  K see u peeps later

  Come any time u want 2 set up

  My parents r so happy every1 is getting along they don’t care how many people come

  CECILY

  Love that, Pri

  GABRIELLE

  Me 2

  Cecily, Mara

  MARA

  U want me 2 pick u up on the way to Prianka’s?

  CECILY

  Sure that would be fab

  My mom can drive us home

  MARA

  Cool

  Dear Diary,

  I am bugging out right now. I am going to see Mara at this party for Victoria in a few hours and I feel like I need to tell her how I feel. But the question is—do I tell her in person? Write her a letter? Send her a text?

  I just need her to know before we are apart for the whole summer. I wonder if we can still be friends even if she doesn’t like me like that. I mean, I doubt she does. I know she just thinks I’m a good friend. But I need to tell her anyway.

  I have been debating telling Pri and Gabs about this since they love me and accept me no matter what. But I still feel weird about it. Am I the first girl at Yorkville Middle to have a crush on another girl? I have no idea.

  xoxo

  Cecily

  Cecily, Prianka

  CECILY

  Pri?

  PRIANKA

  Yeah

  CECILY

  R u so busy getting ready 4 party

  PRIANKA

  Kinda but what’s up

  CECILY

  U know how we have been BFF since b4 we were born

  PRIANKA

  Haha yes

  CECILY

  I kind of have a big secret & I want to tell some1 but I am scared

  PRIANKA

  Ummmm u know I love secrets

  CECILY

  IK & TBH the meme thing still annoys me but ur my BFF 4evs & I need 2 talk 2 u

  PRIANKA

  Ok….

  TBH I’m worried bc ur not using emojis rn

  CECILY

  No I’m ok

  PRIANKA

  If ur not ready to tell it’s NBD

  CECILY

  Yeah

  PRIANKA

  U r scared 2 tell Gabs?????

  U know we said no side chats

  CECILY

  IK

  PRIANKA

  U know I am always here

  Prob 2 much since I look @ my every second

  CECILY

  LOL

  Thx, Pri

  Cecily, Gabrielle

  GABRIELLE

  Cece?

  CECILY

  Yeah?

  GABRIELLE

  I just wanted 2 say sorry again

  4 making that meme

  I didn’t mean 4 it 2 go viral

  & now I am kind of freaking out bc what if something else goes viral

  CECILY

  Just b careful what u send & 2 who

  Hope Pri learns that 2 but maybe it was kinda NBD

  GABRIELLE

  Yeah I guess

  I just feel bad

  CECILY

  IK

  I gtg but ILY

  GABRIELLE

  Same

  Cecily, Mara

  MARA

  Sorry my mom talks so much

  CECILY

  LOL it’s ok

  MARA

  Srsly she doesn’t stop

  CECILY

  All moms talk a lot

  MARA

  Y tho

  CECILY

  IDK they have a lot 2 say

  MARA

  IDK I guess

  CECILY

  It doesn’t bother me

  So don’t worry k?

  MARA

  K

  Happy we r going 2 the party 2gether

  CECILY

  R Marissa & Mae coming

  MARA

  IDK they r weird lately

  CECILY

  Really? U never said anything

  MARA

  IK it’s awk

  I’m glad u and me have become closer

  CECILY

  Same def

  Can we talk @ party

  MARA

  Obv we can talk

  What do u mean

  CECILY

  Like privately about something

  MARA

  Ummm now I’m nervous but ok

  CECILY

  Don’t be nervous

  I promise

  MARA

  K

  PARTY PARTY PARTY

  PRIANKA

  Guys every1 is having fun right

  GABRIELLE

  Totally

  VICTORIA

  Um yesssssss I can’t believe u guys planned this 4 me

  PRIANKA

  Vic, u & Arjun r sooooooo cute 2gether btw

  VICTORIA

  IK

  PRIANKA

  U have to really thank Kim & Nic 4 party tho

  VICTORIA

  IK but Pri, ur hosting so thx 2 u toooooooooo

  Sooooo nice

  PRIANKA

  NP

  This is so fun

  Ok if I make an announcement?

  I think it wd be fun if everyone wrote anonymous wishes 4 summer

  & I put them all in a bowl

  & then people reached in & pulled 1 out

  GABRIELLE

  LOL, Pri

  That feels so school-ish

  VICTORIA

  I like the idea

  DO IT

  PRIANKA

  K whatev Vic wants LOL

  GABRIELLE

  K true

  PRIANKA

  Where is Cece

  GABRIELLE

  I saw her b4 on the hammock w/ Mara in some serious conv

  PRIANKA

  K they r so serious

  VICTORIA

  Haha they really are

  PRIANKA

  Sorry we r texting about u Cece

  Back 2 party

  Bye

  Vishal, Prianka

  VISHAL

  Can we talk

  PRIANKA

  Sure

  VISHAL

  Where r u

  PRIANKA
<
br />   Lol Vishal I see u texting me

  I am by soda duh

  VISHAL

  K

  PARTY PARTY PARTY

  PRIANKA

  1 more thing

  Vish wants 2 talk now

  So if u wonder where I am….

  555-55

  YORKVILLE MIDDLE SCHOOL TEXT ALERT: Happy summer! Sorry for the late text but we want to let everyone know that our essay contest winner is Vishal Gobin! We had hoped to announce this earlier but there were so many outstanding

  entries to read! The Jennie’s gift certificate will be sent to Vishal at home. Have a safe, happy, fabulous summer! See you in September. #YorkvilleUnited