Context and Reflection

    Over the course of this year, I have certainly learned a lot in English class.  For this final exam, I’d like to share a Slice of Life, because this is the one thing I have really enjoyed writing during this year.  This Slice of Life shows how much I’ve improved over the course of this year, adding more imagery, similes, to make a story really blossom to life.

Slice of Life: Ski Fall
 

    Sophia and I each grabbed one end of a pole, and started doubling down Illiad, one of the steepest hills in Greek Peak.  We turned left, slow as a snail, and turned right, slipping down the slope.  As I turned left once again, my skis went on ice, over the snow, and with a scream, I went flying down Illiad, rocketing past Sophia.  The poles were ripped out my hands, as Sophia gave a cry and started skiing uncontrollably down the hill, too.  I tripped over a lump of snow, and landed on my stomach with a loud oof.  I went skidding down a few more feet like a penguin, and landed in a drift of snow.  Sophia was just a few yards down from me, having landed on the side of the hill.  

    We picked ourselves up, and started to put our skis on.  Unfortunately, our boots were so clumped with snow that we couldn’t fit them into our skis.  Unable to call for help, we tried to chisel our shoes with the poles.  Being so packed, barely any snow came off.  There was a lift overhead, and a couple of boys asked if we needed help.  We refused, thinking that we could manage just fine.  An intersection to another hill, Alchemy, showed a slightly flatter terrain.  Sophia and I scooped up our equipment, and started our long, tiring plod down the hill.  We reached a flat, open space, where we attempted again to get our skis on.  It still didn’t work, no matter how much we scratched at the dense snow, it just wouldn’t come off.  Frustrated, we kept going, no matter how long it took.

    Then, out of the blue came a first aid man, skiing down Alchemy with a little girl.  Spotting us in need, he sent a cloud of snow as he skidded to a halt in front of us.  He told us to lift up our boots, and, he knocked the snow from our heels as easily as he skied.  When we tried the skis on again, they fit!  Thanking him gratefully, we continued on our way to meet our friends.  I knew that I wouldn’t try to double down such a hard hill anytime soon.

About the Author

    My name is Bella Hu.  I am a seventh grader in Ms. Cernera’s English class at DeWitt Middle School.  In the beginning of the year, my writing was very basic; it was like fifth grade writing.  This year, with a lot of learning from Ms. Cernera, I think that I have definitely improved my writing skills.  I have learned to think about how people would lose themselves in stories, even short ones, and I really think that I have achieved that in seventh grade.