The last one, Ngan Le final exam

Context/ Reflection                                                          
For my final exam, the assignment I chose was slice of life. This assignment I decided upon is entitled, The last One. At the time that I wrote that piece, I didn’t really reflect upon it, and now that this assignment has come up I have the opportunity to show how much the perspective can change when really pondering about it. Changes I have made to this piece was adding more feelings to it than just describing what happened. These changes make the piece better because it won’t let you forget what you read. If I had just described it, you would just picture it, if I only wrote how I felt about it, you would only understand how it felt to be there, by adding these to together you get a better slice of life! This is what I have come up with!     


Writing Piece My legs were aching and sore. At least I made it in time for my event. The wind blows softly, moving my hair onto my face. In agitation, I sweep them back into place, why did it have to be so windy today? About 2-3 heats away I notice that number 8 is my lane; at least it’s not close to the gun.“ Runners into your lanes!” says the blue hatted official says. This track is so much more different than the one we have back home, I feel even more nervous that this our last meet as well as being our last chance to bring home victory. “Runners on your mark, ready… get set … GO!” The blank shot is fired; the gunshot powder taints the air leaving me a bitter taste as I take longer strides than usual. The cheers or the crowd, pitter patters of the runners beside me, by own footsteps, and the wind combing through my hair, is enough tell me that track is definitely something I would like to continue to do. At first it was just a “try at least once” thing, I just wanted to say I did it. But now I’ve tasted victory, what it feels like to be a team, harsh training, the good things and the bad things, I definitely want to be a part of that. But anyway I continued making my strides toward the finish line as second place. “Good Job, 16.2” says the person at the finish. He hands me the stopwatch as if words weren’t enough. I nod wearily and thank him. My eyes that beg for sleep and legs that ache for rest finally get their reward as I snooze on fields waiting for the next events.  

About the Author

I am Ngan Le, a student. I am currently writing this piece because of an English assignment. I enjoyed writing but I had no ambition to be better at it. I am able to grasp something and turn it into a story but it has no emotions. It doesn’t tell a story. It’s just something that someone wrote on paper. But this year I have changed and I can’t say I have gotten better but I’m improving there is still a lot to learn. This year I wasn’t some student who just wrote this assignment just because I was told too. I also wasn’t someone who wrote a story. If you read every word carefully you can see the track meet I went too. If you are able to grasp the story you might be able to know how I was feeling during that track event. If you haven’t, I either haven’t changed or you just can’t grasp things. If I have, you understand that I have changed and still need more improving. Overall I continue to set goals to become a better writer.