Shooting Stars

When I was younger I did not like to write at all. I thought that it was just going to be a waste of my time. I thought that I could be doing better things, like playing on the trampoline or riding my bike, instead of writing. I kept that attitude until I was in 5th grade. When I was in 5th grade my teacher gave my class an assignment to write a paper on something about space. We could make things up or we could have proven facts about things. I chose to write about shooting stars. That is where my love for writing first began. I decided to make up a story about shooting stars. In my story I said that shooting stars were little men jumping from one star to another. I loved writing this story because I could be my self and use my imagination on things. I have a really good imagination when I want one. I worked and worked on this paper. I had my Dad proof read this paper and make spelling corrections a thousand times until I felt like I had it perfect. Finally, when the day came to turn it in, I took a deep breath and handed in the paper. I waited anxiously the next morning to get my paper back. When my teacher set the paper on my desk she looked and me with a big smile on her face and said “Good Job Mandy.” That was the best thing ever. I got 100% on the paper with a big smiley face. I was so excited I smiled all that day and all the next. 


While I was in 9th grade I had Mrs. Card for a teacher and I was nervous because I heard she was a really tough teacher. She gave us a writing assignment where we had to either interview someone that served in the war or look up information. I chose to interview a guy who is in my ward and church. I had so much fun writing this paper. I learned a lot about the war. I really enjoyed interviewing him and asking questions and then being able to write about the war from his point of view. It was the best paper I have written. I ended up getting on 90% on my paper and I was so excited because I worked so hard on that paper and I spent lots of time on it. That was one of those moments where my dad says “See I told you, you are a good writer if you would just sit down and take time on it.” I would just roll my eyes and tell him he has to say that because he’s my dad and that’s what dads are supposed to do.

My Dad has always been a really good writer. He wrote for the Newspaper and everyone always told him that they loved to read his writing because he had such a way with writing words that made it fun and exciting to read. I never really understood why they loved it so much. Finally I sat down and read one of his articles that he wrote about me and I loved reading it. He wrote it in such a way that I actually understood it. From that moment on I always wanted to be as good as a writer as my dad. My dad always told me that I had the potential to be a good writer, I just had to sit down and take my time on writing instead of rushing through things like I tend to do. I never believed him because I didn’t get good grades on my assignments, usually. I realized that when I actually sat down and spent some time on my assignments that I could write pretty good, or when I would write about things that would interest me I would write good and I would enjoy writing.

When I begin to write I usually write in silence then I have to listen to music. I get up and walk around and get a drink and then just sit back and brainstorm about things that don't even have to do with my writing assignment. When I finally begin writing again I re-read my paper so I can remember where I was at in my assignment. I’ll write a paragraph or so, then I’ll stop and get some chips and text a little bit more and usually complain on how I am stuck and I don’t know what to write about next. Usually by that time I have been writing for a good hour or so and I’ve only written about a page. I usually re-read my paper about 5 times when I’ve got it all done so I can make sure it makes sense.

As I have grown older I have developed a love of writing about things. I find myself writing little stories here and there without even knowing I’m doing it. I’ve found that if I take time and prepare myself for the writing assignment then I don’t over stress myself and I get it done on time.