"Down-to-the-Wire Decisions"

Most people think of December with fondness-
A month full of food, family, and celebrations;
But for me I could not have been more stressed-
Finalizing college applications really tested my patience.

It would have been nice to sit down at the dinner table
On Thanksgiving, all done with my forms and essays.
My indecisiveness and busy schedule, however, ensured
That I could not truly relax for many more days.

While the essays themselves were not too difficult to write,
I found an obstacle in deciding which schools to apply to.
Another Ivy League? What about one more safety?
These questions filled my mind the whole month through.

I never planned on sending in my last application two days before the end of the year.
I did not anticipate, however, such a torn heart on what to study or where to go.
I applied to all three schools I was trying to choose between that day, for a total of eight,
Because I never want to think, "What if?" about where I spend the next four years to grow.

"A Match Made in Heaven"

The quarterfinals were just around the corner,
And I knew ahead of me was a very big task.
It was not long before I grew anxious, beginning to feel
That the job assigned to me was too much to ask.

We were set to compete against Cresskill,
A bitter rival of New Milford athletes of all teams,
But on their soccer team was a formidable opponent--
One of the best players in the county, and I'm not being extreme!

My coach decided that I would mark this girl the whole game,
Which meant I would defend her and get in her way wherever she went.
As the school day went by, I became more and more nervous
As I fully grasped how much my job meant and that I could not once relent.

My teammates and I were so excited to play that mild Monday afternoon,
But I was still so afraid of failing at my task and costing us the game.
Once the starting whistle blew, I took a deep breath and concentrated
On what I had to do: stop this talented girl from achieving her aim.

The match was physical, and I took (and threw) some hard hits,
But I did not let this star soccer player have her way.
She scored only one goal to my team's three,
Allowing us to celebrate a victory that day.

The win against Cresskill moved us forward to the semifinals,
And defeating this team had not been achieved in seven years.
This exciting, hard-earned victory was the sweetest yet,
But I was also happy I overcame this obstacle despite my fears.

"The Challenges of Writing the College Essay"

Since the early days of middle school seven years ago,

Writing essays has become quite natural to me,

Whether as part of a test, a book analysis, or a research paper.

How challenging the college essay would be, I did not foresee.

The Common Application gives several topics to choose from:

All very vague and basic idea-starters, but nothing that gave me inspiration.

A significant experience? A significant influence? Issues of concern?

I could not think of anything creative or interesting, causing me frustration.

I sat in front of my computer for hours upon hours,

Trying to think of something that would showcase who I am through the written word.

I have not traveled across the globe or grown up immersed in cultures of my heritage;

Despite a lack of highly unique experiences, I am a unique girl who deserves to be heard.

I reflected upon my internship experience this summer

And all of the things that I learned along the way.

Knowledge I gained simply from riding the train

Helped lay the groundwork for the topic of my college essay.

In the essay I talked about how looks do not tell all

And how people have judged my personality based on my appearance and size.

After all my bouts with writer's block and shaky topics, I put together

An essay that I hope will really catch admissions officers' eyes. 

"The Hard Work Behind Spirit Week and Homecoming"

Every October I look forward to Homecoming--

The school spirit, the annual dance, the football game.

The Student Council always plans the festivities

And this year, as President, I saw how stressed I quickly became.

We wanted to make it the best Spirit Week ever,

Selling lots of tickets for the dance and drumming up school pride,

But we soon found it's not easy to convince all classmates

To shell out eighteen dollars and show off their silly side.

First it was choosing fun, fresh days for Spirit Week

Then it was selling ribbons and bracelets to increase our resources

Next it was trying to boost ticket sales through the roof

Then it was buying flowers, crowns, and sashes--for the kings and queens, of course.

Once Spirit Week and the football game festivities were taken care of,

Our focus was on preparations for the big dance.

"Do we have enough decorations? How about food? A DJ?"

Luckily we pulled it all together, although some parts only shortly in advance.

The Homecoming Dance turned out to be a success.

Attendance was high, the dance floor was packed,

The food was delicious and we even had desserts;

But I slept until noon the next morning--I was exhausted, that's a fact.