“I think one of the strengths of nostalgia is that even if they have not had a good childhood, most people have at least one nostalgic memory that they cherish and that they can use repeatedly. Someone once asked me: ‘How long do these effects last?’ My 11-year-old daughter said: ‘They last your entire life!’ She’s right, too. Once positive memories are instantiated, they might have only represented half an hour of your entire childhood, but you can dwell on them and return to them forever.”–Dr. Tim Wildschut and Constantine Sedikides, Department of Social Sciences & Psychology. Article: ‘Looking back in joy: the power of nostalgia.’
Mrs. Collins, 6th Grade
When I was age 5, I imagined me being a hero for animals
I played with my stuffies even put a bandage on one
And thought I was helping making them sleep with me at nap time
Which I Hated
At age 9, I grew up more
I started getting more responsible
Going more places by myself, thinking I was so cool
Now I am 11 going on 12
I got older
Going to bed later
Play with toys a lot less
And have less energy
But still somehow still a kid
At five smackeroonies, I stayed up so late that I could touch light, see time, and taste air
4 Smackeroonies later, I found my bestest friend at my old school. I’m not there anymore, so right now we go over to each other’s houses or call each other.
Now, at 12 smackeroonies, I’m writing this writing assignment for poetry so I can
hopefully get an A. And I am in a new school.
Mrs. McClain, 7th Grade- Group 1
At five years old, I would play with my toys and have no worries, and would play outside with my neighbors until it was dark outside.
At nine years old, I would be drawing and calling my friend, laughing until my stomach hurts, and playing Roblox. I would have no piles of homework to do when I get home from school, I would get time to do whatever I wanted, but I wanted to be a teenager so badly. I wanted to be in 7th and 8th grade; everyone looks so much older, and my older brother told me 7th and 8th grade would be the best years ever.
At thirteen, I would spend a lot of time in my room with my headphones on listening to music like TV Girl or the Beatles. After I was done with my hours of homework and stressing out over projects that were due soon, I would finally have time to work on my art. I now want to become an artist when I’m older. I never have time to hang out with my neighbors until the summer, when I can feel less responsible and like a kid again.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12.
What comes next?
We can’t count
On knowing the numbers,
They are unwritten
Undecided.
When we were 1, we were flying.
Swept off the floor with one screech or cry.
2 came with walking
Stepping into a new age, or era.
Being 3 sparks your mind
It starts a fire, we were royalty one day, and an astronaut within hours.
When we were 4, we’d laugh and cry
Begin to talk and always try
Big number 5, it comes with school.
You’ve learned to read and count and spell.
When we were six, the doors were closed.
Shut in our house with no control.
7 was the same, six feet apart
Covid-19 will stunt so many lives. Too many lives.
When we turned 8, we saw our friends
And getting sick was far off, from safe.
Turning 9 was when we counted
down the days from turning
- What a number.
Double digits! Let’s celebrate. Or let’s cry and sob and shake,
Because growing up is one big mistake.
Being 11 comes with pride, you’ve started school
For the first time.
12 comes next, as we have learned.
But now we’re stuck
And undeterred.
What comes next?
We haven’t learned.
Mrs. McClain, 7th Grade- Group 2
Age 5
I made art out of anything
everything was a fantasy of my imagination
going on vacation was the best week ever
I had lots of freedom
Age 9
I learned responsibilities
I learned about computers
I could do anything without having to work
I learned about history and how we shouldn’t repeat it
Age 12
Now I have tons of responsibilities
I have to work for a goal, or anything I do now in life
I have to think about my future
I have some freedom, but mostly responsibilities
Mrs. McClain, 8th Grade, Group 3
Age 5
At 5, I woke up
At 5, I was someone
At 5, the world existed
At 5, I believed everything
At 5 ,I swung from my parents’ arms
Age 9
At 9, I was locked away
At ,9 I learned not to trust
At ,9 everything was easier
At ,9 everything had a consequence
Age 14
Now I am 14, and the world is different
Now I am 1,4 and everyone has their own story
Now I am 1,4 and the world isn’t sunshine and rainbows
by Age 5, I was the most talkative.
I had the most attitude
and the most confidence
I met new people who make huge impacts on my life
it was kind of a lot
for just a kid
by Age 9, I was stuck inside all the time
I only saw my parents and the two neighbor kids
together we would play in the alley
or eat lunch on the porch.
it all seemed ok, but
I had a lot of loss in my family, too
By age 13, I feel grown up but not regarded as so
I get treated like a kid
but get responsibilities like someone older.
It doesn’t really make sense to me
but i know everything will be ok
soon