'...Casper the Ghost playing with me': Poems on Age and Reflection

‘…Casper the Ghost playing with me’: Poems on Age and Reflection

Students shared childhood stories before writing their own poems reflecting back on their younger selves, as the speaker did in Billy Collin’s poem, On Turning Ten.

Lesson Note. “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.’

Ms. Wright 7th Grade

Age Joshua G.

At 5 I….. imagined Casper the goat playing with me
I had thought of myself as a Mexican wrestler
I played with the PS3 Legos
I watched my older cousin play with the basketball

Age 9
I was more than happy to get a stuffed animal beluga whale
At 9 I had grown up and started to ride a bike but lost it after a long time.
Also, I started to play the PS4 because my dad got it after a while.
I started to play sports like football, basketball, etc.
Age 14 (or current age)
Now I… Play on the PS5
Quit football but still try to practice
Play Roblox blox fruit
Now I do stuff for money to get my own things.

Age Serenity J.

At 5 I played with baby dolls.
The baby dolls soothed my heart for a little sibling.
I Played with a fake snail.
The snail was the color of the brightest red scrumptious cherry, the color of the most juicy lemon, and was the color of a granny smith apple!
I watched Frozen, Elsa was my fake sister. I used to also call myself Elsa too!
Flying kites with my dad was my thing. It was so fun!

At age 9 I would go to dance.
Dance was my happy place to get away from reality.
I would still play with dolls to heal my inner child.
Sit at home,
And do homework.

Now at age 13, I watch Instagram and Tiktok all day,
It is very bad for us children but I give it a break.
I turn to our Lord and Savior for any help and I talk to/trust him for anything!
I go to dance every day,
Do homework all day,
And go out with friends.

Ms. Wright 8th Grade

Age 13 Matthew W.

Age 5
At age 5, I ate food.
I gave affection to family
And became social
Age 9
At age 9, I watched videos.
I became more social
And took care of family.
Age 14 (or current age)
At age 13, I was distant.
I become antisocial
But still, I take care of family.

Teenage Years Lisa C.

Learning how to write and listen.
Building with the imagination of a 5-year-old.
Sitting in front of the TV, waiting for that one show.
Learning origami with my little friends from preschool.

Learn new stuff like riding a bike.
Make short-lived friendships after school.
Expanding my knowledge by reading.
On weekends stay home with my iPad.

Learn to use transportation to move around the city.
Go to school.
Hang out with friends after school.
Now I play on my phone every day.