On a recent trip back to my parents’ house, my mom asked me to go through a box of papers she had kept from my grade school days. My parents have been in the process of getting rid of a bunch of stuff. So Mom was finally ready to let go of my childhood (at least some of it).
As I looked through the stacks of drawings, report cards, and certificates, I realized two things. 1) There seemed to be A LOT more from kindergarten through about third grade than there was from middle school or high school. I guess I was more impressive as a youngster. And 2) Much of what my mom kept from those early years involved a story of some sort. Some were an assigned topic. Others were more of a free writing project.
While reading through those stories, and laughed at my younger self. But it was clear how much I’ve always loved a good story. Whether it was a specified topic, or something I wrote for a holiday, those writing assignments provided a chance for me to express my budding creative skills.
MY EARLY WRITING ADVENTURES
Many writers say they always loved writing. Now, I can share proof that this was the case for me. My technique has certainly come a long way since second grade (or at least I sure hope so!). But those stories still had the basic narrative elements that any story needs.
I saved a few writing samples from those early years. I don’t need them by any means, but it’s fun to look back on where my love of storytelling started.
Several of the pieces my mom had saved were from Second Grade. One was a Christmas story about Albert the Bear. He was apparently a very sleepy bear because when he crawled into his bed, he slept for days. Poor Albert missed Christmas.
Another sample I saved from Second Grade was my series of dinosaur reports. At my elementary school, each year the Second Grade classes not only studied dinosaurs, but they also put on a big performance about the creatures. This included songs and dances, and students sharing information that we learned. I still remember most of the songs! “My name is Stegosaurus, I’m a funny looking dinosaur…”
While these essays were part of an assignment rather than a creative story, they show my early interest in research and academic writing. Growing up, my grandparents took my brother and me to the Denver Museum of Natural History and Science many, many times. We spent a lot of that time in the dinosaur exhibits. That curiosity paid off for my budding research and report skills.
Other treasures in my school box included a number of programs and certificates for writing contests and conferences. I attended my first writing conference in Fourth Grade. I had submitted a collection of poems. In Fifth Grade, my essay earned me a runner-up spot in a citywide contest. (I still think I got robbed! My essay was way better than the one by the boy who got First Place.) Before starting Eighth Grade, I won an essay contest sponsored by newspaper. My prize: Tickets to a New Kids On the Block concert. (Showing my age.)
Omaha, Nebraska
While I never imagined I’d someday be writing my own novel, I always used writing as a creative outlet to share my interests.
Now, as I look back on those stories and reports, they obviously were the work of a child. But, they also show me that creativity has always been a part of my life. And when it comes to storytelling, my love of fun characters and settings has continued to grow over the years.
Those early attempts at putting together a story or presenting facts about a topic of interest serve as a reminder of where my writing journey started. Even in those early days, I knew writing and stories mean a lot to me.
Most of the papers and certificates my mom kept in that school box ended up in the recycle bin. I really don’t need my kindergarten report card showing I could recognize shapes, letters, and numbers. But saving a few pieces of my early creative work has been a fun way to remind myself of why I love writing.
**Do you have any papers or projects saved from your early school days? What do they say about your early personality?**
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