It was a bright, sunny Monday morning as the sunflowers tilted their heads to see the clear skies, and honeybees sat on top of them, sucking up nectar while taking their time.
I was at school sitting down with my friends in our cafeteria for our school’s assembly. “Do you think you’ll win the yearbook contest?” I asked my friend, Srinithi, who was sitting next to me. “No,” she replied. “I did mine last minute and it’s so sloppy!” she said with a laugh. “Same! There’s no chance of me winning! I’m a terrible artist, even my parents said that to me!” I exclaimed, rolling my eyes. The yearbook design competition was for fifth graders only, who submitted their artwork for the front cover of the school’s yearbook. The art teacher would decide who was the best artwork and then he would announce it in front of the whole school. Today was the day we would find out the three winners for the back cover, the front cover, and the first page when the yearbook is opened.
“Good morning, Taylor!” a teacher’s voice boomed in the microphone. “Good morning!” the school shouted back in a leisure voice, extending each syllable. “Today we have a lot of announcements, so let’s all listen and be at a voice level zero.” the teacher said in the mic. “First, our art teacher would like to announce the yearbook design winners.” I looked at my friends Srinithi and Sara with my eyebrows raised with anxiety and excitement.
The art teacher, Mr. Walsh, walked up onto the stage and said, “Hello, Taylor Elementary. I would like to announce our fifth grade winners for this year’s yearbook!” The whole school cheered, especially the fifth graders. “Okay, our first winner is Emily Lu from Mrs. Joas class! Please stand up, Emily!” My friend from my class stood up, excited and shocked from her accomplishment. On the screen near the stage, a picture of her back cover popped up. Everyone clapped and cheered for her as she sat back down, while everyone went over to her and congratulated her.
“Now, our second winner is Sarah Santana from Ms. Rivero’s class.” A girl opened her mouth from shock and stood up for a minute, but soon she sat back down, still stunned by her achievement. Everyone cheered as her galaxy themed design came up on the screen. “Our last winner is Aditi Kasthala from Mrs. Joas’s class! Give it up for Aditi!” I raised my eyebrows immediately and covered my mouth, standing up slowly as I saw kindergarteners to fifth graders to the school’s principal cheering and clapping for me. My heart pounded in my chest, feeling like it was about to jump out. To add on more of the excitement, my beach + ocean themed design popped up on the screen and the whole school saw it. I sat back down as my classmates and friends clapped and congratulated me. I smiled and said “thank you” to all the people who said “good job” to me, as well as congratulated the other winners.
I couldn’t believe my achievement! I was excited to see the yearbook at the end of the year! I had always wanted to make my mark and now I did. I would be remembered as the yearbook designer for the year of 2022-2023! I kept on daydreaming about my amazing accomplishment and how I would tell my parents that I was an incredible artist.