Language Arts Student of the Year 2009
“…in the far back corner of the room, a sole person whose face is buried in a book…has not spoken a single word to you in all of your three years at Fairfield Junior High…”
Because he usually has so little to say aloud, I’d like to let this year’s Language Art Spotlight Award Winner continue to introduce himself with these words from his blog:
“There are those of you who have seen me in class and find me a little odd,” he says. “You have seen that I only speak when absolutely required to, and I rarely smile, even in the face of a good joke. Some of you have even noticed that I am excessively and intently involved in multiple books and that I tend to delve into my school work and generate good grades.”
And he’s probably right. That is how a lot of his classmates may have viewed him, but even though he doesn’t have much to say out loud, this year’s Language Arts Student of the Year has no problem with self-expression. I have been fortunate enough to get to know him through his Honors English blog, which has been a repository of essays, critiques, short stories, reflections, and (whether he knows it or not) even poetry. He wrote more this year in his blog than most people write in a lifetime, and I suspect he is just getting started. Language is one of his many gifts, and one he is not afraid to develop through practice. Whereas many students try to find the shortest way to do and say anything in writing, this student will elaborate to the smallest detail. His essays are engaging and persuasive. His stories are entertaining. His reflections are moving. So even though his spoken voice has not yet been fully developed, his written voice is loud and clear.
His keen intellect and consistently applied efforts will allow this young man to pursue any career he would like, but I hope he continues his writing because, despite his usual silence, he has a lot of good things to say.
This year’s Language Arts Student of the Year is Garrett Bigelow.
Because he usually has so little to say aloud, I’d like to let this year’s Language Art Spotlight Award Winner continue to introduce himself with these words from his blog:
“There are those of you who have seen me in class and find me a little odd,” he says. “You have seen that I only speak when absolutely required to, and I rarely smile, even in the face of a good joke. Some of you have even noticed that I am excessively and intently involved in multiple books and that I tend to delve into my school work and generate good grades.”
And he’s probably right. That is how a lot of his classmates may have viewed him, but even though he doesn’t have much to say out loud, this year’s Language Arts Student of the Year has no problem with self-expression. I have been fortunate enough to get to know him through his Honors English blog, which has been a repository of essays, critiques, short stories, reflections, and (whether he knows it or not) even poetry. He wrote more this year in his blog than most people write in a lifetime, and I suspect he is just getting started. Language is one of his many gifts, and one he is not afraid to develop through practice. Whereas many students try to find the shortest way to do and say anything in writing, this student will elaborate to the smallest detail. His essays are engaging and persuasive. His stories are entertaining. His reflections are moving. So even though his spoken voice has not yet been fully developed, his written voice is loud and clear.
His keen intellect and consistently applied efforts will allow this young man to pursue any career he would like, but I hope he continues his writing because, despite his usual silence, he has a lot of good things to say.
This year’s Language Arts Student of the Year is Garrett Bigelow.
posted by MRT at 7:30 PM
2 Comments:
Yea! Go Garrett!
Woot!! Yay Garrett!! :)
Post a Comment
<< Home