What Have I Learned In School This Year?
By: Rachel Elaine Morton 

What have I learned in school this past year, 
What sets it apart from the last? 
This I crammed by brain full of knowledge, 
Ignorance is but a thing of the past. 
 
I learned how to speak a language quite different, 
Something I’ve not done before; 
After learning the tenses, the vocab, and spelling, 
French is no longer a chore. 
 
Dealing with computers, I must confess, 
Always had me confused; 
But now I can work with both Excel and Word, 
And Power Point keeps me amused. 
 
Our government baffles me, it always has, 
But now I have learned to respect; 
The design of my country, the law of this land, 
The way that my life it affects. 
 
As a child history bored me, I did not know why, 
I was forced to study the past; 
But now that I see its connection to Scriptures, 
I’ve taken an interest at last. 
 
I’ve always loved reading, but when I was young, 
Such “brain exercises” scared me; 
But now I will read both Dickens and Shakespeare, 
I’ll rise to the challenge with glee. 
 
Formal arguing is scary, and even more so, 
Is learning to analyze things; 
But I’ve learned to debate without fear of failing, 
Enjoying the thrill that it brings. 
 
I used to love math, but then high school came, 
And burnt out my drive for the class; 
But now I see formulas and shapes all around me, 
I’ve rekindled my love at last. 
 
Business was new, but I now understand, 
How things such as insurance go; 
Now that I write checks and can track different stocks, 
Perhaps my investments will grow? 
 
My dad is a doctor, so I’ve always enjoyed, 
Learning about how God made me; 
From my muscles and bones, to my organs and nerves, 
And how I can keep myself healthy. 
 
Writing’s my favorite, but I did not know, 
Just how long a paper could reach; 
Many pages and months (but no “be verbs”) later, 
My limit I learned how to breech. 
 
Yes, I took ten classes, and now I am tired, 
Of studying for tests big and small; 
I have learned so much, I have come so far, 
But wait…no…that’s not all… 
 
I learned how to smile, and I learned how to laugh, 
I learned that school can be fun; 
Sometimes it is hard, and it drives me insane, 
But look what I get when I’m done! 
 
I made lots of memories, and made lots of friends, 
Together we all had a ball; 
Killing “Geometry Dude,” debating philosophy, 
Through history we all heard God’s call. 
 
Trying to pronounce the new words that we learned, 
Hitting computers that hate us; 
Making money through stocks, then dissecting pigs, 
Writing papers without any “fluff.” 
 
Learning words like “Oklay,” and even “Cool Beans,” 
We also learned how to negate; 
Counting how many times a teacher would yawn, 
And you know we were NEVER late…not! 
 
See, learning was fun, and I’m so glad that I, 
Have learned so much from you; 
I laughed and I cried, stepped out of my bubble, 
And now this year is through. :-( 
 
Thank you so much for the help that you gave me, 
For teaching me so many things; 
The things that you’ve taught me will not be forgotten, 
I now cherish the joy learning brings!

Soon We'll Be Home
    Taylor Strube

While others take the shortest path,
   our stumbling feet lead down a winding way,
to send us far from home and hearth.
   We wait awhile to bid farewell the day.
 

Our packs are heavy. Our feet are bruised and tired.
   Our eyes glance back with longing and regret,
and with a sigh, our hearts of fool's gold lead us on and on.
   When it whispers us away, what can we do but follow after it
to overrun the hilltops and dance across the plains?
 

Now the gleaming sunlight gold is gone,
   as is this dying day.

Soon we'll be home to walk and roam the fields,
   but now, we must away.