Olivia

Grains of Sand, a poem

In the glassy stature, a timeless sight,

Where each grain of sand takes great flight,

For every time a sand grain drops,

A new core memory is unlocked.

For in their path a new journey calls,

But the past memories are then,

what falls,

Shadows fade when se say goodnight,

But the light in our lives is what burns bright.

Each new day is a blessings grace,

In which we have to stop… to embrace,

When the sand runs out, so do we,

With nothing else left to plea.

In a slow-moving rhythm, we find our place,

In what we think is an infinite space,

We live our life in black and white,

Afraid of colours that might impede our sight.

Our time in life doesn’t last forever,

So, we must learn how to endeavour.

Life is about seizing each and every day,

Instead of thinking about yesteryear

Author Bio

Olivia is a vibrant and humorous Year 10 student known for their quick wit and penchant for making others laugh. With a natural talent for comedy, Olivia has a unique ability to lighten the mood in any situation, often leaving classmates and teachers alike in stitches. Whether it’s through clever one-liners, playful impersonations, or simply a funny story, Olivia brings joy to their school environment, and her friends. Beyond their comedic talents, Olivia is also a dedicated student, balancing their love for humour with a passion for learning. They enjoy subjects like English where they often find creative ways to make lessons more engaging for themselves and their peers. Outside of school, Olivia enjoys spending time with friends, participating in farming and primary production, and finding new material to inspire their next great joke.

As they continue their journey through high school, Olivia aspires to not only excel academically but also to inspire others to find joy and laughter in everyday life. With a bright future ahead, they are sure to leave a lasting impression on everyone they meet.

Book Review – To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

“To Kill a Mockingbird, one of the most significant works of American literature which was published in 1960. A book about a family Scout, Jem and their father Atticus Finch, a lawyer who is defending a black man Tom Robinson, who has been wrongfully accused of raping a white girl.

The book starts though the perspective of six-year-old scout who proved have childlike innocent and very naive at the beginning of the book however as the book progressed so did her character. The book starts in their hometown of Alabama known for its social injustice and racial discrimination which is the main moral of the story. Readers are made to empathise with the two kids Scout and Jem as they lose their innocence throughout the entirety of the book.

Throughout the novel, Atticus Finch, Scout and Jems father prove to be an authoritive hero like figure to Tom Robinson as his client he is defending. Atticus is a character that serves as a moral compass demonstrating bravery and the beliefs of standing up for what is right even if you may be the only one. As Atticus Finch is the only one standing up for the black man Tom Robinson is he then looked down to by the rest of his town as they don’t believe what he is doing (standing up for a black man when he is wrongfully accused) is right.

This story is both suited for young and older readers as it teaches everyone the importance of standing up for what is right in any circumstance that you are given no matter what everyone else thinks. Lee skilfully blends the troubling adulthood with the childhood wonder and curiosity. Atticus teaches his kids to do what is right and important life skills about being a good human being.

Atticus’s famous quote from “To Kill a Mockingbird” that sums up the book’s examination of empathy is, “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view.” Throughout the story, this lesson reverberates, encouraging readers to consider their own prejudices and viewpoints.

The narrative structure of ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ combines social critique and coming of age, that highlights Scouts shift of character towards the end of the novel. It shows that she has lost her childlike innocence as she has been exposed to things that you should not have to see as a child like racial injustice. She shifted into a more mature character as she had been exposed to adulthood things which made her more sympathetic to Tom Robinson.

To sum up, “To Kill a Mockingbird” is a timeless study of justice, morality, and empathy seen through the naive yet perceptive eyes of a child. Because it demonstrates Scout, Jem, and Atticus’s character development, this book is suitable for readers of all ages. It is a timeless book that keeps bringing up issues of compassion, moral courage, and race.