A Day in the Life of a Freshmen at Holland High

My alarm goes off at 6:00 am. I hit the snooze button. Around 7:00 am my dad comes in saying, "Elizabeth Hazel Ortiz, do you not know what time it is?!" I then would lift my head up with my eyes close nodding, then lie back down. He would then yell at me to get out of bed before he dumped ice cold water on me. I then leaped out of bed. I then jumped in and out of the shower at lightening speeds and throw on my clothes that I had cleverly laid out the previous night. It's 7:41 am, class starts at 7:55 am. I grab my lunch and raced out the door. No time for breakfast. I pulled out my scooter and took off. I tried not to speed, but I was determined to get to school on time. I got to school and pulled in and parked by the bike rack. I looked inside the window and saw the clock. It was 7:51 am. AAHHH! I took off my helmet and locked my scooter. It was time to run. I entered the school. The one minute warning bell rung. Oh boy. I was trying not to panic. I started sprinting down the hallway. I had to be on time. I was getting closer. I had to make it to 902. Passing 891..893...897...10 seconds...899...5 seconds....900...2 seconds...902. RING! I made it! I started dancing and cheering! Then I stopped and realized that everyone was staring right at me. I blushed and put my head down and quickly walked over to my desk and sat down. School had now began.

My first hour was study hall. But its no ordinary class, because my coolest friend Mackenzie is my table partner. She always brings her Mary Poppins bag. We call it that because it has just about anything in it! Everything from nail polish to a broken flip-flop, a dirty sock to a whole new outfit, and that's not the beginning of what's in there. But first hour is always fun. I get some work done then I chat with Mackenzie or paint nails or see what’s new in the bag that day. Then our time together hanging is interrupted by the bell a sign that first hour is over. We depart our separate ways to go to second hour.

I walk through the halls talking to people and giving them high-fives and hugs. Kraft and I do our daily routine of passing each other while tilting our heads up and saying watsup. After that I grab a quick drink of water then take a deep breath. I entered my second hour.

My second hour is extraordinary. It’s the best class of the day. It’s World History with Colin Mulder. Mr. Mulder is an awesome teacher. His class is one of a kind. We have so many inside jokes, we’ll never forget them. He is always starting off the class with current events. So, we can have a better understanding of what is going on in the world today. Everyone gets a chance to share something they learned in the news if they want. One day someone may have thrown a baby out a window or someone may have stolen a ring off a dead person and put it on a carrot or maybe just debate whether the man with the blue skin is really blue or if it is violet. Either way we have a great time learning about our world. Mr. Mulder then turns around and discusses the agenda for the day with us on the board. Meanwhile, Katie pulls out her phone and begins text messaging. Andrew then yells, “Katie is that a phone?!” Katie drops the phone and shoots her hands up to the sky and yells, “No, No, it is not a phone!” Mr. Mulder snickers to himself then continues talking while motioning Katie to put her phone away. “Today we are going to watch a video.” “A video or movie?” asked Jacquie. “A movie.” Mr. Mulder answers. The class cheers! “However, the movie at some scenes can be lovely dovely inappropriate, so we will skip those scenes.” Explains Mr. Mulder. “What are the people doing in those scenes that we can’t see?” Asks Eric. Mr. Mulder responds with, “Well ahhh..you see…” Jacquie interrupts by saying, “Isn’t it obvious? They are playing Monopoly and the game is getting to intense.” Mr. Mulder then says, “Yes, they are playing Monopoly!” The movie is out on and during the movie there is lots of commentary, sighs, laughs, screams, and crying. But then the movie ends and we either have to take notes, read, listen, or fill our packet. With the last couple minutes, Mr. Mulder announces a test on Friday, and that we’ll play the ‘review game’ tomorrow. Everyone gets excited, because the review game is intense with a chance of extra credit! The bell rings and everyone crams through the door. Because it is one of the best times of the day, Lunchtime.

For Lunch some students go off campus for lunch and some stay and eat the cafeteria food. Holland’s café isn’t that bad at all, but it is almost all junk food. So, I decided to step up and eat healthy lunches. So, I would take my healthy, yet good tasting, lunch from home and bring it to the cafeteria to heat it up. I then would head to the Uno room. Mr. Osborn greets me warmingly and asks how I’m doing. We have a nice chat, but then we get down to business, he pulls out the Uno cards. Everyone gathers around and the Uno tournament begins. There are cries of victory and whines of defeat. The game gets very intense when the game gets down to the last two, but then the bell rings. Lunch is over. Everyone is disappointed, but then I yell back, “I’ll get you tomorrow!” Awww…Lunch. Good times, but now it is time for 3^rd hour, English.

English is one of my favorite subjects. And the teacher, Mr. Emerson is another one of the best that Holland has to offer. As soon as class starts the joking begins. Mr. Emerson begins making some kind of joke about freshmen, we all laugh even though we are all freshmen. Emerson then tells everyone to pull out their journals and write about the topic on the board. After a few minutes, Emerson has some people stand up and tell the class what they wrote about or comment on the book that we are reading. Some people do an excellent job and present well. However, some of the dumb freshmen (as Emerson would put it) get up and talk about random stuff like Count Dracula or chicks. Emerson just laughs and sighs, then gets up and begins teaching us the English stuff, but then it is time to do the reading of “Romeo and Juliet”. Emerson asks who wants what part, everyone raises their hands begging for different parts. Jason Darling then stands up and says, “I want to be the nurse.” He said this is in his normal voice that happens to be very deep. Silence fills the room. Mr. Emerson says, “Okay I guess Jason is the nurse, but can you get the voice high enough? Because it is a woman.” Jason says in a high voice, “How’s this?” Everyone is astonished and begins to laugh. Emerson starts laughing with tears and says, “That’s fine.” The reading then starts and everyone snickers while Jason does his nurse voice. Awww…Good times then the bell rings, third hour is over.

I rush to the bathroom to get in line with the other girls who are dying to go, but with only six minutes for a pasting period, it doesn’t give you much time to do your business. So, girls are trying to hold it in while others are making make-up adjustments. Finally it is my turn! I go in and sit, then the one minute bell rings. Yikes! I jump off the seat and wash my hands quickly. I run to my fourth hour. Can’t be late! Quickly high five a couple of people while running. Then I slow done before I run into the door. I enter. Perfect timing, the bell just rung. I made it on time. On time to Biology.

Now, I’m now science nut, but I do enjoy the class. It is taught by Mr. Vanharlem, but everyone calls him Mr. V. Mr. V reminds us all to do be in our assigned seats, or he’ll mark us absent. Some students quickly separate from their friends and return to their seats. Mr. V does the attendance. Ali asks to if she can go to the bathroom, and Mr. V responds, “Do you really want me to explain to you how the inside of your body goes through to release the urine?” “Mr. V no! May I please use the bathroom?” says Ali. “Yes, you may use the bathroom, but do you have a planner?” says Mr. V. “No, but I really have to go!” responds Ali. Mr. V then points to the class’s hall way pass, the turtle shell. “Fine, I’ll use the turtle shell.” Says Ali while grabbing the turtle shell with a napkin. “But I’m not touching it!” Ali yells as she leaves. Mr. V snickers to himself as he walks over to his closet. Everyone starts smiling. Mr. V opens the cabinet and starts thinking of which item to pull out. He pulls out his old snake skin. He walks over Ali’s seat and places the snake skin on her seat. Ali’s table partner isn’t to thrilled about. But plays along. Mr. ssshhhh us, to make sure no one tells. We all giggle, but then remain silent as Mr. V walks back to his desk. Ali walks in and comments on how disgusting the shell is but then goes to her seat. She pulls out her seat and begins to scream! Her table partner, Phyllis then jumps up too and screams! Everyone laughs, and Mr. V walks over and picks up the skin and says, “Come on it is just a little skin!” The girls squeal and run to the other side of the room. Mr. V decides to have a little fun and chases them around the room with the snake skin. The girls tip over chairs and anything to get away, until Mr. V finally had enough and puts the snake skin down while the girls finally take their seats. Now teaching begins, but they would be lots more joking around happening through out the class time. Mr. V has us do a lot of hands on activities like; dissecting owl pellets, dancing the hoe down, creating posters, making dragons and naming them and tons of other stuff. Biology class is fun because of all the people. Then Mollie and I stand up and have a class discussion on creation and start debating about evolution, Mr. V doesn’t say anything, but he lets it continue. But sadly, our debate is interrupted by the bell, class is over. We make our ending comments then depart our separate ways. I stop and pray and thank God for giving me a chance to stand up and witness for him, but now it is time for the last hour, Math.

Luckily, my Algebra class is just a couple doors down from my biology class. So, I chill with my friends and relax for the six minutes. However the one minute bell rings and I then walk into my 5^th hour Algebra class. When I enter, it is like a war zone. The naughty boys throwing pencils and papers and who knows what else at the teacher. The one good thing about the class is that Mackenzie has that class with me. Yes, the same Mackenzie from my first hour class. Unfortunately, we are the only two girls in 5^th hour, surrounded by about 10 guys. Mackenzie and I sit in our ”safe corner” away from the guys. Luckily, we have a good teacher who does her best to keep things under control, Mrs. Johns. She is an amazing teacher, and it is her first year at the school, like me. Mrs. Johns is not only my math teacher, but my also my case load manager as well, so we know each other pretty well. Anyways, back to class. The boys are pretty rowdy and crude. Not all through, some are actually nice and calm. But the majority make bad jokes and always acting in the wrong matter. However, Mrs. Johns knows how far is too far, and is not afraid to send someone to ISS. But she is also merciful and will put the person’s name on the board to let them know they need to cut it out. Even through the class is difficult at times, it is also enjoyable. Mrs. Johns teaches us in different ways. Sometimes we’ll create posters, warm-ups questions, and lots of little hands on activities. Everytime we do something good, she gives us a piece of paper and we put our name on it. She then puts it in the Johns Jar. At the end of the week she takes the Johns Jar and draws a name out of it. Whoever wins gets a one dollar treat of their choice. It’s a cool idea, and helps us pay better attention. Every now and then she’ll talk to us about life and to be bucket fillers, not bucket dippers. This means that we need to try to make people happy and feel special rather than making them feel down and depress. It all makes it to be a better world to live in. Through all the hardships of that class, it is still enjoyable and helps you grow to be a better person. And of course have a better understanding of Algebra. Then yet again class is interrupted by the bell, but this time it is okay because it is the bell that school is out!

I immediately race to the door. Awww…school is done for the day, now freedom! I start skipping done the hallway while singing the high school musical song, “What Time is It?” Well, there it is, day in the life of a freshmen at Holland High. It’s a crazy life, and it only gets crazier as life goes on in high school. These truly our the best years of your life. So, I’m doing everything I can to enjoy them. Life is precious, so I’m not going to waste it! Well, it’s time to go home, and relax and have fun. Because it starts all over again.

~Miles Hazel~

The Season of Tuliptime

I wrote this article based on Holland, MI's tuliptime. I wrote this as a sample I did that I gave to my highschool's yearbook in hopes of making the yearbook staff. Sadly, I did not make. However, this did not stop my passion for writing. Enjoy! :)
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Tuliptime, a time to celebrate with friends and family. A time for fun and laughter. There are many aspects to Tuliptime. People from all over the world come to celebrate the festival with us. It is true that the main attraction is indeed the tulips, hence the name tulip time. However, the second biggest attraction is the Dutch Dancers. Now there lies many tales with in that. No tourist knows all the blusters and hard work that has gone into learning how to dance. They ask many questions and take lots of pictures, but they never will truly understand. Dutch Dancers prep months before Tuliptime to get the dance perfect. They also have to go through tough inspections to make sure the costume is absolutely perfect. You can not buy a costume from a store, each has to be made by the dancer. Let me tell you, it is not cheap. Next, there is the shoes. The shoes are made completely made of wood, and are very hard at that! To help make them more wearable. Each dancer wears anywhere between 6-9 pairs of socks, but it still isn’t very comfortable. And you easily get blusters from them. But through all of this, it is worth it to represent not only our school, but the city of Holland. It brings great joy to see all the smiling faces watching you show off your heritage. I believe Tuliptime is the greatest small town festival in America.


~Miles Hazel~