English - Recount On A Challenge I Have Faced

Recount
A Challenge I Have Faced

It was a chilly, wintry morning, and I was standing alone at the starting line. I was a small fish in a big pond, surrounded by sharks. I was about to compete in the 10km Christchurch Marathon run, and I was a petrified student about to sit an exam. I had barely trained, and I was unfit, unprepared, and unaware of the pain I was about to go through. My insides were butterflies, fluttering around in nervousness. I could hear other competitors mummering around me, and I could see the dark rain clouds threatening to empty themselves down on us. The hosts voice was roaring through the speakers, giving us a rundown of the race. Then he started counting down, and everyone joined in simultaneously. Six, five, four, three, they called like children chorusing good morning to the teacher. Boom! The gun went off, and the race had started. We all moved through the gates like cattle being rounded up. Some sprinted off to lead the pack while others, including me, started off at a reasonable jog. My goal was to get through the whole race without stopping, but I wasn’t too convinced I would be able to. I was estimating that it would take me about 1:45, which is pretty poor, but I wasn’t at all prepared.

After the first one or two kilometres, the misery began. I had never been a keen runner, and I wanted to give up right then and there, but I knew I had to keep going. Rain was pelting down, and it felt like it would never end. I fought through the torture for six kilometres, then I passed a sign that said Two Kilometres To Go. I cried in despair, I still had so long to go! My legs were aching, and my heart was beating so fast I thought it was going to burst through its cage and out my chest. I could feel sweat dripping down my skin, and my mouth was dry and parched. My feet were dragging, and my earphones, once my motivators, dangled limply. I pushed on, my mind ticking like a clock, willing my legs to keep moving, willing my heart to stay strong. I ran through the pain and exhaustion, and finally arrived at the home stretch.

I sprinted as fast as my legs could handle, and my heart almost stopped when I saw the timer. 1:03! I had done it in an hour! I dashed through the finish line as the announcer called my name, and I almost fell to the ground in relief. My head whooshed as I came to a stop, and I was dizzy and aching. My legs were jelly, wobbling and quivering, but I was so proud, it felt as if I could run ten more! My dad ran over and hugged me, and I was as elated as a puppy with a new toy. I was victorious, a lion who had just captured his prey! I was dripping wet, caked in sweat, and as run down as a house just hit by a hurricane, but I was also dizzy with content. All around me were glorious competitors who were either buzzing with excitement, or laying limply and defeated on the ground. I could hear encouragements and congratulations, and the whole atmosphere was thrilling. I will definitely be back next year!

P.E - Gymnastics Reflections

Gymnastics Reflections

Red = Didn't participate.
Green = Did participate. 

My Three Apparatuses

• Beam - Achieved Sequence
• Parallel Bars - Achieved Sequence
• Trampoline - Achieved Sequence

25/09
Beam: I got my achieved sequence marked off.
Trampoline: I got my achieved sequence marked off.

22/09
Beam: I practiced the merit sequence.
Parallel Bars: I got my achieved sequence marked off.

18/09
Beam: I practiced the merit sequence.
Parallel Bars: I practiced the achieved sequence.
Floor: I attempted a backward roll unsuccessfully.

15/09
Beam: I completed the achieved sequence twice successfully, and attempted the merit sequence.
Bar: I successfully got onto the bar.
Parallel Bars: I successfully completed the achieved sequence three times.

11/09
Trampoline: I observed others doing the achieved sequence.
Floor: I observed others attempting forward rolls and cartwheels.
Beam: I attempted the achieved sequence twice and successfully completed the skills.
Bar: I observed others attempting the achieved sequence.

08/09
Beam: I observed others doing the achieved sequence.
Bar: I observed others doing the achieved sequence.
Parallel Bars: I attempted the achieved sequence and successfully completed the first two skills.

04/09
Trampoline: I observed others doing the achieved sequence.
Floor: I watched a demonstration of a forward roll, and observed others attempting it.

English - Creative Writing Recount

Creative Writing Recount
The Lonely Island



Have you ever felt completely and utterly alone? Well, I never thought I would ever feel so isolated, until one month ago… It all started December 12th. As I sluggishly boarded my 2:00am flight to the Bahamas, I felt this weird feeling in the pit of my stomach. My insides were butterflies, fluttering around in wariness and suspicion. I was on my way to see my mum! So why were my thoughts grey skies instead of rainbows? “Come along honey.” A worker called, “You don’t want to miss your flight!” I dismissed my eerie thoughts, and eagerly strolled down the airbridge. I took my seat as jubilant as a puppy with a new toy. After 19 torturous hours of a bumpy ride, we had finally arrived in the Caribbean! But my excitement and relief were short lived as right after the announcement, the lights started flickering and everyone panicked. The aircraft started lurching, and the crew were all running around like headless chickens trying to keep everyone calm. After one loud thud, the plane went as dark as the night sky, and I heard a scream. Suddenly we were falling, and then… everything went black.
Silence. Then it all came back to me. “Everyone stay calm!” Cried a flustered flight attendant. But her cry fell on deaf ears. We were all panicking preschoolers, grabbing hold of the seats that might as well have been feathers. All around me, loved ones were clutching each other, saying their final goodbyes. As for me, well I was scrambling for a handhold, a lifeline, some kind of salvation. Then we hit the ground. After reliving that dreadful moment, I slowly opened my eyes. Then I shrieked. All around me were broken pieces, lives ruined. A strangled cry escaped my lips, tears ran down my face like raindrops in a storm. I looked around in despair. Forest green shrubs, trees, and bushes enveloped me in a small island as deserted as no man's land. I was alone.
I was an astronaut in space, so detached from the world, from my home. Am I going to be stranded here forever? I looked around at all the lifeless bodies limply laying on the shallow, seashore, and realised I had no time to grieve. I needed to get out of there.
After looking through all the supplies I had that hadn’t been destroyed in the crash, I had acquired two apples, a bottle of water, a blanket, and some spare clothes. I searched and searched, finding my way through the murky, misty forest until I was a marathon runner that had just finished his race. Finally, I uncovered a small cave behind a wispy willow tree, and lay my supplies down on the floor that had a soft sandy surface. I took a long, well-earned gulp of water, and got prepared for the long afternoon ahead. I trekked back through the thick forest, but this time I knew where I was headed so it wasn’t so much of an effort. When I reached the shore, I was again hit by the overwhelming sense of tragedy over the loss of all these people. These daughters, these fathers, these sisters, these sons. But I had to get on with life, or I would never beat this island. I gave them one last long look, “Rest in peace.” Then, I walked back to the forest. I spent hours in there, collecting berries, coconuts, and bananas, and gathering flax, sticks, and big leaves. I took my discoveries back to my cave, and did some decorating.
After spending a couple of weeks on the island, I had started to become quite fond of it. But that didn’t stop the craziness. I had been away from civilization for too long, and I had a feeling that I would never return home. But I was wrong about that. One morning after I had eaten and cleaned myself up, I heard a shout. My heart leaped like a tiger pouncing at its prey. I sprinted down the beach, calling out to my savior, my hero. But I couldn’t see anyone. My stomach dropped, was I starting to hear things? Another shout, this time clearer. “Honey? Honey wake up, we’ve arrived.”
That’s when I awoke. I was perched on an airplane seat? My eyes widened in surprise, like a deer caught in headlights, as I realized it was all just a dream, and I had arrived in the Bahamas. But it was so vivid, so real. I stood up, and exited the flight, putting it all behind me. Well, until the next time I fell asleep…..