Back to School Essay Contest Winner Kristin L. - 5th Grade

The Most Important Lesson I Learned in School

by Kristin L.

The most important lesson that I learned in school was how to react to things by deciding what’s important and what’s not important. When I was in the 4th grade, a boy in my class called me a “Bookworm” because I am always reading and I was in the Reading Olympics. I’m also in the gifted program, and sometimes he made fun of me for being smart. I almost cried because he was making fun of me, and I thought that the whole class was going to laugh at me, too. When I went home, I talked to my mom, and she said that it was actually a compliment. She asked me if it really mattered what the boy thought of me. Honestly, I didn’t really care what he thought of me. My mom said that I should think about what really matters before I get upset about something. My mom is really funny, so she ordered me a shirt that said “Bookworm” and a big pin that said “Chick with Brains.” The pin had a picture of a fluffy yellow chick wearing glasses, holding a book!

When I wore my “Bookworm” shirt and my “Chick With Brains” pin, everyone in my class said they were great! Some kids said that I was the “only one who could wear them” because it was true! Actually, I got the biggest laugh when the boy who made fun of me said that he was going to get a pin that said “Chick With Brains!” I just rolled my eyes and said, “That’s exactly why I’m wearing it, not you!” Everyone in my class went wild!

Ever since then, I don’t get upset when other people say mean things because it’s not that important. I learned that some kids will try to be mean all the time, and it’s up to me to decide if I am going to let it bother me. I also learned that it’s great to be funny!

By Kristin L.
The “Chick With Brains”
5th Grade