AP English
Deanna Winchester
October 4, 1997
Professor Tim Sowles, Room 217
Period: 1
Word Count: 922
I Believe
What do you believe?
That's a really simple question. Easy, even. I want you to know, that when you assigned this paper, I was really excited. I mean, really. How hard could this be. All my friends know exactly what they're going to write. Dominique is going to tell you she believes in God. Amanda is going to tell you she believes in her mom. Olivia, I guarantee you, is going to tell you she believes in a world where everyone is vegan and all animals live free, in the wild, with no hardships. Steven is going to tell you how he believes in rock music, and Tanner and Derek are going to write a very detailed essay on how much they love football, and how its the only thing they can believe in during the uncertain times of senior year.
My condolences on that last one. We all know how much you love sports.
I sat down to write this, and realized I had nothing to write. The essay prompt that seemed so easy, suddenly wasn't. That stupid blinking black cursor stayed at the beginning of the page, mocking me on the crisp white page.
I hate word processors. Just for the record.
But I eventually figured it out. And since you said this was supposed to be personal, and only you would see it, I decided to do this my way.
So, if you haven't decided to flunk me yet, seeing as how I'm not writing this in MLA format, and I'm not writing analytically, and I'm not writing this using my detached, essay voice, I'll tell you what I do believe in.
But first I have to tell you what I don't believe in.
Ready?
Here goes:
1. I don't believe in Santa Claus, The Easter Bunny, The Tooth Fairy, Father Time, Jack Frost, Big Foot, Cupid, Fairies, The Loch Ness Monster, Leprechauns, Vampires, Unicorns...or Angels.
2. I don't believe in God. Yeah, I know. Probably should have started with that one first. I don't believe in the devil either. And I don't believe in fate, destiny, or miracles.
3. I don't believe anything I can't see, touch, and feel for myself.
4. I don't believe Derek, Tanner, Austin, and Steven really hated the Shakespeare unit. I know for a fact that Steven enjoyed calling me a bitch in Shakespeare-speak and being able to get away with it, just as I enjoyed calling him an ass. And did you see Tanner and Austin arguing over who got to read for Hamlet? Yeah. Who're they trying to fool anyway?
5. I don't believe that the symbolism unit is necessary to my high school education. Sometimes a river is just a river.
Sorry. Had to add that last two in there, seeing as they're on-going arguments in class right now. And yeah, you can stop rolling your eyes at me. I'm not going to stop complaining about that stupid unit. It was dumb. And useless.
That being said, here's what I do believe in:
1. I believe in ghosts, demons, psychics, wendigos, werewolves, shape shifters, empaths, curses, witches, zombies, changelings, spells, hexes and anything else you can think of. Yes, I'm serious. No, I'm not crazy.
2. I believe that there are still mysteries in the world. And wonders. And surprises. And things that we don't even know about. Except for number 1 in the things I don't believe in.
3. I believe that fun is a renewable resource. And that you can't have too much of it.
4. I believe in family, and that one day I'm actually going to be able to meet mine.
5. I believe that love really can conquer all. Who knows? Maybe it could even save the world one day.
6. I believe that people are crazy. No really. I get why a werewolf would kill a small town. But a person? What would drive a person to do that? Yeah, I don't know either.
7. I believe in myself. I believe that when high school is over, I'm going to make a difference in the world. Even if no one knows it was me, or even what I did.
8. I believe that the last three years in your class have been my favorite class ever! And yeah, that is totally a bribe to not fail me.
So there you go. Even if it wasn't what you wanted, I hope it was entertaining. And I really hope you don't send me to the loony bin. Consider it fantasy if you must.
See you in class tomorrow, Mr. Sowles.
-Deanna
