My Year 8 English Experience

It’s the middle of the school holidays and I’m really enjoying my time off school. No homework, no classes, no teachers telling you that you’ve got a test in a few days… it’s just like pure paradise! I’ve done lots of fun things, but today I would like to write about the most amazing film I saw just yesterday!  It was called the ‘March of the Penguins’ and is the most incredible, yet heartbreaking journey of the Emperor penguins. The film has excellent photography and is nicely written.  This great film is like a documentary, but involves an incredible story as well as fascinating facts. It all begins when the penguins set off on a journey, each one with the same goal to find a mate and start a family. They battle the fierce wind, survive the freezing temperature and walk for 75 miles on foot across their frozen land, all to keep their species running. Sadly, not all penguins will make it. They must rely on each other to survive the long quest.  They head to where the ice is thick, and this is where they try to find a mate. Who knows what makes the perfect mate; all we know is that when that special penguin is found, the most beautiful relationship begins. However, like humans, not all relationships are successful. If the egg is produced too early, it may die and this is the end for the two penguin parents. For the ones that succeed though, it’s just the beginning of the great quest.  The father penguin is left behind to look after the egg as the mother sets off to the ocean to seek food. It’s another long walk, and some will not make it. Even if they make it to the ocean, the danger is not over. Predators will be in the ocean for the very same reason… food! I found this part of the film very depressing where they witnessed a predator claim the life of a penguin. This really claims two lives- the mother and the baby penguin, as she will not return to her family and the father will have no choice but to abandon the baby and go seek food himself. The father’s job is to keep the young egg warm, and if the egg sits in the cold for a moment, it will die. All the male penguins huddle together at the coldest times to keep warm enough. They nurse their eggs until it hatches, and the bond between them is very clear. If the mother does not return soon, the father would have to give up the little bit of food in his through, and feed it to his young. If she is too late, the father would have to choice but to abandon the little one in the cold and seek food himself. The story involves trust and hope as well as love.  When the mothers return with their bellies full, it is their turn to look after the little ones while the fathers go off to get their food. The young feed out of their mother’s mouths, and the mothers keep them warm. When they get old enough, they will be able to take their first step onto the ice. However, if the young get too cold, they will die. The loss will be so bad that the adult penguin may even try to steal other penguin’s babies! The babies are still at risk of land predators, so the danger still lingers near. Many penguins will end up completing their goal and the happiness is intense. It’s really sad that not all the penguins will survive the journey, but the film has a nice ending. It finishes off when the parents swim away in the warmish waters. Most likely they would never see their children again, but amazingly they repeat this same journey every year!  This film has some funny moments, yet some heartbreaking times. The rest is just plain amazing! I have learnt a lot more about penguins from watching this film and found out what extraordinary creatures they are. They have such a tough life and they really do work hard to try and achieve they’re breeding goal. This beautiful story of determination, courage, survival and love is an emotional journey for anyone to watch. I really congratulate all the people who worked together to make this film and it’s definitely a well worth watch. March of the Penguins leads you through one of the most beautiful love stories on earth, and I would say it’s the best, and saddest film I’ve seen this year!    

What do you think of when you hear the word ‘friendship’? I believe that it is one of the most important parts of our lives. Today I would like to write an entry about friendship and express my own understanding of it.

This morning, in English, we have been doing oral presentations. One presentation stood out for me which was about friendship. A good friend will always brighten up your day for you, cheer you up when you are down and have a way of putting a smile on your face. A loyal friend would stick by you no matter what happens, and friends can tell how you’re feeling, even if you try and keep it hidden. Friends have different qualities such as being very encouraging or understanding, and these qualities make them a good friend.

Can you imagine what it would be like to live on a deserted planet, all alone without having anyone to be with? It would feel like your insides have been removed and you’re all hollow and empty. It would be like you’re lost in a desert, surrounded by nothing but sand. No one to communicate with, no one to share your stories with… nothing to look at and know that you’ll be ok. You must remember that friends are something that money can’t buy. They’re something you find, maybe even in the most extraordinary way. A friend is something that you can have no matter how rich or how poor you are, no matter how smart or good looking you are. Friends are special gifts, which you know you will share and remember forever.

With a friend, it is common to go through the stage where you begin to disagree… To start a fight and both people will feel annoyed and un-happy. It’s like when you lose an important item in the house, and you get annoyed that you can’t find it. If that person is a true friend to you, then you shouldn’t let a silly fight end your friendship. Fights can tear apart many friends, and it’s very silly to let something like this end a good friendship. You will know whether this person is a friend to you, and it’s up to you whether you should keep this person as your good friend… or let it go. If you have enjoyed being with this person and a silly misunderstanding has caused all of this, then it will be a good idea to try and sort things out. A great way to do this is to talk to each other, and explain to them how you feel. But it could be much more than this, and this person may not be the best friend for you. They may have hurt you too many times to just put things aside and forgive. With a friend, it is the good times that you have had together that you remember, not the bad things. Good friends both feel happy when they are together and will never say or do something that would hurt the other person behind their back.

Here is a poem that I have written about friendship. Please have a read of it.

Friendship is a gift of love,

As beautiful as a small white dove,

You find it somewhere, here or there,

A friend could be someone dark or fair,

Friendship is full of love and trust,

Caring for your friend is definitely a must.

You go through good times, fun and delight…

Do not leave because of a fight.

A friend will brighten your day for you,

Will clear you out of sadness and blue.

A smile, a grin, a friendly wave,

Will clear away your miserable gaze.

Friends are just like precious jewels,

So don’t leave them behind and look like fools.

Treasure your friends are you will see,

That they make your life so happy and free!