I should be studying for Summer Exams, which I'm already half way through... Summer! I can hear you calling my name, whispering to me, teasing me, promising me good times and distracting me from school work that needs to be done..! We'll be reunited soon, and when we are... it will be glorious!

 Your ever-faithful servant, Sonja.

In which I finally win

I suppose I should start this by explaining my what you could call, my 'winning' past. The only image I can put before you is a trophy cabinet. Mine would be empty. Shined to the point where looking at it directly may blind you, but empty nonetheless. I've gotten through to the finals of debating and public speaking competitions, to the 'last round' of interviews and auditions, but I've never won, I've always just about missed out on being picked as 'the best'. This all changed last week, and even now, I'm still reeling from the fact that for once, I have been picked. I'm not just someone who has been brushed aside, someone who can be labelled as a good 'back up', no. I, Sonja Warner, am a winner! I've been put through as a finalist for the EIL Travel Awards to go to Vermont USA to attend the Governors Institute for Young People and I am so ridiculously happy, delirious, ecstatic, enthralled and every other positive emotion right now! Last Tuesday my mother and I were in the car, driving to the nearest Dunnes Stores to get toilet paper, glamorous, eh? As we drove into the parking lot, my heart stopped as I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket, slamming my hand down onto the radio to turn it off, I answered in what could only be described as a panicked frenzy while my mom found the nearest spot to park and watched me expectantly. After the initial pleasantries of the phone call had been handled, Marika, who works for the EIL Ireland programme said that she was pleased to announce that I had been selected as a finalist for the Travel Award, so basically, I'm going to Vermont! After a lot of excited squealing and about a million 'thank you's and some awkward 'your welcome's on Marika's part, the phone call ended. My mother and I shared a delighted scream together before she pushed me out of the car to ggo buy toilet roll, as soon as I was out of her line of sight, I text one of my friends, demanding her to call me immediately,after a phone call based entirely on high pitched squealing from both ends of the line, I returned to my mother, toilet paper in hand and my phone, still warm from having been pressed so tightly to my ear, hidden from view in my pocket. On the 25th of June I shall be on a plane, along with three other no doubt ecstatic winners, on the way to Vermont to attend the Governor's Institute for Current Issues and Youth Activism. My first win was definitely worth the wait!!

Dear Fifth year,

You suck and I hate you.

Sincerely, Sonja.


I realize that I've said this quite a lot, but just like a mother who tells her child how special they are, or my friend declaring her love for chicken. Saying it over and over again doesn't make it any more true.

My brain is on the fritz at the moment, darn school and your.. your LEARNING.

I suppose I should look on the bright side... Six months till Summer!




^ Here's a picture nabbed off Google images that always cheers me up.



-Sonj. x