Delighting Others With the Written Word
by: Samantha Schrader

I’m gonna make it, No matter what you say. I’ll climb to the top And somehow find my way. When you stand in my path, I’ll push you away; And when you hold me prisoner, I’m not going to stay. When you try to scare me, I’m not going to run. I refuse to back down Til I’ve finally won. When you push me down, I’ll find the strength to stand. I’ll summon my courage And give myself a hand. You’ll take away everything, But I’ll still possess the hope That I’ll still have my dignity; And somehow I’ll cope. So don’t call me worthless; It’s not worth the try Because I’m gonna make it, And that’s my reason why.
This poem was an original work written by myself, entitled “I’m Gonna Make It”. The poem was written last year, and it describes my direct initiative toward my goal: a career in writing. My poems can take me anywhere from an hour to a couple of days to accomplish. This poem was finished in about a day, when a divine inspiration came to me while sitting in class. I began writing, put the paper down when I ran out of ideas, and began writing again when the thoughts came back. Once I edited and read the poem to myself toward the end of the school day, I was satisfied with my masterpiece. I believe my part in America’s future lies somewhere beneath my pen and my heart to educate society with my written words about following their hopes and dreams toward grand accomplishments. Within this profession, I will someday allow the permeation of my thoughts to take its course into the homes of America’s dreamers.
Through my years of elementary school, I kept a number of diaries to record my daily events. However, my passion for writing never truly began until the sixth grade. During that time, I wrote my very first poem on my own accord, “A Time For Christmas”. I then realized my amusement with the common rhyme and continued my poetry, writing repetitive scripts of wonder.
Now, about five years have passed. My writing has blossomed much more than my previous talents, since I have devoted so much more of my time to it. My works of art have ranged from pieces on animals and short poems to real life dramas and inspirational stories. I still have almost every poem I’ve written concealed within a small portfolio in my bedroom. After I graduate from high school, I plan to go to college for Secondary English Education so that I’ll be more likely entitled to a steady job. Aside from that, I’ll be able to witness the writing of my students and relate to the thoughts of teenagers in a much better manner. While I do this, I will continue to educate my knowledge of the written word through classes in writing. I will then pursue a career in writing, with hopes toward writing poems that will someday be published worldwide.
To me, writing is one of the most beautiful pastimes a person can have in this country. It expresses so many different thoughts and ideas. My hope is to someday both educate and entertain others with many different pieces of writing. The freedom of speech within diverse articles of writing is a tremendous gift from our past, and I take pride in using the rights this country has given me. Writing is my commitment to America’s future because, as my poem declares, “I’m gonna make it.”