Chloe Moore, 12th Grade
Tik Tok - Prepared Speech
Have you ever taken a test in a classroom with a clock hanging on the wall and all you hear is tick-tick-tick and you start to become anxious and you start worrying? You know you have all these questions to finish and your time is running out. Then you hear that school bell ring and you are now out of time. You walk a dreadful walk up to the teacher's desk and you hand that half-finished paper up to the teacher. Then you start to regret the time you wasted and you start to reflect on the things you could have done. You start to burn out and let those thoughts take over your head, all you hear is the clock ticking ominously in your head. Then You say to yourself “It's not too late to start now, as long as I have breath I shall accomplish my goals”. Let's go back to January 2023, I told myself I was going to devote this last semester to my school work and an afterschool program like the Newspaper. I ended up getting into FFA. I signed up for it in August 2022; but didn't attend any events they were holding, I was an inactive member until January. From that month, I decided to shift my path to FFA, I walked into the meeting room for the January chapter meeting. There were about 60 members including middle school. The energy and love I felt between all these members, officers, and advisors was surreal. It felt like a family. During the meeting, there were workshops and informational booths on careers in the FFA. I saw there was more to FFA other than farming, there are many careers you could look into like journaling, Veterinary Medicine, and Biology. After that amazing experience, I devoted myself to my chapter with no big agricultural background. I went on trips like UMO Ag Fest or the Southern Farm Show. I started to feel insecure about my agricultural knowledge. The officers I looked up to were raised in the prospect of agriculture and know everything there is to know about in their field. People knew so much about Brahman and Black angus and the list goes on and on and on. Then there was little Ol’ me a member who knows nothing about Ag only going to minor Ag Expos. Then May 2023 came around, my freshman year was coming to an abrupt close. Officer interviews were on the schedules I wanted to test my luck and see if what I have done that semester would be enough to get me places. The Interview came and the ticking in my head was knocking on the door. I thought I’d never get an office I don't have an ag background and the candidates were fierce competition. I went into the Interview room, I was greeted by one of my Advisors and a teacher from NECP, and the Mayor of Tarboro Tate Mayo. The interview went great but I lacked experience, At the time I was only engaged in FFA for 1 semester without participating in any CDE/LDE I didn't even know what an SAE was or what year FFA was established. My Advisor and President walked up to me and said “Do not give up, stay in FFA, gain experience and Merit get your name out there, and participate in anything you can”.Those small phrases erased all the ticking in my head and the ticking turned into faith, passion, and hope. That night of the FFA Chapter Banquet I received the FFA Greenhand Degree. I was expecting to leave with nothing but that one small degree gave me a push to not let the clock discourage me and fight for the goals I wanted to achieve in the FFA. That night when I got home I stopped fearing that clock that would ring when I would graduate in 2026. I put the pedal to the metal, I started learning the FFA Creed. I watched previous National FFA Conventions and took notes of the qualities those national officers possessed. This Semester alone I started to get closer to my chapter, participating in competitions like livestock evaluation to even writing this prepared speech. I have set my mind on my goals and I am not letting that clock scare me anymore. I have 2 years till that clock rings yet I won't let that get me down, I’ll make use of every millisecond and I’ll leave the rest to the Lord. I want to close by saying this, I know time can be scary, but that's all time can be. You can overcome that fear by making progress, don’t let time deter you from your goals and dreams. Go for it and at the end of the road when you hear that ticking turn into an alarm clock ring and when your time is up you’ll know you have no regrets.
Amir Carr, 10th Grade
Raw Truth - Poem
Actions can be the effect as words can be the cause
And vice versa.
Mistakes are what life includes, but it also includes those who are willing to pick themselves up and continue.
Outcomes are not immediate, continuous efforts will eventually bear the fruit of your labor.
Nothing has no effect.
You have an effect, whether it’s positive or negative.
Please ask yourself,”How will my words and actions affect me and others?”
Nothing is ever the complete end of something, it just means a new chapter is starting.
You have full control on how the chapter proceeds.
Sometimes, the hardest battles give the best rewards.
There are multiple pathways in our lives, and we choose which ones to take.
Your past can not become your achilles heel if you accept it for what it is and make your present and future even better.
Nuriana Rauda-Lopez, 8th Grade
Remembering the Little Moments - Inspirational Story
Greetings Huskies! My name is Ella Taylor, I am in the 8th grade. When the husky howler
released an email stating to submit some wonderful story editions I had to get on it. When
looking for ideas, I came across a quote that made me think about my teachers, friends, peers,
etc. The quote was stated by Deborah Whipp. Her quote stated “Like snowflakes, Christmas
memories gather and dance - each beautiful, unique, and gone way too soon”. When I saw this
it made me think, does school give you core memories? At first, I thought school was about
learning life skills and being well educated. But I was wrong. This quote was especially made
around Christmas. When you think of Christmas, of course you think about making memories.
C’mon it's the most wonderful time of the year! So how does that relate to the school making
memories? Well, we the huskies all come to the same school, some of us are in the same
classes, and some of us are at the same lunch table. We may talk about something enjoyable
about the day, and not even realize we are making memories to add to our school year. We may
be in class with the class clown, and we all get a chuckle from a joke. You may not realize that
was a core memory. We may have a hard day, but your counselor helps you back on your feet.
There are many memories we the huskies make on a daily basis. So far in this fantastic year
one of my favorite memories was having an emotional support dog named Luke come into my
class, so happy to brighten someone's day! That day for me was very hard, but Luke came up to
me with a waggy tail, and happy sniffs. Little did I know he gave me a hug, and a warm
welcoming lick on the cheek. My day changed a lot from there on in. After that I realize it is the
little moments that make school so special. Most importantly this quote made me think about
all of our wonderful seniors. This is their last year of high school at NECP, and I’m sure it's an
emotional one. This will be their last pep rally, their last school play, their last locker, their last
classes, their last sport event, and their last high school. Being a senior makes you realize a lot
about your memories at school, we all will experience these memories as huskies. A congrats
to the seniors making it this far! Before I wrap this up I want you to make your own memories
together, anything, like a simple “Hey” to your teacher or friend. Don’t wish your school years
away, because a long time from now you will want to remember those memories. Appreciate
your friends, teachers, counselors, peers, etc. As it may be a moment you carry forever.
Ella Taylor, 8th Grade
Breathe
Breathe.
Breathe, let it out.
Take a deep breath and just simply breathe.
This is not going to be the end.
There will be other opportunities.
You don’t have to be hurt by this.
But if you are, allow yourself to feel that pain.
Allow yourself to feel your emotions.
Breathe.
It's okay.
Mason Cannon, 8th Grade