I thinking?!" or "could I have really been that stupid?" I assure you that I have a

multitude of such memories, but the one that stands out in my mind was an experience

that not only questioned my maturity or brain-power, but also changed the way I live my

I will never forget that hot, sticky day in late July. I was 7 years old and ready to

start the second grade at the East Bay School of the Performing Arts. I was at the

pinnacle of maturity, intelligence and, best of all, invincibility. Nothing could stop me;

not the flu, not my mother leaning half backwards outside the back window to "clean

[my] room!" and certainly not the disease or "unfortunate accidents" that happened to

instinctively reached for my seat belt but glanced sideways to see what she was doing.

nothing could ever really harm me. That was, of course, before I felt true pain and fear

much common sense as I could have had at 7 years old). I felt so safe in the world, as if

insignificant decision of not fastening my seat belt cost me three broken ribs and a

car aspiring to be a grown up and, upon leaving I had matured quicker that I could have

you know what happened? Absolutely nothing!

softly clicking against the door, I felt as though I were in a dream. I hardly noticed at the

really am in the world and the true importance of being careful.

in a hospital bed full of tubes and gasping for breath only to feel a stabbing pain in my

Some common words found in the essay are:
Performing Arts, Antonio Ave, Lesson Throughout, seat belt, common sense, thinking stupid,
Approximate Word count = 563
Approximate Pages = 2 (250 words per page double spaced)