Click the picture above for a link to the full text of Dr. Seuss's Oh, the Places You'll Go!
Rewrite at least 20 lines of this story as Oh, the Places I've Been!
You have TWO choices for the topic of this piece of writing:
-Write from your present perspective, looking back at your years in high school
or
-Write from the perspective of your future self looking back at your years of college.
And YES...it has to rhyme.
Good Luck!
21 comments:
With Grass in my head
And Chucks on my feet
I worked up from bottom
There is no deceit.
On my own, sans brace, life is now this
I am the pilot, toward thine own natural bliss
I paved my own way, made streets with my sweat
Some were mistakes, others challenges met
With head full of song, and feet with a kick
Completing this hurdle, the landing must stick
But maybe I was wrong, maybe I was mistaken
Possibly best is the road never taken?
The sky is as open as the way before
Pathway unbeaten, the only option; to soar
Competition is fierce, amongst those who dream
But looking back…
Success is not as odd as it seems.
Grass is a song, not a marijuana reference. I figured I'd just mention so I don't get suspended. I made it this far, right?
Where the hell have I been?
Who the hell have I seen?
With the good and the bad
Spread all out in between
I had braces and glasses
My head in the sky
Couldn’t see where I was
And I didn’t know why
I was on my own, with no direction to take
Had no reason to choose the choices I’d make
And then I learned wisdom
And then I learned truth
I only had so much living
And even less as a youth
And so I grew and I lived, as much as I could
I lived a little too much, more than anyone should
Didn’t watch where I was, I just let myself go
I started to learn things, didn’t want to know
And so I cried BACK
And backward I trod
I regressed and was taught
Lessons under the rod
And so with new meaning, new hands at the wheel
Guiding with eyes now, not only by feel
I know where I’m going; I know where I’ve been
I know I can’t wait for this life to begin
Those days in the halls
Spent tired and torn
Spent working for freedom
When the weather got warm
The pool is no longer mine
In which to dive as I please
The combination to my locker
Is changed with such ease
Pep rally and homecoming, banquet and prom,
Each day taken for granted, met with a face filled with calm
The changes took place in the darkness of night
Forgotten like equations from papers and text
Embracing the wrong and ignoring the right
Always looking forward to what happened next
I feel insignificant, that I never was here
That my time wasn’t mine and now I feel a fear
Creeping through my veins, graduation is here.
But nothing can stop me from living my dream
Where the wind will whip snowflakes like a light heaven cream
The uniforms change and the mascot takes flight
No longer a bull to cheer on in the fight
But remember the heart that you wouldn’t let break
And the people that taught you about the things called mistakes
Alexandra Villano
Oh the Places You’ve Been
I’ve been out of country,
I’ve been out of state,
I’ve been some great places,
And boy it’s been great!
I’ve taken English,
And Science,
And Spanish,
And Math,
Drawing,
And Acting,
And I guess
Now that’s that!
I’ve danced on stage,
I’ve spoken to crowds,
I’ve learned how outgoing I am,
How confident and loud!
I’m excited for more!
The future is bright!
The lessons learned in high school
Have taught me wrong from right.
Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You’re off to college!
You’re off on your way!
Four years you have spent
At High School East
You’ve had such great times
Hundreds at least
And as you go to college and beyond
You’ll look back on these memories fond
Ninth grade was dull, but you pulled through
Tenth grade got better, you knew what to do
Eleventh was fun, you’ll miss that year greatly
Twelth was the best, you’ve realized that lately
Oh! The places you’ve been…
Music was always important to you
Playing clarinet and singing you loved to do
Band and chorus, oh it’s so sad when
You realize you’ll never have this again
Bio and chem and physics were fun
Always laughing with everyone
AP exams were a pain in the neck
But you aimed high anyway, oh what the heck…
Now that high school is nearing its end
You’ve realized you’re going to miss your friends
Saying goodbye will be hard to do
But the memories will always be important to you
Oh! The places you’ve been…
Four years over, but you’ll do it again
In college, a new experience is beginning
And I know you’ll definitely come out winning
Congratulations!
Your done with High school.
You'll be far away
From all of these tools.
No more using passes in the halls
No more stupid gym dodge ball.
Cutting class to go to the beach
Feeling like summer is far out of reach.
Eating so many pancakes you almost explode
Having all your friends right down the road.
Crazy parties all weekend with all of your friends
Spending all week making amends
After school jobs that you grow to hate
All of the strange friends you make.
Changing schools, feeling uneasy
Seeing old friends, happy to see me.
Finally nearing the end of the year
Graduation is finally here.
Going to prom and having fun
Our time in high school is finally done.
With all the hard work we have to show,
Oh! The places we will go.
To Infinity and Beyond!
The future is bright.
Trucking onto college
My goals in sight.
Packing all my things.
Laptop, memories too.
So much to see,
so much to do.
No more preparing. Time to shine.
This time is real. This time is mine.
Onward to the Burg. New friends await.
Go Bullets! Rockin’ the tune.
This melody of life with the cadence of faith.
Up til dawn. Sleeping til noon.
Four years of traveling. New paths unknown.
A new chance to build; this skyscraper that is my own.
Amble apples to grow. This Tree to admire.
Another turn on and on til these eyes expire.
What more can be said of such a new Time.
Steep mountains challenge my view. My climb.
I am free at last
I want to get out of here so fast
Finally this chapter in my life is done
I am ready to have some summer fun
Busting out of these jailhouse walls
No more will I walk down theses halls
High school rules go out the door
And everything I used them for
I have grown throughout these years
And overcame many fears
The future is a scary place
But that I will soon have to face
I am restarting my life
One little step at a time, left then right
I am a different person now
And I don’t know how
Friends and teachers have come and gone throughout the years
I have to be honest I have shed many tears
I have learned all I need to know
Ready, set, GO!
Finally!
Today is my day
To spread my wings
And fly away.
I’ve learned so much over these years
Not only about subjects,
But about myself.
I’m on my own, and I know what to do
I’m finally the one who decides and this is all new.
If I am faced with two roads
Some may go this way, I might choose the other.
I’ve learned so much over these past four years
That hopefully I won’t have to rely on my mother.
I’ve learned about people
I’ve made true friends
That will be there in the steeple.
These friends are the ones that will be there forever.
Out in this big world, a lot can happen.
Some good things,
And bad, and hurtful things too.
These are the years that have taught me
To look within
It’s the only place
That I can be true myself
Oh, the Places I’ve Been!
I’ve taken all my classes, gotten good grades and bad.
I’ve learned all different things, like the capital of Chad.
I’ve finished my requirements and handed everything in,
I’ve made new friends and developed a thick skin.
And it’s time now to leave.
I can’t help looking back.
It’s time for me now,
to pack up my knapsack.
It’s quieter here
there’s nothing to fear.
My time spent in clubs
is a memory of mine
and I’ll miss them next year
among the forests and pine.
The tests have been standardized,
and the days have been long.
My relationships have strengthened.
And in my heart, there’s a song.
OH!
THE PLACES I’VE BEEN!
Congratulations to me!
I’m jumping with glee!
I made it through high school..
Somehow in one piece.
I moved in the middle..
It sucked a little.
I made new friends forever..
Life couldn’t get better.
I’m off to college,
With a head full of knowledge
I can go any direction I choose..
Wearing really cute shoes!
I love to chat..
So hopefully my career will have to do with that.
Maybe you’ll see me on tv,
Or on a show called WAKE UP WITH PHILLY!
I’ve got miles to travel,
I hope there is not gravel!
I wish everyone the best of luck...
Hope no one gets hit by a truck
Oh the places I’ve been…
Yay!
In D.C. I’ll be found.
I love my home, but I can’t stay-
I’m G.W.U. bound!
I'll get mixed up, of course,
as you already know.
We will all get mixed up
with many strange people as we go.
But don’t be scared to take steps,
‘cause you don’t know, you’ll never know.
Just remember you’re all in my hearts
Wherever you’ll go.
One day we’ll come back
After waiting and waiting
You'll find the bright faces
And there’ll be no more hating.
But for now, don’t worry
Go down the graduation aisle with a slight frown.
Before you know it, summer will be done in a hurry
And we’ll head straight out of this town.
Congratulations
Today don’t be sad
You’re done with Smithtown!
Aren’t you glad?
You have taken the tests you needed to take
Awoken at times you’d rather not be awake
SATS and ACTS helped get you into college
Tedious tests of our cumulative knowledge
We stayed up and studied and cried over grades
Sacrificed review to work and get paid
Extracurriculars and other obligations
Make straight As a difficult compilation
You may not have liked the struggles you’ve endured
But you’ve learned a thing or two for sure
As long as you’re not who they lock the bathrooms for
The things you have learned in your mind will be secure
Fashions have changed and so have friends
The most loyal, however, have stayed til the end
Now you’re all going off on own
Living in a place that’s far from home
You’ll have a blast there
You’ll become more aware
OH THE PLACES WE’VE BEEN!
I have brains in my head.
I have feet in my shoes.
I am ready for college now.
Oh my God, WOW.
I’m on my own now,
No Mommy and Daddy to guide
My every step towards success, it’s my turn to decide.
What I’m going to eat.
What time I go to sleep.
It’s up to me now,
So don’t have a cow.
I’m ready to succeed
I’m ready to fail
I’m ready to pick myself up.
Where’s my coffee cup?
So here I come.
It’s time to grow up
And learn about bigger and better things
Let’s see what tomorrow brings.
Oh the places I’ll go…
So your life began
As you skipped out of the door.
Everyone was in white
And walked up like it was a chore.
Parents take pictures,
Make sure you smile!
Your cheeks will hurt
And it feels like the walk on stage is a mile.
People will cry.
People will laugh.
People will sigh.
A day on a roller coast is what it will be.
All of these details will soon fade away.
The pictures in the yearbook
Will be worth the pay.
The clothes you wore
The things you said
The jokes galore
And then there will be no more.
I went to college
And brought everything I learned.
All that knowledge
All that joy
All the lessons shaped who I became.
Where ever life will take me
What ever career I chose
I will be.
Thank you Smithtown High School East.
Samantha Sokoloff
Congratulations!
Today is my day.
I’ve been to great places
now I just have to say
I’ve had papers to write.
I’ve had presentations to do
I’ve been bread for this day
I’m ready it’s true
I’m on my own now. I’ll say with a grin. It’s time to reminisce where do I begin?
I’ve been in and out of friendships with people for whom I care
Tears and laughter and anger fill the air
But in the end were still friends and I can look back and say
I will be an old lady on a porch with you someday
There was track of course
Race walking was my sport
The silly yet challenging
Duck walking sort
And out on the track
I never looked back
In PAC we debated
And sometimes it got heated
Yet always with dignity
Each other we treated.
And then there were bio groups not soon forgotten
Hand signals and cheatfests
Our teacher thought we were rotten
I’ve had pitcheresque scenes
out in the snow
Ill keep them in my memory
wherever I go
And to my future friends when you’re studying me
Thinking of all the places I’ll be
But none will compare to the places I’ve been
Now is not when my future begins
My future began back in nineteen ninety one
And since then oh the fun oh the fun
I don’t take back a second or the bonds I have created
Whether camp or class I’m almost graduated
It is time to leave now
It must be so
I know where I’ve been
Now I can’t wait to go!
I’ve got my cell phone in hand
I’ve got my heart on my sleeve
Money in wallet
to spend when I leave.
I’m all on my own. It’s the freaking bee’s knees!
And I am decided to do just as I please.
I’ve taken thirty-six classes trying to find what I love.
‘bout some I can say, “I’ve no clue what they speak of.”
I’ve got my cell phone in pocket and my heart in my hand,
I’m determined to work and be paid by the grand.
I might have to settle,
And work crappy jobs
But I’m seeing the world
In turning these doorknobs
The future’s awaiting
The past slowly fading.
Still I will not forget
The people I’ve met
I will remember to phone
And always know home.
What the eff!
today's our day?
How can i say this
in such a brief way.
I look back on so much
and most was mad clutch,
its just going too fast
too fast, yes, too fast.
I did not sign up for this,
I should be overwhelmed with bliss,
instead, I'm ineffable,
which means something terrible.
I guess its that I hated all the d-bags,
and now notice, most girls weren't really hags,
I've made too many mistakes,
but lets have a cook out, and grill some steaks!
Graduations all about forgiving and forgetting,
and i will always be betting,
that I'll probably miss this,
oh wait, that's one big dis.
I have a lot on my mind.
This is my life, one that I’ve designed.
I can be who I want to be
It’s finally my time to be free.
Not sure of what to do or where to go
But let’s hope that place isn’t the ghetto.
So many roads to choose, but I will make the right choice.
And maybe someday I’ll get to meet James Joyce.
With my head filled with confusion
It feels like life is one big illusion.
With monkeys, clowns, and a whole circus too.
And probably some Mayans at Machu Picchu
But of course I will choose the road
That will bring me to my dream abode.
This is what I call freedom
Getting the chance to mess with hoodlums
Out there things can happen
and frequently do
to people as brainy
and footsy as you.
It’s finally my time to make it real
I got my hands on the wheel
To steer myself to a whole new place
Where I conquer everything I face.
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