Olivia Collar built her story on a quote from Dr. Suess and watched it soar all the way to the Rotary Club of Georgia’s Laws of Life essay state judging.
Collar, a ninth grader at Fannin County High School (FCHS), used Dr. Suess words, “Sometimes you will never know the value of something until it becomes a memory,” as her core thought.
She said, “I wanted to write this story in a way people could truly see what it was like through my eyes.”
Among her words, “My eyes fluttered open, eyelids drooping with exhaustion as a bold melody played through my earbuds, raising my head to the view of grayed brick. As fatigue began to subside, I’d grasp what stood before me was the aged familiar build of my high school. Hastily grabbing my bag, I would sprint out the doors of the bus. As I walked through the corridors, the air began to grow thick as I felt my heart stiffen, unsure of why I’d impulsively brush it off as nothing. The bright opening of the cafeteria shone with fluorescent lights as my friend came up to me with deep sorrowful eyes.”
Collar joined all her ninth grade classmates at FCHS to enter the Rotary Club contest.
A local committee selected 12 entries to send for the Rotary Club’s state judging.
Collar’s entry was chosen by that committee as the school winner and advanced to state competition.
Although she did not capture a state award, ninth grade teacher Jill Dyer said, “She is a great writer and her essay definitely shows that.”
Dyer, along with Molly Conklin, teach ninth grade literature at the high school.
The other FCHS students whose works were chosen to be sent to the state judges were; Austin Powell, who was the school runner-up Alaina Freeman, Alexis Howe, Bridgett Allen, Carlee Klinesmith, Jonnah Collins, and,
Karlee-Benitez Cleveland, Madeline Schueneman, Makaylee Clore, Mark Tucker and Reese Lewis.