1. DIRECTIONS: read the following essay
The excitement of planning a playdate with my best friend quickly turned into shock and sadness when I accidentally overheard her parents discussing their upcoming move to a different state. As I sat in my friend's living room waiting for her to finish getting ready, I couldn't help but feel like my world was crumbling around me. How could my best friend be leaving without even telling me?
The realization of the secret my friend was keeping from me weighed heavily on my heart. Should I confront her about what I overheard or wait for her to tell me herself? I struggled with the decision, torn between wanting to know the truth and not wanting to ruin our friendship. As days passed without any mention of the move from my friend, the uncertainty and hurt grew inside me.
In the end, I mustered up the courage to bring up the topic with my friend. As we talked about her family's decision to move and the reasons behind it, I realized the importance of open communication and honesty in friendships. Despite the distance that would separate us, we made a pact to stay in touch and continue our friendship through phone calls and visits. Learning the secret was a difficult experience, but it ultimately strengthened our bond and taught me the value of being upfront with those I care about.
Then ANSWER THE FOLLOWING REFLECTION QUESTIONS REGARDING THE PERSONAL NARRATIVE ESSAY in a 5 th grade response.
1. Was your topic funny or serious?
2. How did you handle learning the secret? (Explain your answer.)
3. What would you have done differently regarding the secret? (Explain your answer.)
1. The topic of the personal narrative essay was serious, as it dealt with the emotions of the narrator upon learning about their best friend's move.
2. I handled learning the secret by eventually confronting my friend about it. I struggled with the decision at first, but I realized the importance of open communication in friendships. By talking to my friend about the move, we were able to address the situation and make plans to maintain our friendship despite the distance.
3. If I could do things differently regarding the secret, I would try to communicate more openly with my friend from the beginning. Instead of waiting for her to tell me about the move, I would have brought up the topic sooner to address any misunderstandings or hurt feelings. By being proactive in communication, I could have potentially avoided the pain of feeling as though my friend was keeping a secret from me.