Creative Writing Portfolio
Semester Exam, Taylor Wallenkamp
About The Author
I am 17 years old and currently live in Marshall, Wisconsin with my family. Marshall is my home, its where I grew up, but at some point, I would like to break out of the walls of my tiny little town and make a difference. Next year will be my senior year at MHS and that's crazy for me to even think about! Next year, I plan on attending Madison College and starting my Generals, I am planning on going into the ultrasound tech program and then start my two-year internship afterwards! I am very optimistic and excited about my future and can't wait to see what the future has in store for me!
Table Of Contents
Childhood Events
Song Lyrics That Are Just as Good As A Story
Sensory Details
Persona Poem
Dr. Seuss Writing
Top Six Pieces That Showed The Most Improvement
Louder Than A Bomb
Your heart beating, trying to catch your breath this is it, as the nurse hands you your little baby girl wrapped up in her pretty little pink blanket, shaking so bad... to scared your going to drop her and hurt her, this is it. Hi Dad.
1 years old now, coming home from work all sweaty and full of dirt and grease, you open up the door take two steps in and see your baby girl in her highchair mom looking like she's strung out to no belief. Hi Dad.
2 years old, but you don't come home right after work, going to bars staying out till the sun comes up, to come home just in time to feed your little girl her bottle at 4am. Hi Dad.
3 years old, sleeping in bed with the girl you met at the bar as mom and your little girl come home early from that vacation you said “ she deserved “ long weekend no..? Hi Dad.
7 years old, you marry that girl that was once in bed with you, but how is your little girl supposed to know that's really fell in love with her, dancing the night away at your wedding promising to your little girl nothing will ever change. Hi dad.
9 years old, sunday morning drives with your little girl windows down, feeling the fresh air, walking down by the river and holding her hand telling her she's the most beautiful little girl in the whole world. Hi Dad.
13 Years old, sunday morning drives now turned into your little girl wondering where you are, and what she did wrong because you don't see her anymore. Hi Dad
15 years old, spending time with your new family posting pictures on facebook for your little girl to see, but the thing is she's not your little girl anymore she's grown up much faster than you could ever believe. Hi dad
16 years old, 9 months go by, not once has your little girl went through your mind because if so then you would have picked up the phone dialed her number and waited for her to answer so she could say Hi Dad.
17 years old, Lying in an hospital bed not knowing where you’re going to go from here, your 5th CT this week alone... the doctor said it could be brain cancer.. MS.. they don't know. Your little girl walks in the room, tears swelling up in her eyes her cheeks are flushed shaking and scared just like the day when you met her for the first time. She enters the room, looks at you for the first time in an year takes a breath Hi dad
Childhood Events
Where and when were you born? Had your family lived there for a long time?
I was born in Wisconsin, in some hospital in Madison.
My family has moved a lot, when I was first born we lived in Sun Prairie for a while, but then we moved to Marshall in an small house big enough for me my mom and dad. But when my parents got a divorce when I was 2 my dad moved out, between my mom and dad I’ve probably moved 10 times. But now I mainly live with my mom and we moved into our new farm my freshman year and plan on staying there. On the other hand, my dad just bought an new house in Janesville, so it’s kind of hard to see him but I wouldn't want him to move again, because that's a lot of work.
Describe the members of your family.
To make this easy i’ll talk about the people that live in my house with me ( Me, Mom, My Brother Keagan, and my step dad mike). My mom is like my best friend, she's always there for me and I can talk to her about anything, she's understanding and she's the only person that's been on my side for my entire life, never let me down or gave me a reason to not trust her, she's my bestfriend. Keagan? He's pretty cool, he's about 6 years younger than me and he's the only child between my mom and mike, I don't get to spend as much time as I would like to with him because i'm always working.. But we make it work. Mike on the other hand, I don't get along with him, we argue, fight, scream at eachother so I just try to ignore him and stay out of his way.
What are some of your memories of the place where you grew up? What did your home look like? Your room? What did your street look like? Who lived in your neighborhood?
My dad, we moved a lot... and I was only there on the weekend so I don't really have that many memories of my room, but at my mom’s I lived there for an good 8 years before we moved anywhere else.
I changed up my room quite frequently always was re arranging my clothes bed, dresser. I had a queen size bed, well still do. I remember my room was grey because for some reason I thought that was a good idea, and I ALWAYS had a pink or blue bedspread. I had an tv, radio all the typical things you would have in an bedroom. My street was pretty normal, at the end of it was the fire station, skate park and library. I lived right across from Tristan for the longest time, and brock and kale were right down the road.
Describe someone who was important to you as a child. Who was that person? What did he or she look like? Why was that person important to you?
My mom was definitely the most important person to me while I was growing up.
I’ve had such a strong bond with my mom for the longest time because in all honestly shes the one person that's been there for me my entire life, the one person I can trust with my life, and LOVE unconditionally. Growing up, I was always told I look exactly like my mom and that im like her twin, so I guess that says something.
If you were asked to write about a life-changing experience, what would you write about? Pick the first thing that comes to mind.
The first time I had surgery and the complications that came with that surgery.
How were you different from your siblings, your classmates, your friends? How would you describe your personality, attitude, and spirit as a child?
I think, living with my mom and growing up just me and her for a while, I was always more mature than other people. I would always encourage the better for people and try to stay out of trouble, i’m still that way honestly. Just having the maturity under my belt I feel has helped me better myself as an human. Even Though I was more mature than everyone else, at the same time I was loving, and fun and I had an high and energetic spirit.
What were your fears as a child? How did you overcome them? React to them? Who protected you? How did you deal?
My biggest fear as a child was sleeping in the dark/alone because I was scared of the possibility of ghost’s or someone coming in my room in the middle of the night and hurting me. I slept with my mom until I was about 4 - 5, so until she met Mike. Just sleeping with another person I know gave me comfort. I slowly started moving out of my mom’s bed and then I would be able to fall asleep on the couch but for the longest time I was not able to sleep in my room by myself, but I feel as if I just kind of grew out of it and realized that I was safe where I was.
What’s your favorite “pet story” from childhood? Or, if you don’t like pets/animals, what least favorite memories do you have related to animals?
The first pet that I remembered getting was my 14 year old dog now, Phoebe.
I don't quite know how I remember picking pheobe up because I was only about 3-4, but I guess it was an big enough event it just stuck in my Head. I remember it being dark out and we meet a guy who sold us Pheobe in a store parking lot in Madison, and the next thing I knew I had my first dog.
What do you remember doing that caused your parents (or someone close to you) to feel very proud of you as a child?
When I was 9 or 10 I tried out for Xplozion, which was an fast pitch traveling softball league. I was not sure if I was going to make the team or not, because it was really competitive, there were a lot of really good girls that were at the tryouts and girls who were older than me to. But me and my mom decided to go to the tryouts anyways, and sure enough a couple days later I got the call back, and they said I made the team.
What did you do that caused the most disappointment?
I’ve never really done anything significant that would have caused a lot of disappointment that I could think of, even going into my later teen years. But my mom once told me a story about how I cut off all my bangs, eyelashes and chunks of my hair out because I watched my grandma give my cousin an haircut, so I guess you could say that was pretty disappointing.
If you could relive one day from childhood, what day would that be and why?
My 5th birthday, it was just me and my mom, I remember she took me out to lunch in my Cinderella dress and told me I could get whatever I wanted, we then went to an flower shop and bought flower pots and new flowers and went home. But my mom had a bunch of paint and we painted one special flower pot together and I still have that single pot in my bedroom in my closet.
Besides a family member, what character from your childhood do you remember vividly? Describe him or her and your relationship. Choose an interesting character.
I was never really around anyone besides my family when I was younger... we don't really have that one family friend that was always around, it was kind of just me and my mom and then eventually mike and kegan came along.
Song Lyrics Just As Good As A Story
Wide open spaces, a car packed with all the things that Sam called her own. She was on her way to college to start her journey in pre med, all of her dreams were finally coming true. But there was one thing that she couldn't leave at home, one thing that she knew would change her life for good, and that was the baby in her stomach. Sam had gotten pregnant the summer before she was supposed to leave for college, Peter knew he said they would raise the baby by themselves, and sam agreed with the idea. But there was something about leaving home and realizing that you really will be on your own with this baby. As sam drove she thought about all of her dreams, all of the plans she had. How am I supposed to be able to take care of this baby by myself? How am I supposed to support my family when i'm a broke college kid and peters an mechanic at an body shop. That's when Sam got an sharp pain in her stomach, she decide to turn around saying it was her gut telling her to go back home. As Sam drove closer to home the pains began to grow even stronger. Each red light she got stopped at felt like they took an million years to turn green, every little bump in the road made her head hurt.
Sam pulled into her old gravel driveway and she knew she was home. Jenny came rushing outside as Sam fell out of her crying and screaming for help, as Sam's body hit the ground a rush of water rushed down her leg. “ CHRIS CALL AN AMBULANCE!! “ Her father rushing outside with 911 already on the line, her mother had father collapsed at the floor next to Sam. The ride to the ambulance left the whole family in shock, when they arrived to the emergency room they rushed Sam upstairs into a room to wait to be examined by the doctor, Jenny and Chris followed shortly behind and were escorted into the room to be with Sam. Jenny comes rushing into the room, tears filling her eyes and that when Sam said it “ Mom... I'm pregnant, I didn't know how to tell you, or how to tell dad. I didn't want you to be mad at me so I just left I wanted to do this on my own but I can't, I just can't mom”. Before Sam could finish her last sentence, she was interrupted by the labor pains and sent an scream through the hospital. The doctors came rushing in with nurses, there was no time to get Sam to an birthing sweet, the baby was coming and she was coming fast. A hour of pushing for a lifetime of happiness is what Jenny told her as she stood beside Sam. It was over, it was all over one more push and then the next thing you knew the nurse was placing an beautiful baby girl on Sam's chest, that's when she looked at her mom and knew everything was going to be okay, she was home, she was safe, she was right where she was supposed to be.
Sensory Details
What does happiness look like?
Families and friends spending time together and making memories
What color is today?
Grey skies, and rainy blacktop
What does purple taste like?
Ripe grapes
What is the texture of the color green?
Scratchy and itchy
What color is your favorite scent?
Pink - ( Pink beach sand)
What does love look like?
Trust in one another, and dogs
What does love taste like?
Free food samples
What color is your favorite song?
Black and Blue
What does winter sound like?
People screaming and car breaks going out
What does your favorite color smell like?
Blueberries
What does chocolate sound like?
A warm and love embrace
What does summer taste like?
Lemonade and mini doughnuts from the carnival
What does hate taste like?
Cooked carrots
What does freedom sound like?
Horses running in an open pasture
What does beautiful look like?
Unique
What does ugly look like?
Coppied
What does red sound like?
Sunburns people screaming
What does green smell like?
A fresh apple orchard
What does yellow feel like?
Warm embrace
What does pink taste like?
Bubble gum
What does sadness taste like?
A gallon of ice cream
What does euphoria smell like?
Fresh baked goods
Persona Poems
Taylor
Intelligent, Kind, Loving, Shy
Best Friend to Michael
Who loves, Family, Horses and Michael
Who is afraid of, failing, snakes and letting people down
Who wants to see, equal rights, Alaska and a happy society
Who believes in, equal rights, freedom and God
Who says “ Never give up”
Who gives, love and affection, hugs, and a good vibe
Resident of my year ahead
Wallenkamp
Michael
Loving, understanding, kind, smart
Best Friend to Taylor
Who loves, Family, racing and his Dog
Who is afraid of, Dying, rejection and failing
Who wants to see, achievement, an happy ending, success
Who believes in, success, strong family bond, equal equality
Who says, “ I Love you”
Who gives, love, a helping hand, and a positive mind
Resident, of Wisconsin
Corvo
Dr. Seuss Writing
One day Mr.Pinky was sitting in his little pig desk at school.
“ Sit down and take your seats please children!” Said Mrs. Lacy as she stood at the front of the room. “ I'm about to start attendance!”
All The little pigs took there seats and waited patiently for their names to be called.
“ Oh class! Would you look at this it seems as if we have an new student!” Everyone in the class jumped and joyed with excitement! “ Principal porker should bring her in soon!
Mr. Pink was sitting in his desk, around all of his friends. Laughing and playing pig games when the classroom door opened. On the other side was Principal Porker and the new student! But something was different.... The new student was not an pig like the rest of us, but instead an little duck. The room got really quiet as Mrs. Lacey trotted over to the new student.
“ Class this is stella Quack she's new to our town and I would like you all to be nice to her and invite her into our class!” But none of the pigs seemed to want to talk to Stella.
It was almost time for Recess, “ Alright class! Good work today, Once I dismiss your table I will let you line up for Recess”. We all lined up, and waited patiently and quietly to go outside. When our class was able to go outside, we zigged and zagged through the bushes and around the playground! As Mr. Pinky was running he noticed that stella was sitting by herself on the swing.
Nobody wanted to talk to her because she was different from everyone else... Stella did no fit in and felt like she had no friends, Stella was Sad. Mr. Pinky walked up to stella and asked her what was wrong?
“ I just feel like nobody here wants to be my friend “ That's when Mr. Pinky looked at stella and said, “ Well I’ll Be your friend!! Come on, let's all go play tag! “ Stella was a little nervous, but decided to go play with Mr.Pink! All It took was that one day, and Stella would make a bunch of new friends, because Mr.Pinky decided to make new friends and give everyone a chance!
Stella now spends her days, playing with all the little pigs and she has made so many new friends and couldn't be more happy!