When I got to school and unpacked my bag, got my water bottle and stood there singing the national anthem. While my hands were full with books and my water bottle I tried to do the sign of the cross but I couldn’t so I did it in my head. I entered the class and my French teacher told all of us to hurry up and told us once more that she only has forty minutes with us and that there is no time to waste. I put my books down and got my French book out while listening to that morning announcements. Then the announcements said this “Any grade 4-8 interested in participating in the art contest please meet Ms. Creata at her room at first recess”. For sure I was going to be there.

I sat down with a lot of excitement in me, felt happy and I couldn’t wait for recess time to come. I have ever been in a drawing contest before but I felt confident and hope that I would do my best this time. When the bell rang and got up and walked with my friend Clare to Ms. Creata’s room, we got in and sat on a chair. When most of the room was filled up she began, “Good morning boys and girls, I am glad to see you all in here for the drawing contest. This drawing must be original and must show a scene when Jesus was born. There will be two categories that they put you in. 4-6 and 7-8. There will be a winner from each categories and your picture will put in The Catholic Register newspaper. Also the winners will win a $50 gift card to the movies. Good luck boys and girls, good luck and bye!”

I went home and I called my Mom at work and told her the story and she said that it was great what I was doing and I felt good. I had a busy week so I planned to start the drawing on Saturday so that I get enough time. On Friday night I went to bed thinking of what I can do for the contest. Maybe I could show all the animals surrounding Baby Jesus, and place Mary and Joseph in shadows at each side of the manger. My head went into deep thinking and it took along time to think of what to do. I had a lot of ideas and if I listed them here, it will be more than a page!

I finally decided on what I was going to do for the picture and I liked it a lot. I decided that Mary should be holding baby Jesus, while Joseph’s right arm is around Mary and his left hand holding a walking stick. They are sitting on hay, which is colored golden yellow with some green. Mary, wearing her signature color, a blue dress with her dark brown hair. Jesus, with dark blue saddling clothes and Joseph in a red with yellow-stripped gown, like father like son with Jesus’s light brown hair like Joseph’s. I completed the drawing, colored it and got it ready for submission. My family looked over it and said, fine, it is ready to go, and they wished me good luck, and off the drawing went.

On December the 24, I received a letter that said this…

Dear Ester-Angela,

Thank you for participating in our Christmas contest, and congratulations on being selected as the top entry in your age category,

Selecting winners was not easy but our judges were impressed with your imagination and creativity.

In recognition of your achievement, enclosed please find a gift card for a day at the movies, as well as a copy of The Catholic Register in which your award- winning drawing was published.

Best of luck in your future endeavors.

Sincerely, Jim O’Leary

I am so happy that my drawing was selected as the top entry and I hope that next year I can enter more drawing contests. I have a $50 Cineplex gift card for movies, which have not used yet. I cannot wait for the best movie to come. I will take my family out for a movie. Yes, IT WILL BE ON ME.

I now believe what my Mom always says, “Try and Fail, Don’t Fail to Try”.

And guess what “I tried and won”.

Angela-Acaye