I wrote this story in early 2022 in a single night. If you don’t like it…that’s fine. I had fun writing this story.
In 2019, I started a classical education homeschool program. I had never done anything quite like it, and many elements were very challenging. I guess that makes sense, because the name of the program was Challenge.
Challenge was the middle and high school curriculum for a bigger classical program called Classical Conversations, or CC for short. Our family had been doing CC for a while, but Challenge was new to me.
The first level of Challenge, Challenge A, was for seventh graders, like me. My birthday was right at the start of the year, in August. I was the oldest in my class. In fact, I am still the oldest in the class I am in now. As said previously, it was new territory, especially the dreaded Latin, but I enjoyed Challenge A. I liked my classmates and the material itself, except Latin.
At one point in the year, we were informed of an upcoming science fair in the second semester. We chose our topics and began the procedure of researching, forming hypotheses, and brainstorming how we would conduct our experiments. The process of researching each individual element was not easy, and all my sources had to be carefully recorded. The procedure itself for the experiment ended up being five pages long, and many a night were spent trying to finish science for the day.
After a tedious amount of research and thought on what my topic should be, I finally came to a conclusion. I decided I would try to figure out what substances would slow the process of mold the best: vinegar or aloe vera juice? Here’s how it worked. I would soak strawberries in the designated liquids and place them in cartons according to what they would be soaked in. One carton would hold vinegar-soaked strawberries, another would be aloe vera, another would be water, as a medium. I would study each carton for a week, noting the status of each container.
Over Christmas break, we performed the experiment itself. After weeks of researching, brainstorming, and writing, we finally had a break from school, so we could indulge in further school. Well into Christmas break, I gathered my materials, and started the process. I kept the cartons in my bathroom.
In the middle of the experiment, I was inspecting one of the strawberries, handling it with a gloved hand, and I accidentally squeezed it. Red liquid oozed out. I thought it was probably fine, so I continued my study and left. A day or so later, I noticed that my bathroom counter was stained with pink juice. The juice of the crushed strawberry had leaked out and seeped into the other cartons. The mold process was affected by the juice, and the experiment was ruined.
By the time I could continue with the second attempt at the experiment, it was already January. I couldn’t rush the experiment, so by the time it was finished, and the analysis was completely recorded, we were a couple of days away from starting school. I can recall that my aunt and uncle came over to visit for New Year’s, and I was put in Izzy’s room, along with my experiment. We weren’t happy to have to share a room with my moldy experimentation.
During second semester, science was spent scrambling to finish our research paper for the experiment. Additionally, we had to prepare a colorful project board and a presentation about the whole ordeal.
It was the day of the science fair. We put the board the in the car and drove to the church where the science fair was held. When we got there, I set up my board, which was placed in the very back corner, facing the wall. It was overshadowed by an amazing project by one of my classmates, Micah Ganson, complete with models and colorful, interesting facts and research. There were probably fifty projects, from multiple schools. Despite the placement of my board and the many other experiments, one thing about my project did stand out. I had showed up clad in a black tuxedo, with lapels, black bow tie and a cummerbund accenting a snowy white formal long sleeve. I wore gray sneakers.
If you have ever read No Coins, Please by Gordon Korman, you might begin to understand why I would wear such an outfit. In the book, the main character, Artie, journeys tuxedo-clad around the country making thousands of dollars while eluding two pitiful counselors and the touring program he is traveling with. I loved the book and was inspired to follow in Artie’s footsteps. I asked for a tuxedo for Christmas.
Once everyone had arrived and settled in, the judging process began. Most kids waited nervously for the judges to visit their project. Eventually, three people came to my table saying they were my judges. They didn’t actually look so intimidating. One of the judges was only a couple of years older than me and at least six inches shorter. I was encouraged and I began my presentation. They looked over my board and research paper before they left, having finished marking my score on their clipboards. Finally, I was done.
After that, I talked with my peers and looked over other projects. In my eyes, most of the experiments were much more interesting than mine.
The judges finished their inspection and conferred with the directors. The students waited restlessly for the announcement of the winners. I was just ready to go home.
My teacher was the one selected to speak about the science fair and give the medals. After a speech, she gave a third place medal to one of my classmates, Cheney Byrd. The next went to another one of my peers, Damian McKinnon. Then she said that two people had tied for first place, down to the tenth of a point. She said both students would get first place.
After saying a few words about the first student, she announced her name: Savannah Dickson. Apparently she went to another campus of CC; I didn’t know who she was. Then my teacher moved on and began to talk about the excellence of the other student. At that point, I just was waiting for her to get on with it, so we could leave.
“First place: Isaac Shaw!”
What? I was shocked. After a moment, I pushed my way through the applauding crowd to receive a bronze medal with a blue ribbon. It was placed around my neck, covering my crooked bow tie. I found my mom in the crowd, and we locked eyes. Both of our mouths were open wide. First place? We both had thought that my project was good, but not great. On the way to the fair we agreed that no matter the ranking, it was over and for that reason we were both happy. But first place? It was too good to be true.
Upon arriving home and informing people of the unbelievable news, I crashed onto the couch with the satisfaction of a great accomplishment.
Then mom got a call. After a minute, she came to me with news. Apparently, it was too good to be true. Another student’s scoresheet had been misplaced. On the face of it, he was five points above the announced winners. Micah Ganson was the true victor.
I was happy for Micah, and I felt bad that he didn’t get a big ceremony like we did. However, it was a little disappointing that I was technically in second place. Since the medals and certificates had already been handed out and the ceremony was done, the directors said that we (myself, Savannah, and Micah) tied for first. I guess it would have been awkward all around to give them back my medal.
Next week in class we gave Micah a proper ceremony for his ranking, and he got a medal too.
I don’t think I will ever forget that experience. I went from confusing research to late nights to failed experiments to tuxedos to winning, sort of. Furthermore, I think it was beneficial in the long run, but I probably wouldn’t do it again. Now that the science fair is behind me, I enjoy looking back on it and having that accomplishment of winning under my belt. However, there is one thing I wish I could have left behind.
I hate the smell of strawberries.
It's funny that both your posts so far display food in the images. You must be starving.
Oh my goodness, that was a very fun story❤️❤️❤️ You are first place in my book.