For my exchange I have to write an essay and here it is!

"give a detailed description of your life, family and school. State why youlike to go overseas on exchange"


"Whilst writing this essay I realized that I am the hardest topic that I have ever written about. How do I sum up my mere fourteen years of existence to my new possible family? How do I explain the great points of myself without seeming smug? The truth is I don’t know, like many other things in the world the answers are still unclear. But that’s one of the reasons I want to leave my comfortable and tender home so I can discover the world. To understand what it is to stand on your own to feet and make a place for yourself. Keeping in mind that I am only a teenager so moving out is a little intense, and the fact I am a wimp and enjoy home. This exchange is the perfect compromise of the two, to go to a new country and live with a new family (I mean that’s every teens dream).

I am told to give a detailed description of my life. Well thinking back I can hardly remember what I had from breakfast let alone my life story and where it all started (and I’m sure you’d prefer me to spare the details of that). From what I can remember of my early life it was a joyous time between birthdays and Christmas. My best friends were my slightly older cousin Morgan and my sister Jessica who was four years my senior. I remember walking down the street to my cousin’s house to play dress ups and other cliché childhood games. Morgan was my first proper friend and remains my friend to this day. Morgan was always coaching me on her new abilities but I defiantly owe my social skills to my sister. She was like a Zen master when it came to the other children. Morgan and I would watch Jessica and her friends in awe of their creativity and my sister’s dramatic skill. Many times Jessica would use these theatrical performances in our brawls. Her favorite would be pretending to be dead so I could give her the last cookie as I cried over her deceased body. Jess has educated me on many life lessons such as how to twirl in high heels and what are in hot dogs.

One of the most valuable lessons Jess ever taught me was to stick up for myself. In my third year of primary school I had become I became a bit of a social outcast. The girls who used to be my friend decided that I was much more fun to tease. I reacted in the natural way of becoming withdrawn and sensitive. My sister found this less satisfactory then her many practical jokes. Many afternoons later my sister played my knight in shining armour (a role she’d play many times) and came down to school to ‘sort them out’. Though Jess wasn’t violent her quick wit and logic quickly stunned the fifth grade girls. Their usual comeback of ‘your mum’ wasn’t effective and they retreated. Though my parents didn’t appreciate her gallant behavior I will always remember the looks of the girls faces as my older sister told them what she thought of the girls.

Primary school was a difficult time for me. I did make friends but they were mostly boys, in fact they were all boys and only one girl. This girls name was Prue; she was my neighbor and someone I still see habitually. Prue was the only girl not afraid of the whispers and stuck with me, her slightly geeky and tomboyish counterpart. Prue and I shared everything, clothes, homework and cold. This equality gave us and understanding that we even finished the others sentences. I feel that I learnt how to get along with other girls my age after Prue, which would come in handy for my next chapter. Starting high school at an all girls’ school.
I believe that I have become (excuse the phrasing) a bit of a social butterfly. My friends at school surround me and I find myself truly lucky to have them. My first friend at school would be Brigitta Quantock, who taught me to embrace my inner freak by taking me shopping in our pajamas. Brigitta left school after year seven which was traumatic to say the least. But after two weeks of brooding life continued normally.

When Brigitta left school things started heating up. With teenage hormones kicking in and subject selection, days were never dull though no major events happened. Year eight came to a close and year nine started. My permanent subject choices were done and I now study Asian Studies, Art, Drama and the core subjects. Asian Studies is exactly as the title describes, it’s the study of the history, culture, economy and many other areas. Art is pretty straightforward, my marks aren’t always the best but I feel passionately for this subject and I actually enjoy the homework. And last but not least Drama. Being a bit of a drama queen I love performing and I have been in a few school plays.

After school I come home to number forty. I finish my homework and bum around the house, and like most kids my age I use this parentless time to have my music as loud as it goes. My parents are Steve Anderson and Barbara Bennett. I don’t think I could describe them other than my parents who I love and adore. My father’s old school cool with his music and movie tastes oozing with class. When I was young we would dance around the living room to the Whitlams. My mother on the other hand had to deal with all the dirty jobs. She’s in charge of discipline but with her light hearted humor she doesn’t get to affronted with my rebuttal of blonde jokes. Living with my mother has given me a strong voice; she has always taught me to say my opinion (if I can back it up with evidence.). My dad supports my choice for the exchange but my mum is not ready to have her ‘baby’ leave. I side with my father. I believe I am prepared for this step but I will never know my boundaries until I try.

As a girl from a small city I would love to go to a big city, bright lights and loud noises are calling me. But whether or not that is this trip I don’t know. I just want to be accepted into this program and into a new family. America I think won’t be that different to Australia. I won’t be able to ride kangaroos to school but I think I will manage. America will be a great experience and something that I truly want to do, its corny I know but I cannot wait until January. I can live in a new country and a new family but I defiantly know I am ready to shake off my small town blues.

To sum up this essay I have finally reached a goal in life, to answer the age-old beauty pageant question;

“How would you describe yourself?”

World peace- no wait that’s not right. Let me try that again.

I guess I’m ‘alternative’ I don’t quite fit into a stereotype. If I did this essay would be a lot easier. I like being different but I don’t go out of my way to prove it. I’m not one of the teenagers who hang out at the mall covered in black and crying about how nobody ‘gets them’. I’m simply Eloise Anderson from Canberra trying to get out of the city that makes Australia a donut."


On reflection I just want to say the worst thing about this essay wasn't the corny dibble I wrote but the fact that I had writers block on myself!