Rachel is a 9th grade student at the Foote School in New Haven.  Her favorite books are Heart of a Champion and Brave New World.

By Rachel Lawler

Life is like a firecracker.
Your ascent to the top is slow,
As many await wide eyed with high hopes,
For you to emerge,
And show the real you.
Will they like you?
Will they be disappointed?
How will they react?
You have but one chance to show who you really are,
One chance to shine for all to see,
Before you fizzle out into nothing.
And someone new and better takes your place right behind you.
Your true self probably won't be remembered,
Unless you made a great impact in the short time you had.
Only the memories of your presence will be talked about