Download - Pink
! Sammy Peterson
!
Table of Contents
..........................................................................................................................................Title Page 3
........................................................................................................................................Dedication 4
......................................................................................................................Advice from an Adult 5
..................................................................................................................................The Big Game 6
................................................................................................................A Silver Worthy Birthday 7
...............................................................................................................................Trouble, Trouble 8
..........................................................................................................................................My Name 9
...........................................................................................................................Favorite Holidays 10
................................................................................................................A Happy Time and Place 11
...............................................................................................................................................Maya 12
..........................................................................................................................My Neighborhood 13
............................................................................................................................................My Job 14
! Sammy Peterson
! !2
Pink
By: Sammy Peterson
! Sammy Peterson
! !3
This book is dedicated to my cousin Maya Brenna.
She is the best cousin anyone could wish for.
I love you Maya.
! Sammy Peterson
! !4
Advice From an Adult
My parents are my biggest role models in my life and they are constantly giving me
advice. My dad tells me that honesty is the biggest key in life; without it you will have nothing.
My mom tells me that if I want to grow up to become a wonderful woman I need to treat people
with respect. She says that I should try and step in his or her shoes and see what it is like for a
day. My parents tell me that I need to follow the golden rule: Treat others the way you would
want him or her to treat you.
Another big influence in my life is my varsity basketball coach, Mr. Malott. He is always
telling us to look at the bigger picture. In the end of it all, it doesn’t matter who has won the most
basketball games. It comes down to what your character and personality is made of. If you don’t
treat people with respect, they won’t show you any respect back. He also tells us that to
accomplish our goals as a basketball team, we must work as one unit. If we all try and become
the hero, we will lose. If we all work together as a team, we will win games and become better
people. One person cannot defeat the other team single handedly. We need the special abilities of
every single person, and each person must fulfill their role in the team, so we can become
champions.
! Sammy Peterson
! !5
The Big Game
On February 14, West Salem Lady Panthers took on the Westby Norsemen, but this
wasn’t an ordinary basketball game. Not only would would the outcome of this game decide if
we could compete for the conference title, but it was a pink out. Chloe Stauffer’s senior exit
project was a breast cancer awareness fundraiser, and both teams sported pink uniforms. There
was pink everywhere. Pink shirts were sold to both team’s fans, and even pink bracelets were
sold. The gym was packed with pink.
We started the game and both teams brought there best game. We battled back and forth,
each team scoring bucket after bucket. Towards the end of the game it was close, and in the last
minute we were tied. The final buzzer sounded and we were tied 38-38. Overtime. We battled
through, and when the overtime buzzer sounded it was 44 West Salem Lady Panthers and 41
Westby Norsemen. We came out with the win, giving us the chance to win the conference title.
The student section stormed the court creating a huge mob of kids crying, laughing, hugging,
cheering, and jumping up and down. It was the best feeling in the entire world. To know we have
come from the bottom and built up to this point. Coach was so proud, he didn’t know what to
say; it was amazing.
After the game, both teams lined up along the sideline to become one team in the fight
against breast cancer. Everyone in pink packed into the bleachers behind us to join the team. It
was a great way to create awareness and play a very important game all in one night.
! Sammy Peterson
! !6
A Silver Worthy Birthday
My thirteenth birthday was my favorite birthday, because in the same weekend we were
in Wausau, Wisconsin for the 8th grade state basketball tournament. My team had to play seven
games on Saturday and Sunday.
Our first game was against a really tough team and throughout the entire game we battled
and fought. We were down by two points with only a little time left; my teammate brought the
ball down and threw it to the another teammate, Sydney. Sydney dribbled twice and threw the
ball at the hoop from five feet behind the three point line. The buzzer sounded. The ball,
somehow went through the hoop and we won by one point. The most strange part was that the
time the ball went through the hoop was the same time that I was born.
We went on to win every other game that day! The next day was almost as good. We won
the first game easily, but the next game would prove to be a hard one. We would have to play
tough as nails. We were scheduled to play a private school from a big city that recruited most of
its players. We ended up winning and the victory sent us to the championship game.
In the championship game, we had to play the team that had won in our division each
year before. They were a really hard team to beat, but we were determined. In the end we didn’t
come out with a victory, but we were proud of how far we had come.
! Sammy Peterson
! !7
Trouble, Trouble
As a kid, my brother and I fought a lot, especially over the silliest things. I was a lion and
he was the zebra, and sometimes the other way around. Sometimes our parents would have to
separate us, and send us to different rooms, but one day I got into a lot of trouble.
My neighbors, my brother, and I made up a game to play during the summer when we
were bored. It involved a playground, or swing set, a ball, and at least four people. The object
was to stay on the swing the longest without getting the bottom of your foot hit with the ball.
Two people would swing, one person would be the judge and the other person would try and
throw the ball at the swingers feet.
Usually we would try and run to be the first or second person to the swing set, so we
could start on the swings because it was the most fun. The last person would have to be the
judge, and the third person would be the thrower. My brother and I were running and we were
both trying not to be the last person to the swings; I had the ball in my hands and my brother was
in front of me. I didn’t want to lose, so I threw the blue soccer ball, as hard as I could, at his feet.
He tripped in the middle of the road, and scraped his face, knees and arms. He started bawling
and ran inside and told on me. I remember the horrible feeling in my stomach. I’m in huge
trouble. I’m in huge trouble.
! Sammy Peterson
! !8
My Name
My name, Samantha, was given to me because my uncles name is Samuel. My parents
thought it was important that I was named after a family member and they really liked the name
Samantha.
The meaning of the name Samantha is listener, or flower. It is the female version of
Samuel, my uncles name. I think the first meaning, listener, fits me well because I have always
done well in school and I listen and take advice well. The other meaning, flower, is like a fish our
of water for me. I’m not a huge girly girl; I like a lot of sports and being outside, not buying new
clothes and wearing tons of make-up. I don’t mind doing stuff like that, but I would rather be
playing or watching sports.
My dad didn’t want my name to be Samantha because he thought it was too close to
Samuel. My mom loved the name and she decided to talk to my uncle to make sure it was alright
that I be named after him. My uncle said that he would absolutely adore it if I was named after
him! He said it would be really cool to have a niece named after him.
I don’t think I would ever change my name. The only thing I would change is to have
people call me Sammy, because I like that name a little bit better because I used to only be called
Samantha when I got in trouble. I still like my name, and I would never want to change it.
! Sammy Peterson
! !9
Favorite Holidays
Christmas
Fun, Friendly
Opening, Giving, Receiving
Surrounded by my family.
Celebration
Halloween
Spooky, Scary
Scaring, Running, Hiding
Worried, Spooked, Excited, Overjoyed
Candy
! Sammy Peterson
! !10
A Happy Time and Place
Cabin Lake House Sun Fun Summer Swimming Tubing Tanning S S U U M M M M E E R R T T I I M M E E Playing on the beach and in the sand.
! Sammy Peterson
! !11
Maya
Ever since I was little I’ve wanted a sister, but all I ever got was my brother. I wished and
wished for a sister, but my parents didn’t want another kid; that is why I am so thankful for my
cousin Maya.
Maya is a only ten, but she is my only girl cousin. She lives in Cumberland, Wisconsin so
I rarely get to see her, but when I do it is so much fun to be with her and hang out with her. She is
the one who keeps me from bursting when all the boy cousins are running around and screaming.
I remember when Maya was born and I went to the hospital to meet her. I was so happy
to have a little girl in my arms. When she came to my house for the first time, I was so excited
that I woke up super early to set up a play area for her. When she finally showed up, all she
wanted to do was sleep, and I was so sad, until my aunt told me I could hold her for a while. She
slept in my arms and I was so happy.
Today, Maya and I are even closer. She will come to any of my games that are close to
Cumberland, and every summer we go camping and to each others houses. When we camp we
ski behind the boat together, holding hands and laughing the entire way. She in her bright pink
suit and pink life vest and me in my multicolored suit and red life vest. I love Maya, and she will
always be my favorite cousin.
! Sammy Peterson
! !12
My Neighborhood
My neighbor hood is quiet. My neighborhood is peaceful. My neighborhood is full of
busy children. My neighborhood is great.
I live in a beautiful neighborhood near Highway 16 in West Salem. It has lots of growing
families and many retired grandparents as well. Its a variety of people that are always helping
each other, whether it’s with yard work, babysitting, or even cooking for each other. Our
neighborhood is fantastically friendly.
My neighbors and my family have dinners during the summer that we call “driveway
pizza.” Each family orders a type of pizza and we sit in one family’s driveway or in their house
and enjoy pizza together. Each person must bring his own drink and any other snack they want to
eat with the pizza. It’s kind of like a pot luck, but even better.
Sometimes, my neighbors and I even have sleepovers. We will set up a tent in a backyard
in the summer, or if its too cold, we will sleep at someone’s house. We talk, sing, dance, and do
hair and makeup. We always find someway to have tons of fun when we are together. My
neighbors are like my sisters and brothers.
In my neighborhood, if you need any help at all, you just have to ask the person next
door, and chances are, they will help you. That is why I love my neighborhood.
My neighbors are helpful. My neighbors are friendly. My neighbors are considerate. My
neighbors are completely perfect.
! Sammy Peterson
! !13
My Job
Since I have no official job, I babysit a lot to get money; and the girls I usually babysit
for are a blast to take care of.
Betsy and Kate, two girls who are as energetic as cheetahs. They are the easiest people to
babysit ever. They enjoy playing outside in the woods near their house or sledding down the
huge hills. They like to make blanket forts and have tea parties in them. When I watch them play
and interact with one another, you can tell they are true friends and true sisters. They may fight a
little bit, but what else are young sisters for? They are going to be great friends when they get
older I can already tell.
Another group of kids I babysit for are not as easily entertained and they tend to fight a
lot. They are different genders, so I suppose that is why they don’t get along as well as Kate and
Betsy do. These kids also are farther apart in age than Kate and Betsy, so that is probably another
factor in why they don’t get along as well. I still enjoy babysitting for them, but I love
babysitting for kids who enjoy my presence and get along.
As for other babysitting jobs, I would love to babysit more often, so that I can save up for
a car or gas money. I love babysitting, even if it’s not always considered a real job. I think
babysitting is enjoyable and a great way to make money.
! Sammy Peterson
! !14