Congratulations to Elyse B. for winning first place in our May Dream Your Next Adventure Student Storytelling Contest! Read on to see what Elyse dreams of doing as a bookworm in Paris as she explores the sites that she’s read about for years.
There is no better feeling than the gust of wind you get when stepping off the plane at your vacation destination. All your senses are instantly fueled by the new setting that surrounds you. It’s as if you step into an entirely new universe filled with instant adventure, eagerness, and anticipation. Travelling is an experience that fills you with an instant surge of serotonin. It’s a chapter out of the most memorable parts of your life. After missing out on opportunities to travel, I am exhilarated to be reintroduced to the possibility of seeing new parts of the world again. Being unable to travel and being forced to stay inside the security of my home due to the unexpected changes of the world made me long to see different places. The only places that I could travel to were simply confined to my imagination. In my mind, I climbed to the top of the Eiffel Tower and peered down on the glimmering lights below. I escaped to the Louvre to admire the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo sculpture. The fresh smell of croissants entered my mind as I imagined myself enjoying breakfast at a boulangerie. Paris has always been one of my dream destinations, but after letting my mind drift to the possibility of actually roaming those French streets, I couldn’t imagine a place I’d rather visit.
As someone who has loved books my entire life, I cannot wait to experience Paris for myself. Reading about Paris is phenomenal, but I can only imagine how surreal it would be to see the places where my favourite characters have roamed. My imagination allows me to see the world in a different light, but being able to connect the picture in my head with the reality of it all would feel like finding a puzzle piece I never knew was missing.
I can’t wait to wander through the streets of Paris with my classmates and share my inner thoughts with them. Listening to their perspectives and dreams of travelling to Paris would help me develop a connection with my classmates that couldn’t occur in an ordinary classroom. The sheer thrill of being able to experience this life-changing trip with my classmates fuels my excitement. I cannot wait to create lasting memories with these people. I hope that my classmates and I can experience the city of Paris to its fullest, visiting all the highlights of the city while still taking time to enjoy the small unique features of the city that make it what it is.
Throughout school, I have learned about many different artists and scientists from all over Europe. I remember learning about Leonardo DaVinci, and his famous artwork, as well as the massive churches filled with art such as the Notre Dame Cathedral. I have always been a firm believer that experiencing the world in real life is the best way to learn and apply the information that you have been taught. I think visiting Paris will open my eyes to all of the knowledge that I have been taught throughout school, especially in social studies class. I would love to see the differences between Paris and Canada’s economies. After learning about economic globalization this year, I feel like seeing the differences in currencies and experiencing their different economic values would benefit my education and knowledge. Every country has so much to offer, but I want to travel to Paris the most. I have longed to go there since I was little, and can’t wait to experience all it has to offer.
Don’t forget: there’s only one more chance to win a $250 Amazon.ca Gift Card or Apple AirPods (with charging case), see the winning entry posted right here on our blog, and earn a $5,000 bursary for your school! Click here to learn more and submit your work by June 30, 2021.