I Was a Tree Once

Book excerpt: Why are we capable of such dignified ascension of the average and expected? It's probably because we have never been either. Our English class has a unique chemistry that rivals that of the Curies. Settling disputes through Jenga wars and daring to decry influential literature, we demand nothing less than passion. Emotions run high when Jenga blocks waver, swaying with our expectations; every class member leans in with bated breath and often baiting words, transfixed to the point of enchantment. However, we have learned to transfer our frustration at the toppling Jenga tower into driving excitement in Socratic forums. This driving emotion force has fueled our late night reading and early morning classes. Emotion inspired dedication to the book you now grasp. It is the emotion of a class all its own, and this is ours.