1) The document is a story written by a fourth grade student named Caitlin about sharing her summer vacation plans with her class. 2) When it was Caitlin's turn, she was excited to share that she would be going to Italy until another classmate, Jalen, said he was also going to Italy. 3) Caitlin got upset thinking her plans were no longer special, and she refused to share. Her teacher comforted her and said just because they were going to the same place didn't mean their trips would be the same.

1. Caitlin Rabuck
Period 1
December 11, 2010
Coming of Age
Summer, Summer, Summer !
Outside it's hot, hotter then it usually is here in Germany. I'm sitting in my fourth grade class
with my friends and my teacher. All the windows are open to let in some of the great weather. My
teacher was one of those people that are pretty rare, the one that marries a tough, motorcycle rider with
loads of tattoos. That was what she was like. She, though, had no tattoos, and I don't think she knew
how to ride a motorcycle either. That was Mrs. Hodges, the what I called “want-to-be.”
It's a week before summer break and I am ready. My grandparents and I are going to Italy. I
thought this would be the best vacation ever; since I would be the only child going I would have all the
attention. I'll admit it, I'm an attention hog. I like the spotlight on me.
Mrs. Hodges told everyone to get into a circle.(It took a bit until everyone finally got
themselves organized because all of our desks were in the way, so we had class outside.) We sat in a
circle in the grass. The weather was wonderful, it was sunny and warm. Summer was always my
favorite time of the year.
Mrs. Hodges said, “Okay class, let's go around the circle and hear about each of your summer
plans.”
Looking around I could see everyone was just waiting to burst with what their plans were. I
wanted to know when it would be my turn, so I counted. I would be the eleventh person to share out of
the twenty-four kids in class. Riley went first, only because he made a girl switch spots with him.
Riley told the class, “I'm going to Oklahoma. I'm moving there and I can't wait. My favorite
football team is there and I just love football so much. My dad said we can go to plenty of games and
that by the time I hit fifth grade I'll be as good as a NFL player.”

2. Riley's friends all worried about him moving, while other students told him he will never be as
good as a NFL player. I just sat there and thought about my plans and how they are better then
everyone else plans. Italy is a different country. Most of these kids haven't been to a country other than
The United States and Germany. Italy, it's imprinted in my head and I can't wait until these kids are
done with telling their uninteresting summer plans.
Meanwhile, a girl named Katie was going on about her plans. “I'm going to visit my rich uncle
in California. He owns a motorcycle shop. He said I can help him with his work and give him good
ideas for his designs.”
I'll admit, Katie's story sounded interesting, but not anywhere close to mine. Mrs. Hodges liked
Katie's story; I could tell. She kept asking what the company was called and all these questions about
motorcycles. Maybe Mrs. Hodges did know something about motorcycles. Okay, enough, I don't care
about that. When will it be my turn? I counted to see how many more students were left. Two more
people were in front of me. I had zoned out everyone else's stories while thinking of mine. It was
Jalen's turn and that meant only one more person after him, then it would be my turn. I was about to go
insane. I decided to listen to Jalen's story, because he's a funny and adventurous kid. Once he said he
went to Australia and played with crocodiles with Steve Irwin.
Jalen said, “I'm going to the best place in the world,” I gave a little giggle at that because
nothing beats my place. “ I'm going to... drum roll please...” the class gave him a drum roll. “ I'm going
to Italy. My parents are taking me to the Leaning Tower of Pisa, Rome, the beach, and Venice. I can
hunt for jellyfish and sharks. That's what I'm doing this summer.”
Mrs. Hodges told Jalen, “That is a very exciting trip you have ahead of you there Jalen. There's
only one problem: you can't hunt for jellyfish or sharks there.”
Jalen blushed a little because he knew he got caught lying. I just sat there in shock. I had a sick
feeling in my stomach and no longer wanted to share. Alana was telling the class about her plans but I
just sat there zoning her out. I started to tear up but didn't want anyone to know, so I put my head in my

3. hands as if I were sleeping. When it was my turn to talk I said, “I pass” and just kept sitting in my
position without moving a muscle. Mrs. Hodges told me to share at least something I want to do this
summer. I responded with the same answer, “I pass.” I am not sure what came into me but I just stood
up and told the teacher I had to go to the bathroom. Without waiting for her to reply I ran to the school
and went to the bathroom. I sat on the toilet, with the toilet seat down and my pants up. I began to cry
and cry, I couldn't stop.
My teacher had come in the bathroom, I guess she knew something was wrong. She probably
told the students to go play on the school playground until she got back. Mrs. Hodges said to me,
“Caitlin, come out and talk to me please. Why didn't you share your story?”
I hesitated to reply but then began while still sitting on the toilet, “Mrs. Hodges, my summer
plans were so wonderful and terrific I thought everyone else's were boring. I'm going to Italy you see
and when Jalen said he was also going to Italy and told the class what he was going to do there, I felt
like I was being a copycat. Going to Italy was supposed to be MY summer plans, not his. Mine, mine,
mine. I was just so excited, but now I feel it makes no sense in telling my plans.”
I had not heard Mrs. Hodges. I thought maybe she had left but then she began, “Caitlin just
because Jalen has the same plans to go to Italy as you, doesn't mean your trip is ruined. You and him
might be in totally different parts of Italy and do different things. We all know that Jalen likes lying and
making things up so I bet half of the things he said aren't even true. Please come back out and tell the
class of your plans, no one will think you are a copycat.”
I came out of the bathroom. Mrs. Hodges told me to wash my face of the tears and then to come
back outside. I felt so embarrassed to go back out in front of the class now. When I got out there the
class clapped for me and I felt a bit better. I decided to tell of my plans and not worry about not being
the only one having that plan. I realized that Italy is not just my country this summer; plenty of people
will visit Italy this summer and I needed to accept that. I had been acting a little too conceded and
needed to change that. When I told my plans to the class I said, “ Well, my plans for this summer are

4. the same as Jalen's plans. I am also going to Italy. I'm going with my grandparents. I can't wait. I love
the beach and can't wait to be able to swim in the salty water in Italy. I'm sorry if you think I'm copying
Jalen, but a lot of people go to Italy for vacation and the fact that Jalen and I are both going there is just
coincidence.”
After I was done speaking everyone clapped then moved on. When everyone was done we had
ten minutes to play on the playground. I was surprised when my classmates came to me and said they
didn't think I was a copycat. They also said they were jealous that Jalen and I could go to Italy. The end
of school bell rang. I went and got my backpack and walked home. Now, I don't need to worry about
what other people think about me or whether they thought I was a copycat.