Question
You are advised to write between 350 and 500 words on the following topic:
You are writing a story set in the future. Your main character is a successful businesswoman who has been invited to go to her high school reunion. It is twenty-five years since she attended ‘Marsh Academy’ but curiosity compels her to go. Write the beginning of the story. Start your story: As soon as the door opened, a familiar face…
Model Essay
As soon as the door opened, a familiar face greeted Helena with a warm smile. It was her old friend, Rachel, who she hadn’t seen in over two decades. Despite the passing of time, Rachel still possessed the same infectious enthusiasm and bubbly personality that Helena remembered from their high school days at Marsh Academy.
“Helena! Oh my goodness, it’s been ages!” Rachel exclaimed, pulling Helena into a tight embrace.
Helena returned the hug, feeling a rush of nostalgia wash over her as she stepped into the brightly lit foyer of the reunion venue. The air was filled with a cacophony of voices, laughter, and the occasional burst of music from the dance floor.
As she glanced around, Helena couldn’t help but marvel at how much everything had changed since she last set foot in Marsh Academy. The school had been a haven for misfits and dreamers, a place where Helena and her friends had forged lifelong bonds and shared countless memories.
But now, twenty-five years later, the school seemed like a distant memory, a relic of a bygone era. Helena had long since left her rebellious teenage years behind, trading them for a successful career in the cutthroat world of corporate finance. She had built her own empire from the ground up, becoming a respected businesswoman known for her ruthless determination and unwavering ambition.
Yet despite her professional success, Helena couldn’t shake the feeling of curiosity that had led her back to Marsh Academy. She had received the invitation to the reunion almost as an afterthought, a nostalgic reminder of a time long past. But something about the prospect of reconnecting with her old classmates had stirred something deep within her, a longing to revisit the person she used to be.
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As Rachel led her through the crowded room, Helena couldn’t help but feel a twinge of apprehension mingling with her excitement. Would her classmates even recognize her after all these years? And more importantly, would she still recognize herself?
But as she caught sight of familiar faces and heard snippets of conversation from across the room, Helena felt a sense of belonging wash over her. Despite the passage of time, the bonds forged at Marsh Academy were as strong as ever, connecting her to a past that she had never truly left behind.
With a renewed sense of purpose, Helena squared her shoulders and prepared to face whatever the reunion had in store. Whatever may come, she knew that she was ready to embrace the memories of her youth and rediscover the person she had once been. And as she stepped into the throng of her former classmates, Helena couldn’t help but feel a sense of anticipation for the journey that lay ahead.
Word Count: 455