Anja McBride

I am going to be 12 years old soon. That means my mom, who likes the Packers, can call me Aaron Rogers because his number is 12 (although the rest of the family, including myself, likes the Chicago Bears). I have approximately 365 days left of being a kid before I officially become a teenager. This means I am too old for kids meals or a McDonalds Happy Meal.

There are a few good things about turning another year older: cake and presents! This time of year my family is busy celebrating multiple birthdays; my uncle’s birthday is first, a day before mine and then comes mine, which also happens to be on the same day as my mom’s birthday. Even I get busy sometimes, as I write birthday invites while munching on my leftover batch of Valentine’s Day candy. Even though it is my mom’s birthday too, she tends to focus on me (don’t worry Mom, I have gotten used to it by now and it’s actually quite nice).

I am in the middle of my first year at Bothwell Middle School, where classes are longer and harder. The chances are higher of having the occasional argument with your friends and you have more teachers than you did in elementary school, and more Monday morning tests (insert unhappy face emoji…sorry Mr. Tiz and Mrs. Crunkleton). But, then there is my favorite class — recess. Where all you need to do in order to ace this class is play. Middle school recess differs from elementary school recess because there is less equipment and more field space, where you can play games like football, ultimate tag, or freeze tag.

There are many different pros and cons of being one year older.

Cons:

• I am one year older

• I can’t order off the kids menu anymore

Pros:

• I am one step closer to getting a phone

• I get another birthday party. My birthday wish is that summer will come sooner and it will be warm again — I bet I’ll get my wish in June!

• I can order off the adult menu that has bigger portions and better food

My dream birthday party would have a Pokémon theme. For my birthday I hope to get a 3DS, more Pokémon cards, a love potion/Felix Felicia/time turner necklace from shopharrypotter.com. I also plan to save my birthday money for a puppy, but I am still planning to donate about half of my birthday money to the Upper Peninsula Children’s Museum. I would like to donate to the museum because the animals are a favorite to many of our guests and I would like to help keep them healthy. I want to be a veterinarian when I grow up and working with the animals at the museum inspires me.

My goals for this year are:

1. Improve my grades

2. Collect more Pokémon cards

3. Finish the Harry Potter book series

4. Get a pet

I can tell I’m aging already; I get growing pains in my legs. Happy Birthday to me!

EDITOR’S NOTE: Anja McBride,12, attends Bothwell Middle School. Anja enjoys reading books, playing with her friends, writing for 8-18 Media and volunteering her time at the Upper Peninsula Children’s Museum as a Guardian of Wow.