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Grades level iconsGrades 8–10
Genre information iconMemoir, Narrative
Resource type iconWriting

Henry & Matthew & Santiago

Henry & Matthew & Santiago, 826CHI
A compilation of letters written by three students across one city filled with thoughts on books, sports, music, family, and musings on Valentine’s Day.
About the Author

HENRY is a fifteen-year-old from Chicago who is a sophomore. He enjoys participating in his favorite sports, which include swimming, running cross country, and competing in the Special Olympics, for which he holds an impressive two gold medals! Outside of school, he loves listening to rock music, cooking, reading, and practicing guitar. In the future, he would like to be a chef, like Gordon Ramsay, except without getting mad or yelling at other chefs!

MATTHEW is sixteen years old. He is a very strong person who loves dogs. At home, he lives with his brother Dan, his mom, and his dad. He also loves to read and ski. Other people like Matthew because they know that he is a kind, strong, and nice young man. He is also a good reader and writer. At school, he is a very hard worker every day. He was a person who got bullied at school a lot, but that is done and he is now very liked at school. Matthew is very athletic and
very strong.

SANTIAGO is a shy student who likes to watch, play, and read about Star Wars. He spends his time playing Five Nights at Freddy’s. He is also a Minecrafter. He plays with his brother and friend. When he grows up he wants to be a video game maker or an actor. When he was little he was
a kid, he didn’t like to read. Now he has a lot of books he can read with his friends and family.

Dear Matthew,

Today I am going to write about something that I like to do. I like to read Amulet books. The Amulet books are the best comic books I have ever read (and the only comic books I read).

I wonder if you like any sports like soccer, volleyball, basketball, or baseball. Or, do you like any video games? Do you like watching scary movies or cartoon movies?

Other things I like are songs like “Stressed Out” by Twenty One Pilots. I like listening to the song and thinking about if the song could happen to me. I wonder, which part of the song do you like?

Well, Matthew, I think this is all. Goodbye and read you next time. I mean see you next time!

Sincerely,
Santiago

~

Dear Santiago,

I like to watch the Bears play because they’re really good. Also, I watch soccer on TV sometimes but not all the time. My three favorite songs are “Hit the Dab,” “I Gotta Feeling,” and “Thunderstruck.”

I like those songs because all of them have a really good beat. Also “Thunderstruck” has a really heavy beat that shakes up my mom’s car when we listen to it. What are your favorite songs? Do you like AC/DC? If you like the band AC/DC, that is good because me and you will have something in common.

In conclusion, I hope to see you soon to find out if you like the band AC/ DC and what songs you like, other than the one by Twenty One Pilots that you mentioned in your letter. Also, I hope we can be friends. What brand of shoes do you like?

Sincerely,
Matthew

~

Dear Santiago,

Hi, my name is Henry. I’m Matthew’s partner in English class for the letter writing assignment. I noticed in your letter that you have a lot in common with us. For example: both of us like sports and music. In my letter, I will tell you a lot about myself.

I’m an avid fan of sports. I especially like cross country, swimming, and downhill skiing. I enjoy cross country, as I enjoy being fast and just getting a good workout. It gives me a chance to get outside and get fresh air. I get motivated to run by the terrific advice from my coach, teammates, and family. Me and Matt also did downhill skiing with our school’s Special Olympics team in January. This was especially fun, as we made new friends and tried something we had never had the opportunity to do. I am also on the swim team, which is a great sport to compete in.

I have some questions to ask you as well. What type of music do you like? What do you like to do for fun? Do you have any favorite TV shows or movies? My favorite bands include Twenty One Pilots, Daft Punk, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Slipknot, and The Beatles. When not in school, I enjoy playing video games, singing, and helping cook. My favorite TV show is Doctor Who and my favorite movie is The Dark Knight.

I hope you find me to be a very cool and talented guy. You seem like a cool dude from what I’ve read in your letter!

Until next time,
Henry

~

Dear Matthew and Henry,

I wish I could write you each a letter, but I think you are both so cool so I am writing you both in this letter together. I hope you like it.

The first thing I would want to write to you guys is about my person or place that is special to me. I don’t know about you, but my special person is my mom. Why, you might ask? Well, my mom is always cooking for the family (sometimes my dad helps). She gives us a lot of things and we don’t even give anything to her. My mom is shy but tough. Why? Well, because when we (me and my brother) get in trouble, it is like she is Bowser and I am Mini Mario from Super Mario Brothers. Sometimes I win in the video game, but in real life it is always like GAME OVER. My mom makes the most delicious food and I smell her cooking every day. YUM! When she makes beans you have to step two feet away from my brother. (I actually don’t mean this in a mean way.)

Another thing that I am going to be talking about (well, actually, writing about) is what freedom means to me. To start this up, I think freedom means to me that you can do anything you want. Once on a dark, dark night, me, my brother, and my little sister were in my room playing Wii. My mom was sleeping in her bed and we got to play alone. I think that was freedom.

Do you both like video games? If you do, which ones? Do you have consoles? Do you like music? How about Legos? I can’t think of any more questions. Read you next time.

Sincerely,
Santiago

~

Dear Santiago,

I have a lot to tell you about high school and my experience skiing on my school’s ski team with the Special Olympics. It’s really fun because you get to ski down hills really fast, and you do it with kids just like you who have disabilities too. That is what makes it fun. The coolest part is when you get a medal, and the medals are very shiny and very cool looking. I have never fallen on skis before when going down a hill in a competition, but I have fallen during practice.

Have you ever been bullied at school before? I used to get bullied at school and it was not fun. It also hurt me inside and made me extremely angry. If you get bullied at school, I understand how you feel.

I hope you meet me in person so I can talk to you, so we can be friends, and so I can walk around with you in the hallways of Amundsen.

Sincerely,
Matthew

P.S. I won three medals skiing this year in the Special Olympics!

~

Dear Santiago,

I have an interesting story to tell you today! It’s about how I won a gold medal in downhill skiing. I will explain how even if you aren’t the best at something, you can practice and keep trying to get better. Follow me down the slopes as I tell you how, with enough practice, you can achieve anything!

It began in January 2016. I was on my way to the ski resort in Galena, IL. It was my first day skiing with my school’s Special Olympics Ski Team. After a three-hour-long bus ride of eternity, we made it. Within an hour, I would be skiing! The first challenge, however, came when we were getting into our ski gear. Getting on the bundles of clothes was okay, but it was the boots that were the main challenge! After getting bundled up, we walked down to the equipment room, where the boots and skis were. Me and my teammates Matt, Noel, and Henry all struggled to fit the boots on! After help from coaches Mr. Ward, Mr. Craig, and Mr. Binder, we learned how to walk in the boots. Boy, was it painful. They were heavy and felt like they were made of lead! After that, we learned how to take our skis off and how to fall. Both were equally a bit challenging, but getting up took a while, as we had to slowly move our arms backwards and walk backwards to get up.

Then, the second day came along. That day we learned how to do a “pizza” with our skis to slow down and “french fry” to go fast. We went down the Bunny and Rookie’s Ridge trails. Going down the hills and learning how to slow down was a breeze for me. I also learned how to turn, which I wasn’t as good at. I kept crashing and nearly hurting others! However, after getting help from Mr. Ward and Mr. Craig, I slowly got better. I even got to do down a bigger hill. It was kind of scary, but I’m used to it now. After a long day of skiing, we were just one day away from the competition.

After an exhausting day and a night of restless sleep, the competition was finally here. I was confident that I would win some gold. Me, Matt, Noel, and Henry were all a little nervous, but we all hoped to go on to the championships. We all were allowed an hour of practice before the games began, so I went over to my usual Rookie’s Ridge trail for a few laps. Mr. Ward, Mr. Binder, and Mr. Craig were all confident we’d do great!

When I was ready to compete, I got a little more nervous, as I felt I was going to do badly. However, after racing down and avoiding the colored flags, me, Matt, and Henry made Amundsen proud by winning gold! Unfortunately, Noel didn’t qualify, but we still cheered him up and told him he did great anyway. In the end, I’ve learned that with enough practice and confidence, you can achieve anything!

Sincerely,
Henry

~

Dear Matthew and Henry,

Some weeks ago in a school not very far away, it was Valentine’s Day. And on Valentine’s Day, we had a dance. Do you guys have a dance when it is a holiday?

My Valentine’s Day started fine. I usually come late to school and I forget things and my day is not the greatest, but this day started okay. It was Tuesday, so I knew 826CHI was coming to write with us during literacy class. Time passed fast with them in our class, then I had to finish my social studies project on the computer before I could go to the dance. Then Ms. Ramirez said, “Okay, students. Line up.” I checked the clock: 1 p.m. The dance! I was almost done with my project—only two more sentences and then, I was finally done!

I was happy because at the end of the hall I could hear the loud music coming from the gym. Outside, I saw my classmate Balta and he told me, “Crystal is waiting for you.” I said, “Okay, thanks.” When I went inside the gym, the music was even louder. I asked my friends Jacob and David if they’d seen her. “Nope,” they both said. A few minutes later, my brother came toward me. “Hey, bro.” I had totally forgotten about him. He was with our neighbor, Heriberto. Heriberto is a cool kid. I couldn’t find Crystal, so for a lot of the dance I was mostly hanging out with my brother and Heriberto.

I finally found Crystal, and we got to talk and dance for what felt like five minutes. I did not bring the card that I was going to give to her. Instead, I bought her candy. It went fine for me. Oh, I forgot to tell you: if you were wondering who Crystal is, she is the girl who I’ve been going out with for three weeks.

See you in June, I think.

Sincerely,
Santiago

~

Dear Santiago,

I think it was very cool and brave that you were able to dance with Crystal. I was never that brave in eighth grade. The one time I was brave was when I sang and performed with my school’s rock band. I had to work up a lot of courage to sing, but I had a ton of fun, even with a couple of mistakes.

This was in eighth grade, a month before I would graduate from middle school, and it was the day of my school’s variety show. One of the performers was the school rock band, for which I was one of the singers. We’d been practicing for months. I got to sing on a couple of songs, “Sunshine of Your Love” by Cream and “Do I Wanna Know” by the Arctic Monkeys. I typically get nervous singing on stage, but I felt a lot more confident that day.

It was showtime and I was on stage, singing casually for the first song with two other singers who were sharing a mic. It was a little uncomfortable because the stage was so small. Then, on the second song, the other mic broke! I was the only one singing. I quietly and nervously sang more of “Do I Wanna Know,” but remembering that the show must go on, I gathered confidence to continue singing! By the end, I felt a lot more relaxed and the crowd even cheered me on, seeing that I sang bravely no matter what happened. What do you think of my story of bravery? To answer your question about if Amundsen holds holiday dances, the answer is no. However, we do have fun homecoming and winter dances! Hope you are well!

Henry
P.S. Good job again on dancing with Crystal! 🙂

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Writing
Me

by Numan Khan, age 16, 826 Boston

Poetry

A bilingual "I am" poem filled with conviction and courage.

Grades 10–11
Writing
Excerpt from “My Street”

by Justis Porter, age 16, 826 Boston

Poetry

A neighborhood ode filled with sights and sounds of the poet's street.

Grades 9–10
Writing
Thoughts Onto Paper

by Pretty S, 826 Valencia

Memoir
Narrative

Peek into the mind of a student who considers artistic influences in her life.

Grade 8
Writing
Finding Out I Have a Brother

by Natalie, 826CHI

Narrative

Weaving together Spanish and English, a student shares the discovery of a family secret.

Grades 7–9
Writing
My Language

by Fahima Dahir, 826 MSP

Poetry

A poem about the strength and limitations of language and shared culture.

Grades 6–8
Writing
Dear Mom

by Jin, 826LA

Narrative

This student says thank you to her Mom, her hero, for a life full love and beef noodles!

Grades 7–9
Writing
New Sport: Pencils

by Jason, 826michigan

Informational

Making bottle flipping look like child's play, this piece outlines rules for the new, competitive Fantasy Sport "Pencils".

Grade 8
Writing
Protest for the People of Color / Protesta para la Gente de Color

by Roger, 826 Valencia

Informational
Persuasive

An essay in English and Spanish that traces connections between two movements in modern American history for the rights of people of color.

Grades 9–12
Writing
Haunting Picture

by Jazlyn Moses, 826 National

Narrative
Persuasive

One student explores their online persona and the lasting importance of conscientious social media practices.

Grade 8
Writing
We Are All Family

by Rafael, 826CHI

Memoir
Narrative

A student remembers an afternoon adventure around town and explores what Chicago and community mean to him.

Grades 10–11
Writing
Sunny Smiles

by Sergio M, 826 Valencia

Narrative
Poetry

This piece reminds us that a smile is not always what it seems.

Grade 8
Writing
Burning Love

by Lola, 826 Valencia

Poetry

A poem that portrays the arc of a love story told through the gift of a cigarette lighter.

Grades 8–9
Writing
Booking an Adventure

by William, 826LA

Memoir
Narrative

A teen discovers the power of books to transport him to another world, and shares his excitement about becoming a published author.

Grade 8
Writing
Completing the Pokédex

by Andy, 826CHI

Memoir
Narrative

In this memoir, a few friends bond over a rare Pokémon Go catch.

Grades 8–10
Writing
Bryanna & Kayla

by Byanna & Kayla, 826CHI

Memoir
Narrative

Two students across one city bond by writing letters to each other about the people they love most.

Grade 8
Writing
3 and 1: The Golden State Warriors Came Close

by Emmanuel J., 826NYC

Informational

An avid basketball fan discusses the rise of the Golden State Warriors through its individual players.

Grades 9–12
Writing
Marcela

by Lisbeth M.F., 826NYC

Narrative

A story about how Marcus becomes Marcela.

Grades 6–8
Writing
Rap for Stan Lee

by Luis, 826LA

Media
Poetry

A rap song dedicated to the Marvel comic writer Stan Lee and his inspired creations like the Hulk, Deadpool, Iron Man, and The Fantastic Four.

Grade 8
Writing
Changing the Lunch Menu for the Better!

by Kaitlyn, 826NYC

Informational
Persuasive

A middle school student firmly protests the flavor and quality of her school’s lunches.

Grade 8
Writing
Where I’m From

by David, 826CHI

Narrative

A student writes about the smell, taste, and pace of their neighborhood.

Grades 10–12
Writing
I’m Not Home But I Am

by Sally Phan, 826 Boston

Memoir
Narrative

A memoir that questions the idea of home and how it changes with time.

Grades 7–8
Writing
Manifesto

by Djeneba Soumaoro, 826michigan

Poetry

A student’s manifesto!

Grade 9
Writing
Strength, Bravery, Selflessness, and Dedication

by Sammie, Grade 9, 826 MSP

Narrative
Persuasive

In this letter from the Essential Words lesson, a freshman at South High School in Minneapolis thanks care workers for supporting our local and national communities during this global pandemic.

Grade 8
Writing
2.719 Million People

by Sebastian Cendejas, 826CHI

Informational
Narrative

A student reflects on how much Chicago means to them.

Grade 8
Writing
Co-ed Teams, Yes or No?

by Ella, 826 Valencia

Persuasive

A persuasive argument for co-ed teams in the face of gender stereotypes, supported by results from primary research conducted by the author.

Grades 9–10
Writing
Where I’m From

by Charles, 826 MSP

Poetry

A student reflects on his life, stemming from the life of his father.

Grades 7–8
Writing
My Persuasive Letter

by Renée, 826NYC

Persuasive

A persuasive letter detailing to the recipient the pointlessness of writing a persuasive letter. A helpful example for reluctant writers.

Grade 8
Writing
I Remember

by Vivian, 826CHI

Memoir
Narrative

A narrative about loving to run—and learning to never quit!

Grade 8
Writing
Where I’m From and What I Want

by Dayana Alvarado, 826CHI

Memoir
Narrative

A student shares finding home in two places: Mexico and Chicago.

Grades 9–12
Writing
Racial Autobiography

by Bianca Morcho, 826 MSP

Memoir
Narrative

A personal essay that explores the different shades of the Black Lives Matter movement.

Grades 10–11
Writing
La Luna De Mi Vida

by Karla M., 826LA

Poetry

A poem for lovers of love and the moon.

Grades 7–8
Writing
The Wallet

by Isabella C., Age 13, 826 Valencia

Narrative

The misadventures of finding a missing wallet.

Grades 7–12
Writing
My Family Interview

by Johnny Vasquez, 826 MSP

Narrative

A family interview reveals a mother's painful past and shines a light on her persistence.

Grades 7–8
Writing
BLM

by Chelsea, 826NYC

Poetry

An acrostic poem about the Black Lives Matter movement.

Grades 6–8
Writing
Bryan

by Elsy, 826LA

Media
Narrative
Poetry

Song lyrics about memories of cake and pizza, friendship, and giving 1,000 opinions.

Grades 8–9
Writing
Jazmine & Vanessa

by Jazmine & Vanessa, 826CHI

Memoir
Narrative

Over a series of letters, two compassionate and resilient students develop a deep friendship sealed in writing.

Grades 8–9
Writing
Ode to My Grandfather

Amara, 826 New Orleans

Poetry

An ode celebrating an important figure in this student’s life.

Grade 8
Writing
Chaos in Antarctica! Millions of Penguins Dead!

by Luke, 826 Valencia

Informational
Persuasive

An essay shared in English and Spanish discusses the effects of global warming on penguins and their source of nutrients, krill.

Grades 10–11
Writing
When Mean Girls Attack

by Tammy Fong, 826NYC

Memoir
Narrative

A soccer-filled, feud-fueled memoir.

Grades 7–8
Writing
jalapeño + love

by Calvin, 826michigan

Narrative

A student professes love—to a jalapeño!

Grades 8–10
Writing
David & Daniel

by David & Daniel, 826CHI

Memoir
Narrative

In this heartfelt exchange of letters, two students bond over food, videos games, and some scary adventures.

Grades 6–8
Writing
Listen

by Khloe Fewster, 826 Valencia

Poetry

This poem uses repetition to give advice for when you're feeling unsure of yourself.

Grades 9–12
Writing
Giving Shelter

by Steysi Hailee, 826LA

Narrative

A student reflects on a small moment and single sacrifice that transformed her outlook on giving.

Grades 9–12
Writing
Stupid Blue Screen

by Vanessa Ramon-Ibarra, 826DC

Narrative
Poetry

Living in the digital world can create unwanted attachments, as one student laments.

Grades 8–9
Writing
Kneel Down for What You Believe In

by Caroline, 826 Valencia

Informational
Persuasive

A student explores U.S. soccer player Megan Rapinoe’s decision to kneel in protest during the national anthem.

Grades 9–12
Writing
A Glitch in the System

by Soraya, 826NYC

Poetry

This student’s powerful piece reveals the essence of racial injustice.

Grades 8–9
Writing
Confused

by Anonymous, Grade 8, 826 Boston

Poetry

In this poem, a student reflects on identity.

Grade 8
Writing
Chicago is My Voice

by Kiara, 826CHI

Narrative

In this personal narrative, a student explores growing up young and black in Chicago.

Grades 9–10
Writing
The Rez Girls Are Powerful!

by Navayah, 826 MSP

Fantasy/SciFi
Narrative

Through redefining a label, a student reclaims a piece of their identity.