School Friday - By Evelyn Aberdeen

Written By: Evelyn Aberdeen

Category: Essay

Competition: Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026

Evelyn Aberdeen, writing under the name School Friday, presents a compelling essay titled "School Friday" as part of the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026. This narrative captures the essence of a typical school day, weaving together the heat of the afternoon, the anticipation of a classroom test, and the universal experience of student life. The competition celebrates the diversity of creative expression across the globe, highlighting unique voices like Evelyn's.

About the Work

"School Friday" immerses readers in the vivid atmosphere of a classroom, with descriptive imagery that evokes the nostalgic smells of crayon and craft paint. The essay captures the tension of an unexpected grammar test and the relief of a cooling breeze. Through a blend of sensory details and internal monologue, Evelyn Aberdeen conveys the palpable anxiety and triumph experienced by students everywhere.

School Friday

Original Submission by Evelyn Aberdeen

It's a hot Friday afternoon and it's the last class of the day. The classroom is bedecked with old fashioned wooden desks, with wooden flooring painted black. The air smells of crayon, craft paint and other stationery. The windows are all closed and the room is stuffy and hazy from the heat. We are sweating. The girl in front of me raises her hand and the teacher peers at her down her glasses perching on the end of her nose. "Yes?", she says irritably. "Ma'am may i please open some windows, it's so hot and i can't breathe or concentrate. With a long, slow sigh, the teacher nods her head. The girl,Thandi, gets up and reaches for the pole with a hook at the end of it. She hooks it into the window latch and pulls , the window opens an inch. She pulls again harder this time and it opens as much as it can open. A pleasant and relieving breeze fills the room and everyone oohs and aahs. It' s a welcome relief. The girl sits down and i give her an appreaciative smile. The teacher announces that we are having a spot test on English grammar. My heart starts racing and i start sweating again even with the cool breeze circulating the room. She starts handing out the test questions with a swift slap of the wad of paper on the desk. The paper has a distinctive smell that reminds me of old library books and exam paper. I look up at all the posters covering the walls hoping some of the answers are on them. She says in one minute you turn over the paper and start. I gulp down a spitball so loud it seemed like everyone turned around and looked at me. My leg starts shaking and bouncing on the floor. "Shhhh, there will be utter silence during the test, absolutely no talking and you have one hour!". I turn over the paper and start reading the questions. My heart starts to slow down, " Hey i know the answers to most of these!" I thought to myself. However there were 5 pages to answer and one was an essay that had to be completed in an hour. I read through the paper and answered all the ones i knew first. Half hour had already sped by and i still had to do the essay. My heart started racing again. The clock on the wall above and behind the teachers desk was ticking so loudly, it sounded like it was in my head. Tick tock, tick tock. I was writing as fast as i could and trying to keep it neat and legible at the same time. Five minutes to go and i still had another page to do. I had a nightmare about this before, where i dreamt i hadn't studied for an exam and my blood was hurtling though my veins, my heart sounded like a ten pound hammer in my chest. Before i knew it the bell exploded in a loud piercing ring. The teacher yelled "Pens down please" I let out a big sigh of relief. I had finished and completed all the questions. School was over and the weekend was just beginning!

About the Competition

The Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026 by Hashtag Kalakar is a prestigious platform celebrating literary talent from all corners of the world. It invites participants to showcase their creative prowess through poetry and prose, offering a stage for both emerging and established writers to share their unique narratives and perspectives.

Thank you, Evelyn Aberdeen, for sharing "School Friday" with us in the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026. Your essay brought to life the familiar ebb and flow of classroom emotions, resonating with anyone who has faced the pressures and joys of student life. We appreciate your contribution and look forward to seeing more of your insightful work in the future.

About Hashtag Kalakar

Hashtag Kalakar is a creative platform dedicated to providing artists, writers, singers and other creative talents with opportunities to showcase their work and reach wider audiences through competitions, features and creative initiatives.