Inspiration: What is your ultimate goal in your life? Geesh, this is a big, deep question to which you may not be ready to respond, but imagine for a minute or two what you would like people to say about you years from now. How would you like to be remembered? For what you’ve done, discovered, accomplished, provided, treated others? Try a poem today about just that — how would you like to be remembered or what would you like people to say about you and how you lived your life (and perhaps, take steps in your life to live as such).
Also, tell us about your 30 days of poems experience here:
Thank you so much for joining us this month to celebrate how poetry helps us make sense of our lives and the world we live in. Let’s reflect a bit. Please respond to all or any of the questions below:
- What did you learn or discover about yourself through this experience? What was the most challenging? Satisfying?
- What did you learn about or discover about others, perhaps strangers who might help you see the world or people in a new light?
- Which poem (that you wrote) are you most “proud” or pleased with? Why?
- What were some poems (written by others) that really resonated with you in some way?
- What would you say about poetry to persuade/encourage someone to try their hand at this challenge next year?
- Anything else?
Remembered
Remember seventh grade
when we read stories of us,
when we chose books,
had time to read what we wanted,
commented on thirty poems,
had days when our lesson was
to compliment and say
Thank you?
Oh, yeah.
What was that teacher’s name?
Something with a C or D?
Remember how there’d be
evidence, revision
feedback, cookies?
Oh, yeah.
That teacher–
on the margin,
in the fringes.
We were the center.
We were the class.
Our lives were the lesson.
Oh, but I don’t remember her name.
But I do remember
that poem you wrote
about your Dad,
that poem you wrote
about your dreams.
But I do remember
to read closely,
to write imaginatively,
to be
someone who thinks,
someone who feels.
Someone.
And I most remember
listening to our stories,
every Friday
to celebrate
our heart and minds
I wish I could thank her
for Storytime.
Oh, yeah.
That was nice.
A nice class.
What was that teacher’s name?
I want to be know, not for being an athlete or for being very rich. I just want to be remembered as someone who helped others, and made an impact on everyone’s lives.
150 years from now…….. or maybe even 25 or
2 years from now.
Who knows what that generation will be doing.
I just hope I got remembered in the
right
way.
I want to be remembered
as the person
who is loyal
to her friends,
like a dog is with their owner.
I want to be remembered as that fun friend that people could be with.
The girl that wasn’t persuaded that easily.
I don’t want to be thought as the girl who
nobody likes.
I want to be that friend who is always there for others,
I will always have my shoulder there for them to cry,
my brain open minded,
my words there to comfort others.
I just hope that I left a good impact and trace.
Remember Me
Remember me for
Bringing you happiness,
or making you laugh,
I will always remember,
Will you remember too?
My ultimate goal in life is to achieve all my goals,
I have a lot of goals,
Like imagine the ocean,
Well you don’t have to imagine the ocean if you’ve already seen it,
That’s actually one of the things I want see,
The ocean,
Anyway,
Imagine the ocean,
Now multiply it by ten,
Or twenty,
Or thirty,
Or just any number larger than ten,
Now think of all the fish,
I know that may be hard,
There are a lot of fish,
But only the ocean ones,
Not the ones in the lakes,
Or rivers,
No,
Those places are too small to hold my goals,
Now imagine all the fish in the ocean,
Multiply all of them by a hundred,
So I guess my goal in life,
Is to,
Fill the ocean,
With my hopes,
My dreams,
My goals,
My everything.
I want to be remembered as the one who gave advice
Who was a best friend to anyone
who likes anybody who walks by and wants to be friends with them
who everybody knows and remembers
To be known as a great person
I want to
be remembered
as the one
who helped
who gave
who loved.
Then when
someone’s
feeling down,
they can think
of me,
and smile.
I would like to be remembered for what I left behind
A smile on friends faces
A good moment to remember
A time where I left someone happy
A time where I wiped someone’s tear
A time when I made someone’s life….
Better
When you wrote this poem especially the part when you say, “A time when I made someone’s life….Better” – your words really moved me because have I? have I ever made someones life better? because if not, how can I help them?
My life goal
you might say to be famous
or to be rich
but I want to actually have a purpose
and not just sit and wait to be criticized all day
I want to make a difference in a good way
to make someones day every way
and make someones day EVERY day
to be the light in there world of darkness
and to lift them up and not bring them down
(Can I be the 40th comment?)
I want myself to be hidden.
Unknown, but in a good way.
Anonymous, that’s the word.
I also want my name to stay somewhere.
Like a yearbook or a list.
You might say “Hidden but known?
That’s impossible.”
But that’s the way I want to be remembered.
I tried my best!
?
Hope it makes sense to you!
I’m outside, getting distracted
Listening
Thinking
Looking
Listening to the beautiful chirps and songs
Of our neighborhood robins
Yet
Thinking about too many things at once
The birds, school, t.v., video games
But still
Looking for someone.
Remembered,
As one who helped,
Little kids,
Cared for them,
Treated them,
Got them back up,
On their feet,
I want to assist,
In finding the cures,
Of different juvenile illnesses,
Diabetes,
Cystic fibrosis,
Asthma,
Cancer,
I want to be recalled,
As an attentive,
Pediatrician
Your goal to become a pediatrician is fantastic! Helping others health, but with children. I think that these types of jobs can be very meaningful to anybody out there. There are some types that travel through places in need and help the children there, sometimes even saving lives! I hope you will fulfill your dream of becoming a pediatrician!
Everyone’s ultimate goal,
to change
to be remembered
to be happy
But why do you want to be
remembered
It won’t affect you
when
you’re
gone
I want to be remembered as someone who was
kind,
fun loving,
trustworthy,
helpful,
and a leader.
Someone people could talk to without feeling judged.
someone who did something for this world.
someone who made a difference.
someone who gave love and was loved.
someone who friends gave to.
I hope that through the millions of mistakes I will make in my life
that I will also have many accomplishments.
I hope that when I am gone I will be missed
not only because of what I did but because of the person I was.
I want to be know as something I see myself
Determined,
Hardworking,
Helpful,
Nice,
Fun
Leader,
Yet, I might have hurt people’s feelings
Or I might have been pushy
I can say dumb stuff
I won’t know how someone remembers me
They won’t know how I remembered them
Only time will tell
The truth will come out
Why did you do this to me
I thought we’d be alright
One day things were fine
The next they’re falling apart
I don’t know what I did wrong
Please just tell me
I drown my sorrows in a song
And tears upon my pillow
You say it was nobody’s fault
And you act like you’re doing this for me
Oh can’t you see
This isn’t what I want
It’s killing me
You said you would treat me right
And take good care of me
One moment you make me feel something
Then you rip it right out of my hands
I wish I could have been what you wanted
But I guess I wasn’t enough
I thought you were different
I see now I was wrong
Kaitlyn- this poem was really deep. The part when you said “I drown my tears In sorrow” it made me think because songs can really help when people are going through something that is hard. I’m glad you were able to write something so emotional and letting how you felt in that moment out.
The ultimate goal.
To be the person everyone thinks of when they think of “great”
To be standing on the highest rung of the ladder.
Achieving goals
but not bringing them up.
Being able to get rocks thrown at
without feeling the need to pick up your own and throw back.
There are many goals that want be achieved.
But remember to take it one step at a time.
Hey Marissa, a clever line is “But remember to take it one step at a time” because it was a piece of advice which would make the reader think about the poem later on, and how they could apply the advice to their lives.
Hey Marissa, I really liked your poem especially the part where you said “Being able to get rocks thrown at them” because it showed that you want to be able to stand up and you are showing that there are people who will just bring you down but you an rise above.
Ultimate goal in life?
How am I supposed to know my “ultimate goal”
When I don’t even know what I want for dinner?
One of my goals in life is to be remembered
For the nice and caring person i am,
Not for the “mean” person people think they see when they look at me.
I like how you question what an “ultimate goal” is. It makes me question and wonder what my own goal in life really is.
I can relate to how you feel about being unsure of your future. When you question your ultimate goal, I feel the same way when I think about what I want to become.
I remember the tears you caused.
Do you remember it?
Do you remember the tears you caused?
I won’t ever forget.
Will you forget?
Have you already forgotten?
I remember those nights I couldn’t sleep.
Replaying that scene over and over again.
You walked away from me.
Even though you promised you wouldn’t.
You broke that promise.
I still remember everything.
Just reading this made me wanna kinda cry! You did your job well! The part that got me is “Do you remember the tears you caused?” Because the soul and heart put into it. I can easily relate to this heartfelt poem.
I want to be remembered
By being the first person
In the world
To
Ban pineapple pizza
It’s horrible
How do I want to be remembered?
Do I want to be the guy that everyone likes?
The one that is super popular with the people?
How do I want to be remembered?
Do I want to be the party animal?
The person that breaks EVERYTHING?
How do I want to be remembered?
Do I want to be the evil one?
The one that sits in the corner and smirks?
What is it?
What i want to be remebered by ?
Thats so easy,
I would like to say that
But what i want to be remebered by
I cant really be explain it because it hasnt been invented yet
I want to be an atrophysist
Easier said than done.
I want people to know me for my contributions to space and phisics, so that for as long as people do math and phisics i will still be alive through that.
in my future
i went to have a good education
have a good life
get a job
be happy
but will i just be ” average”
Do you know Rebecca Padilla?
The girl who goes by “Becca”
The girl people used to called chubby in elemantary
The girl who went to Winston since kindergarten
You know…the girl who used wear that “thing” on her leg
Do you know what shes doing now?
Do you know what she looks like now?
She graduated college early
Bought a house and everything
Already started a family
You know shes happily married?
She has her own business
Even owns a lake house
She teaches a spin class on Mondays
And watches her kids basketball games on Saturday
And get this
She rescues animals in her free time
I am honored to know Rebecca — who she is always becoming. It has been my privilege to have had a small part in your education, but it is YOU who are making the choices to be, and for that I am so proud of you.
This poem really inspired me and I will be by your side every step of the way in life, great poem
Something that I would like people to think about me is that I was a
Hard working
Intelligent
Caring
Opinionated
Fascinating
Student and classmate
I would want to be remembered as everyone’s
Friend
Not their
Enemy
And when people look at me 20 years from now
I want them to see how all of my years being a student
Has shaped me into what I am today
Hey Jillian, I can relate to the line, “I want them to see how all of my years a student, into shaped me into what I am today” because I would also want others to see how all of my hard work in school, affected me later in life.
Open a little stand
Buy.
Sell.
Profit.
Buy again.
Sell again.
Profit.
Buy property
Own a shop
A restaurant, or business
Buy more stuff
Sell more stuff
Make more profit.
Make millions
Give it to the ones you love.
Do something that the world will love you for
Cure a disease
Invent.
Be the best.
But most of all
Love.
That is my dream.
What I would like people to remember about me;
That I’m very intelligent,
That I’m very considerate.
I want to be remembered as someone who can help others,
Someone who is sweet,
To all that I meet.
I hope people will remember me as someone who could be trusted,
And not someone that is disgusted.
My goal is for people to remember me as a sweet, wonderful, helpful, and intelligent person.
At this stage in my life, the world truly is an open door
I just have to have the courage to walk through it
With honesty
With curiosity
With every intention of working and striving to meet my goals.
Once I am through that portal
Memories, future experiences and the
Resilience to overcome anything in my way
Will be a part of who I am.
I will remember each of you
For even though our ways may part
Each of you have brought something into my life–
Words, smiles, hugs, glances, a nod in the hallway
Being together in work groups or listening to each other
As we express ourselves and learn from one another.
As for the future Chessie,
I have educational goals in mind
And dreams to help others as well
As being a role model for all
I want to be part of a team,
A team of medical researchers and oncologists
Who will one day truly find a miracle cure-all for cancer.
I will always remember and appreciate the years of hard work,
The sacrifice and non glory to the pioneers in this field
To those whose names will never be known
Their discoveries and progress will help the rest of the world
In finally reaching the ultimate goal
Of ridding this disease which robs both the young and the old
Which has destroyed millions of lives and the loved ones left behind.
So if you ever see my name mentioned in a future medical journal
Or someone recollects the time we have spent together in school
Please know that I think of you with admiration
For you have helped in my growth as an individual.
The phrase “At this stage of my life, the world is truly an open door” is very wise, and true, because we are still so young, and anything we do or want to do now can and will change throughout the years. We can do anything we want, we just have to focus our lives on pursuing such a goal, not being distracted, and doing the right things (like learning a lot in school).
I don’t really want to be remembered
No one’s going to remember anyone anyway
I just want to do things that bring me joy
And help other people out in difficult situations
I want to be remembered as someone that made a difference,
not someone that sits around on the couch and watches TV all day.
I don’t care about how much money I would have, or how big of a house I could have,
because changing someone’s life can be a greater moment than
winning the lottery, or getting your dream home.
Even though some changes,
can seem small, or unimportant,
it’s when we look back,
that we see how much of a difference we made,
in someone else’s life.
I don’t want my live to be unsucessful.
I was meant to do something.
I want to be sucessful and live a good life, and also to be relaxed.
That’s one of my main goals in life.
I want to help other people
and make a difference in their lives
because I don’t want to be remembered as someone who was selfish
and I want other people to have good lives
Lucas I really like this entire poem because it shows that you are a good person and I can tell that because you said “make a difference in their lives.”
I like how you said, “I don’t want to be remembered as someone who was selfish.” because it shows that you wan’t to be remembered in a positive way.
Ditto. I would hope that everyone has other people’s best interests at heart. It’s nice to know that you have this feeling.
I agree with you when you said “I want to help other people and make a difference in their lives,” because I want to make sure people remember me as someone who was helpful to them.
The hardest goal is to be successful
but that is the one I have to accomplish
I can’t do it if I have no confidence
which is something i have to acknowledge
I am not saying I want to be academically successful
nor physically
I mean money-wise
which is what my dad wants me to be
My Ultimate Goal
My ultimate goal in life?
I ponder upon such things in my sleep,
And I believe that my Ultimate Goal
Is to make a difference.
I’ve always been told what I cannot do,
But also what I can do
And I believe I can do this.
What is making a difference?
It can be anything.
From helping to build a school house in Mexico,
To fighting for Women’s Rights in Saudi Arabia.
Even if I give a homeless woman a dollar,
I’m making a difference in her life.
Making a difference means
Doing something good in the world
And that is what I want to do.
My ultimate goal in life
Is to be successful,
And to cut through the strands,
Of that bring us down like a knife,
It would be nice,
To be remembered for something more,
But that might be too much to ask,
And ignore.
Ben, I noticed that you used a simile. “And to cut through the strands, Of that bring us down like a knife,” This is a great simile because knives cut things down and things in life can cut us down. Certain blows in life even feel like knives and that’s what people can relate to.
I like your writing in this poem “cut through the strings like a knife” was very bold to add to your writing. Good job
I came to seventh grade expecting everyone to know me.
I mean that’s what happened in 6th.
When I wasn’t welcomed I shut down,
and went back to the normal cliques.
Now I feel like Iv’e made a mark,
with math club, science fair, and sorts.
As I pursue my academic journey.
Iv’e finally noticed a different type of spark.
I agree with the first line when you said, “I came to seventh grade expecting everyone to know me,” because thats how I felt too and seventh grade was a different experience for me.
I want to be a person that shows if you practice what you love you can get better
Every now and then I look back at my old art I can see how Ive improved
This goes to show how much getting better is possible
And just because you don’t do good one day doesn’t mean you wont do better the next.
Someday in life I wanna be be someone that all the little kids look up to and say
“Hey, Dad. I wanna be just like him”
to influence a kid or a lot of them
I want to influence them to do good
in whatever they do
its very good that you want to be that kind of person.
Remember eighth grade
When we read stories of us
When we chose books
Had time to read what we wanted
Commented on thirty poems
Had days when our lesson was
To compliment and say
Thank you?
Oh, yeah.
What was that teacher’s name
Something with a C or D?
I still have my portfolio.
Remember how there’d be
No points or grades to see?
Oh, yeah.
That teacher
On the margin,
the fringes
In the wings.
We were the center
We were the class
Our lives were the lesson
Oh, I don’t remember her name.
But I do remember
that poem you wrote
about your Dad, your strengths
But I do remember
To read from three
Perspectives:
someone who thinks
Someone writes
Someone who feels
Someone.
I most remember
listening
telling
your story
In front of the class
Thank you for trusting me to do that.
Oh, yeah.
You’re welcome.
Thank you.
That was nice.
A nice class.
I really like how you were able to reflect on the entire school year, brings back old memories.
I will never have to try to remember who inspired me in my writing during eighth grade. You and Ms. Rittner will always be a part of me. You have helped all of us. I know all of our writing skills have improved tremendously because of your ideas and inspiration. Thank you to both of you.
i like how you looked back at this moment in your life and you can still remember things