2024 PSLE English Composition Topic- Nailed it once again!

🥳 𝐒𝐏𝐎𝐓𝐓𝐄𝐃 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐒𝐋𝐄 𝐭𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐜 𝐲𝐞𝐭 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧?! 🎯

Today, we NAILED IT, once more! Scroll down to read our own analysis and teachers' model compositions on the 2024 PSLE English Paper1 Composition Topic!

At Writers' Guild, we spend countless hours analysing recent trends of Prelim Composition Topics to ensure we stay ahead of the curve. Realising that 'Trying Something New' was a popular topic that was featured in several schools, not only did we

☑analyse the topic and study the traps hidden within the prompt,

☑we crafted our very own take of the essay and featured it on our website!

☑We also featured 'Something New I Tried' within our English Programme! 🥳🥳🥳

Equipped with our exclusive in-house techniques, we believe our Writers' Guild Warriors conquered the paper!

Although it is a topic seemingly relatable to every child, Trying Something New is not as easy as it looks when it comes to writing about it. With every other topic, there are complexities and expectations that accompany the title.

𝓗𝓲𝓭𝓭𝓮𝓷 𝓟𝓲𝓽𝓯𝓪𝓵𝓵𝓼 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓣𝓻𝓪𝓹𝓼 𝓸𝓯 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓼 𝓽𝓸𝓹𝓲𝓬

😱 Forgetting to specify it is something new (e.g. trying it for a second time, mentioning they have tried it before OR just leaving out the flashing of the topic). If the "new" aspect is not clearly specified, the reader may lose focus of the topic and risk missing out on content marks.

🥱 Lacking a problem/complication (e.g. taking the topic literally as it is and just documenting the process of trying something new). The story then becomes very flat and mundane.

😨Over-building the problem and complication and neglecting the resolution (e.g. the process of trying something new is too touch-and-go). This skews the proportion of what needs to be covered in the story.

😨 Trying too many things without quantifying what is the one thing that was "new" (e.g. not adhering to the topic). This reduces clarity for the reader and again, costs the writer content marks.

𝓥𝓪𝓵𝓾𝓮-𝓪𝓭𝓭𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓮𝓵𝓮𝓶𝓮𝓷𝓽𝓼 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓦𝓻𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓻𝓼’ 𝓖𝓾𝓲𝓵𝓭 𝓽𝓮𝓬𝓱𝓷𝓲𝓺𝓾𝓮𝓼 𝓼𝓽𝓾𝓭𝓮𝓷𝓽𝓼 𝔀𝓮𝓻𝓮 𝓮𝓺𝓾𝓲𝓹𝓹𝓮𝓭 𝔀𝓲𝓽𝓱:

✅ Shared a significant reason why they wanted to try something new in the first place OR the trigger that made them try something new

✅ [F.L.A.B. / SANDCASTLE characters] Compelling characters and an interesting backstory

✅ [DILEMMA] about whether they want to attempt Trying Something New

✅ [BREAKING STEREOTYPES]

✅ [STORY PLOT FORMAT] Failing first and trying/succeeding again later as well as showing character growth

✅ [WOWFATB] Showing relevant feelings of nervousness, shock, self-doubt but eventual sense of pride

✅ [SLOW MOTION TECHNIQUE] Showing the process of trying something new

✅ [SUPER SUSPENSE TECHNIQUE] Showing the breakdown of feelings when succeeding/failing at Trying Something New

✅ [CONCLUSION TECHNIQUE] & [IDEAL IDIOMS] to encapsulate eventual feelings with an insightful quote to seal the deal, along with a lesson learnt that explores the theme

... and many more!

𝓟𝓸𝓲𝓷𝓽 𝓽𝓸 𝓹𝓸𝓷𝓭𝓮𝓻

🤔Is it necessary to achieve success or win in trying something new?

The answer is... no! You do not necessarily have to emerge victorious. As long as our students are able to convey the complexities and nuances of confronting uncertainties, as well as the internal struggle and growth that comes from the new challenge, they will be able to handle the topic with ease.

Here is the bonus: Apart from the model essay that was posted on all our social media accounts and website before PSLE, we have posted 4 more additional model essays on Trying Something New here based on pictures in the 2024 PSLE question paper.

Trying Something New - Model Essay 1 (Picture: Camping)

My eyes flickered back and forth, desperately trying to make sense of the scene before me. A large haversack lay open on the polished wooden floor, its contents spilling out like a bursting treasure trove. The incessant sounds of rustling filled the air. A wild assortment of items littered the ground haphazardly, creating a scene that resembled a supermarket after a frenzy.

In the middle of it all sat my younger sister, Kira. The mountain of items scattered around the room dominated her small stature. Her frail arms were practically in a frenzied blur as she laboured to squeeze yet another packet of biscuits in the haversack that was already bursting at the seams. Blanketed in the drowsy tranquillity of midnight, my mind was slow to register what was happening. That was, till I caught sight of it.

A sleeping bag.

In a split second, I connected the dots. Dashing forward, I snatched the biscuits away from her hands as she swivelled her head towards me with an incensed glare. “Are you seriously going camping alone at this time? You know you can’t do that!” I admonished her while attempting to stifle my volume for fear of waking our parents. As stubborn as a mule, Kira continued packing her belongings with a steely resolve I had never witnessed from her before. However, despite her best efforts to feign strength, I could witness her utter fragility. Her hands trembled uncontrollably and her skin was as translucent as tracing paper. She took a deep breath and gazed at me imploringly. “Please, Lucia. Camping is the last thing on my bucket list. You know this is my first and last chance to try it.”

Upon hearing Kira’s plea, all the lingering resentment I harboured towards her dissipated. I had always blamed Kira and her leukaemia for being the reason I had to miss out on countless experiences. Not only were our parents too occupied with her countless medical appointments, I was often roped in to accompany my sickly sister. I could not forget how I had to skip my school camp as Kira had fallen severely ill and our parents had requested that I stayed by her side. Feeling neglected all those years, I had grown to feel immeasurably bitter towards my sister. Yet, hearing her utter those words was like being doused with a bucket of ice-cold water.

Unlike me who was spry and healthy, Kira had barely a month left to live.

As if possessed by an entirely different person, I nodded stiffly and proclaimed, “Let’s go together then. It will be the first time for both of us!” A tiny smile spread across Kira’s face as I reached forward to grab the enormous bag. I hoisted the haversack over my back and dragged her out of the house in search of our destination. We travelled in a comfortable silence. The darkness of the night enveloped the two of us as we ventured further and further away from home.

I was expecting us to have trouble finding our way. However, to my pleasant surprise, Kira expertly navigated our way to East Coast Park even though I was certain she had never been there before. I furrowed my eyebrows as I pondered how much research she had done to ensure she could check off everything on that ominous bucket list of hers. In contrast, I was a bundle of nerves as I had never tried camping before. Once we arrived at the park, Kira made a beeline for an empty spot where we could pitch our tent.

Pitching the tent proved to be a practically insurmountable challenge as we wrestled with various parts of the tent and attempted to untangle a daunting number of ropes. Glancing over at Kira, it was clear as day that she had no idea what she was doing either. No matter how we tried, the tent refused to stay upright. Our first attempt at camping was obviously a failure. I let out an annoyed grumble. Frustration was rapidly growing in me as I wondered why I had embarked on this fool’s errand simply to satisfy Kira’s whim. Just then, a fearsome rumbling caught my ear.

It sounded like thunder. I dropped the pole in my hands and darted towards Kira, who seemed thoroughly unbothered by the thought of the impending rain. “Let’s go home and forget about this. It’s not like we’re going to succeed anyway,” I urged, tugging at her bony arm. An instinctual anxiety was coursing through my veins as my heart palpitated at the thought of the consequences of staying in the rain. Rolling her eyes, Kira chuckled. “I know you’re afraid that I’ll fall sick. Lucia, you’ve been worried for me your entire life. Don’t you want to try something new? Don’t you want to do something fun instead of trying to protect me? For once, can you just be my sister instead of my caretaker?” Despite the chuckle that escaped her lips, I could see the melancholy in her downcast eyes.

At that moment, the resentment and agony that had swirled inside my heart for years crumbled. I lurched forward to envelope my sister in a warm embrace that insulated us from the biting wind. Not only did I resolve to fulfil Kira’s wish, I was determined to escape the cycle of mundanity I had been trapped in by finally daring to try something new.

To my absolute astonishment, the rain I had anticipated turned out to be a light drizzle that halted in a matter of minutes. After what felt like an eternity, we finally managed to set up our tent which stood like an undeniable and immaculate testament of our shared milestone. A surge of pride overcame me as I dusted off my hands. As I watched Kira draw a proud tick on her bucket list, a large grin was inadvertently painted over my face. I could not be more grateful that I had chosen to persevere despite my initial hopelessness. Just then, I was jolted out of my reverie by Kira’s lilting voice.

“We spent so long just trying to pitch a tent that it’s almost six in the morning! Why don’t we just watch the sunset together?” Kira exclaimed. However, the pronounced exhaustion in her voice alarmed me as I snapped my head in her direction. Try as she might to pretend otherwise, her leukaemia inevitably reared its ugly head. Sweat was beading on her forehead as her knees buckled. Lunging forward before she collapsed, I slung her limp arm around my neck as we stumbled towards the picnic mat we had laid out on the damp ground. I tried pestering Kira for her medication – painkillers or anything to help her at that moment but she stopped me. Instead, she weakly pointed to the pack of Ritz crackers that was sticking out of the front compartment of her haversack.

As we nibbled at the snacks that Kira had haphazardly packed, we let the rhythmic movements of the ocean waves lull us into an understanding silence. The sun woke from its slumber and finally rose leisurely towards the peak of the heavens. It cast golden ripples across the trembling surface of the ocean as various ships occasionally cut through the waves. Turning to check on Kira, I realised her face was tilted up while she basked in the inviting warmth of dawn.

Tears welled up in my eyes as I gathered all the lucidity of my mind to memorise the look of Kira’s most radiant self. The slow rise and fall of Kira’s chest reminded me of the fragility of life. No one was guaranteed a tomorrow. My hand slowly crawled towards hers and gave it a gentle squeeze. I felt a grin make its way onto my face when I felt her return the gesture.

Even with death promising an inevitable end, our first time camping will remain glistening in my most precious memories, as golden as the dawn sunlight.

Trying Something New - Model Essay 2 (Picture: Camping)

“We’re here,” Dad announced triumphantly, glowing with anticipation. I reluctantly lowered the book I was reading to gaze out of our car window, my heart tightening in my chest. With wide, fearful eyes, I took in the campground at Pulau Ubin with an agonising mix of dread and anxiety. The ocean waters stretched across the horizon as far as the eye could see, and the looming trees were swaying in the cool, humid breeze. Several tents of various colours were already set up in the distance. As Dad parked the car and got out to fetch our camping equipment from the boot, I stayed in my seat, inhaling deep breaths to calm myself down. I had never been one for the outdoors, and the very idea of camping in the wild felt like my worst nightmare coming to life. Frankly, if it were not for my father’s unusual insistence that we go camping that weekend, I would never have agreed to this trip at all.

Dad knocked on my backseat window and raised an eyebrow. “Are you coming?” he quipped. Swallowing hard, I nodded and opened the door, taking my book with me. The crunch of gravel and sand beneath my feet made me wince with dread. ‘Are we really going to sleep on this uncomfortable ground tonight? Dad must be mad!’ I thought to myself as I crossed my arms defiantly and trudged next to Dad.

“Can you help me set up the tent, Jake?” Dad asked. I let out a deep, petulant sigh and reluctantly agreed. Feeling sullen, I helped him unravel the fabric on the ground and slide the poles into the tent. Dad nailed our pathetic excuse of a shelter into the dirt with a wide grin on his face. Once our task was complete, he let out a victorious whoop and gave me a thumbs up. I rolled my eyes, thankful that the arduous task was finally over and I could finally go back to reading. I had never seen my father so excited before. He was a bundle of energy, glancing at me every five seconds as if I would miraculously undergo a change of heart. “Fat chance,” I mused to myself. I had made up my mind to show just how much I hated every second of this, so that I would never have to go camping ever again.

By the time we had set up the tent and gathered everything required for a campfire, the sky had undergone an ominous transformation, filling me with a sense of impending doom. A cool, humid wind had ushered dark clouds replete with rain above us, blocking out the sun. My stomach was twisted in knots as thunder growled in the distance, signalling the coming of heavy rain. I glared daggers at my dad as he sprinted off to fetch the waterproof tarpaulin from the car. He had promised that camping would be full of adventures like swimming, fishing, and exploring the wildlife together. Now that it was going to rain, the only adventure that I was about to experience was being trapped in a tiny tent with him, shivering and starving as we waited for the rain to stop.

“Hurry!” my father yelped at me as he unravelled our thick blue tarpaulin with urgency. Feeling my anger and irritation ratcheting to new heights, I put aside my book and bit back a sharp reply. I helped him cover our tent with the waterproof sheet as I mentally cursed myself for agreeing to this trip. Heavy raindrops had begun falling from the sky, and we quickly entered the tent as the light downpour escalated exponentially. As soon as we zipped the tent shut behind us, the sound of raindrops thrumming on the roof of our tent filled the air, followed by the resounding growl of thunder.

I closed my eyes briefly in an attempt to calm myself down as I mentally counted from one to ten. When I finally opened my eyes, my father was watching me warily. I avoided his gaze and reached around for my book. At the very least, I could read during the thunderstorm. That was when a horrified gasp escaped me.

Realisation hit me like a ton of bricks. I had left my book in the rain! It had been a gift to myself using my hard-earned savings, and I had been looking forward to reading it all week! “What’s wrong?” Dad demanded, his entire body tensing. “My book! I left it outside!” I shrieked, placing my head in my hands in despair. “This is all your fault, Dad! Why did you make me come here? Reading that book was the one thing I had been looking forward to and now I can’t even do that! I hate this! I hate you!” I burst out, unable to contain the pent-up frustration and anger that had been broiling within me any longer. I clenched my fists by my sides until my knuckles turned white. My eyes brimmed with tears of frustration that spilled down my cheeks as thunder and lightning raged in the air, reflecting the thunderstorm of emotions I was going through.

To my surprise, Dad visibly wilted at my words. He went silent and hung his head low. Instantly, guilt swallowed me whole. I wiped my tears away with the back of my hand and turned away from him, unable to bear the sight of my father’s hurt. Part of me desperately wanted to apologise, but my anger was preventing me from doing so. A tug of war ensued in my mind, splitting my thoughts into two opposing factions. Should I stand my ground, or should I apologise to Dad? If I stand my ground, Dad will continue feeling hurt. However, if I apologise, I will have to swallow my considerable pride and anger. I was caught on the horns of a dilemma and had to pick between the devil and the deep blue sea.

All of a sudden, Dad broke the silence and spoke up in a hushed tone. “Do you know what day today is?” he whispered. I blinked in surprise and shook my head, puzzled at his sudden change of demeanour. When I glanced back at him, I was stunned to see tears in his eyes. “Today is the anniversary of your grandfather’s death. I wanted to bring you here because your grandpa took me camping when I was your age. Those camping trips were some of my favourite memories I had with my father, and I wanted to recreate them for you too.”

I was stunned silent. My cheeks blushed pink with embarrassment at my outburst, and regret swept over me, washing away my previous fury. I wrapped my arms around my torso to console myself, feeling ashamed of my words. My grandfather had passed away last year, and though I did not know him well, I knew that he had been very close to my father. “I’m sorry about what I said, Dad. I didn’t mean it,” I murmured, feeling a single teardrop fall down my cheek. Regret pierced through my chest, making it hard to breathe. Dad did not reply, seemingly lost in his own thoughts. Silence descended upon us as we waited for the rain to stop. Soon, the rumbling of thunder stopped and the torrential downpour eased into a light drizzle. That was when a mischievous twinkle of laughter caught my attention.

Curiosity piqued, I raised an eyebrow at Dad. He unzipped our tent by a few inches for us to peek outside. To our surprise, we witnessed a family of four running around in the rain and shrieking with joy. The two children were jumping in puddles and grinning from ear to ear, clearly having a whale of a time. Seeing their unbridled joy sparked a deep longing within me. I took a deep breath and swivelled around to face my father.

With tremulous hope, I took my father’s hand gently in mine and pulled him to his feet. Dad gave me a quizzical look, furrowing his brow. “I’ve always wanted to play in the rain. Do you want to join me?” I asked him, smiling shyly. At my request, a wide grin dawned on his face and he beamed with anticipation. Without saying another word, we unzipped the tent and made a mad dash into the rain.

We leapt into some puddles and laughed gleefully as water cascaded into the air, drenching us from head to toe. Upon seeing us, the other family of campers waved and their eyes sparkled with merriment. With a gentle nudge from Dad, I introduced myself to the other children as Dad made small talk with their parents. Together, our two families ran around the beach howling with laughter. We even dug holes into the ground to form large puddles for us to jump into and incorporated a game of hopscotch with the puddles to add even more fun to the activities.

When the sky finally cleared, transforming from a dull grey to a dazzling azure blue, the sun emerged as well, radiating golden rays of light. “Look!” I exclaimed with a mighty gasp. There was an exquisite double-barrel rainbow hovering above us in the sky! I had never seen such a sight before, and was awe-struck beyond words. Everyone stopped what they were doing to marvel at the miraculous sight. My dad even rested his arm on my shoulder as he took in the view with a contented smile.

Seeing the happiness painted on my father’s face moved me deeply. Perhaps it was just my imagination, but there was a magic in the air at that very moment that made me feel like we were not alone, and that perhaps my grandfather’s spirit was here with us too. I wrapped my arms around Dad and gave him a tight hug, burying my face in his wet t-shirt. “Thank you for forcing me to step out of my comfort zone, Dad. I’m glad I’m here with you.” I mumbled. For a few moments, Dad was silent, lost in his own thoughts. When he finally looked at me, he had tears in his eyes. “Thank you for saying that son. I’m glad I’m here with you too.”

“Jake, Henry! We managed to get some hot water ready before it began to rain. Do you guys want some to bathe and warm up? We can have a picnic together afterwards!” the parents of the other family offered us generously. I nodded my head enthusiastically as Dad thanked them profusely for their help.

After taking a short but satisfying rinse with some hot water, Dad and I changed into a fresh set of clothes and joined the other happy campers for a delicious dinner. As the aroma of canned soup and roasting meat filled the air, I could not help but smile contentedly to myself. As the saying goes, true growth happens when you step out of your comfort zone. By going on my first camping trip with my father, I learnt the true meaning of those words. Seeing my father’s earnestness and vulnerability today taught me a valuable lesson to be wary of being self-centred, and to be present in every moment I share with my father. In hindsight, I would never have traded this experience for anything else in the world and I will always be grateful for how it taught me to be a kinder and more appreciative son that day.

Trying Something New - Model Essay 3 (Picture: Sandwiches)

My coffee machine whirred to life, obnoxiously cutting through the deafening silence of my apartment. As I settled into my usual morning routine before work, the familiar aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled my small kitchen. The sun had barely risen over the horizon but the birds outside had already come alive and were tweeting merrily. It was a typical Tuesday morning – or so I thought. All of a sudden, a shrill ping from my phone caught my ears.

I raised a curious brow. Rarely did I receive any messages that early in the morning, so who could it be? With newfound interest, I sauntered towards my phone. The glare from the screen had me squinting to decipher the contents of the message. “Good morning, my pookie bear!” the message read. Instantly the air left my lungs and I found myself choking on nothing. I did not even have to check the name at the top of my screen to know that it was from my dearest mother.

If someone were to look up the definition of ‘pure love’ in the dictionary, I have no doubt that a photo of my mother will appear as the top entry. My mother was a lively and vivacious woman. Once a career woman in her twenties, she had mellowed down significantly after marrying my father. Trading in her killer Christian Louboutin red bottoms for fluffy bedroom slippers and Prada mini-dresses for an apron, my mother had transformed into a full-time housewife by the time I was born. I was fortunate enough to grow up as an only child and so she poured all her time and love into me. Even at the ripe age of thirty one, my mother still doted on me like I was a toddler.

“Good news! I hope your guest room is not in use.” My mother’s message continued, “Your dad took the entire week off from work for a fishing trip with your uncle so he is sending me to your place for a visit!”

I let out a pleasant hum at the surprising information. There was no way I would deny her a visit. I was determined to make her short stay with me as comfortable as possible. I pressed a few buttons and sent an affirmative response back to her. I knew she would be eager to hear from me. With excitement brewing in my heart, I continued getting ready for a long day at the office. After all, the client meetings were not going to host themselves.

The next few days felt like years but before I knew it, I found myself animatedly ushering my mother into my apartment for her week-long stay. “Look at you, all grown up with your own man cave! It looks like you can actually clean up after yourself after all.” My mother teased with a small smirk tugging at her lips. “I wonder when you will introduce mummy to the lucky lady who will get to enjoy all this space with you…”

I rolled my eyes at her dramatically, “There is no such lady, mummy… You know I am a busy man.” My mother knew better than anyone about how focused I was on my career. I took after her career-focused mindset and was just as stubborn when it came to pursuing my dreams. My mother let out a loud snort before eyeing me up and down, “You have gotten a little wider too. Do you even eat properly anymore?”

I cast my gaze down to my slightly protruding belly, my shiny Gucci belt doing little to distract any wandering eyes that landed on it. I could feel myself getting warm in the face from embarrassment. As much as I wanted to get defensive over her words, what my mother observed was indeed true. Since I started living alone, I barely had the time or energy to cook for myself.

After all, the office was my second home and I was comfortable there, especially when it came to lunch. Being a single man in my thirties, I often indulged in takeout from the “pasar malam”, or night market, on my way home from work. On other occasions, I ate reheated leftover pizza from the night before. I was always a picky eater, often favouring chicken tenders and fries over the salad bar. My mother often indulged me with whatever I wanted but only within reasonable bounds. Hence, when I began living alone, I finally got an all-access pass to the junk food kingdom and had quickly become addicted.

Noticing my defeated expression, my mother rested a comforting hand against my back. “Mummy loves you no matter what you look like, pookie bear. I’m just worried for your health, that’s all.” Her soothing and warm voice reached my ears and wrapped me in a blanket of love. I found myself nodding wordlessly at her as she reached her arms around my wide back to give me a loving hug. I loved my mother to pieces and while I knew her concern came from a good place, I was secretly praying that she would drop the topic of my appearance after this.

Little did I know, the interaction had unleashed a mama bear in the form of a petite elderly woman.

The next morning I woke up to something that I did not expect. My mother surprised me with a meticulously prepared lunch that morning – a thick sandwich stacked with whole grain bread, romaine lettuce, sliced tomatoes, creamy avocado, and turkey bacon. I felt a wave of childish annoyance wash over me.

I held up the goliath of a sandwich like it was an alien artifact, wrinkling my nose at the sight. "Really, Mum? You know I hate sandwiches. Why are you forcing me into trying something new?" I muttered, feeling an overwhelming sense of betrayal. How could she think I would enjoy this “rabbit food”? It felt like she was trying to turn back the clock, treating me like a child who needed to be scolded into healthy eating. “I made it with love! There are so many healthy greens in there to give you the energy and nutrients you need to tackle your business deals,” my mother cheered with conviction. With a resigned sigh, I stuffed it into my lunch bag, determined to ignore the pang of disappointment nestled alongside it.

That day, everything at work conspired to annoy me. The lift was packed like sardines, the printer was printing at a snail's pace and the endless raucous chattering in the office grated on my nerves. When lunch rolled around, I unwrapped the sandwich my mother had made and I could not hold back my disdain. “Look at this rabbit food,” I scoffed, holding it up for my colleagues to see while they dug into steaming bowls of pasta and fragrant burritos. Thunderous laughter erupted around me. I revelled in their sympathetic gazes before I realised how silly I sounded.

Across the table, I caught sight of Jake from the finance department. He pulled out a simple grilled cheese sandwich from his lunch bag. It was perfectly toasted and oozing with melted cheese. A soft, envious sigh escaped my lips as I watched him take a bite of the gooey cheese. My stomach growled in response, betraying my irritation. My meal felt like a punishment.

“Now that is what I am talking about!” I huffed, my voice laced with envy. “How can you even compare that to this?” I gestured dismissively at my sandwich, feeling a craving for something comforting and familiar. As Jake chewed contentedly, I could not shake the frustration brewing inside me. It was comical how the contrast of his simple pleasure against my healthy offering could cause such intense negative feelings.

“I am sure your mother made that sandwich with so much love. I mean look at it – it's as tall as the Burj Khalifa!” Jake commented with a mouthful of cheese. Suddenly, he made an enticing offer. “If you do not want to eat it, we can swap. I have one more grilled cheese in here.” His playful grin made it hard to resist but I hesitated, feeling the weight of my stubbornness. The hunk of a sandwich, though healthy and not my first choice, was a gift from my lovely mother. A part of me felt guilty for wanting to trade it for something indulgent. Yet, as I glanced at his gooey creation, I could not help but wonder if a little comfort food would not be so bad. After all, it was just one lunch.

Instantly, a tug of war ensued in my mind. Should I accept Jake’s offer to swap sandwiches or should I stay true to my precious packed lunch? If I swap sandwiches with Jake, I can indulge in a delicious and comforting grilled cheese. That will make my day! However, if I refuse, I will miss out on a chance to have something satisfying and perhaps even dampen my mood for the client meeting later in the day. I was on the horns of a dilemma and had to pick my poison.

In the midst of the merciless battle in my head, I was reminded of my mother’s wise advice when I was looking for a job fresh out of university, “If you do not give it a try, you will never know if you are ever going to like it!” I then took a deep, resolved breath, making up my mind to enjoy my mother’s healthy sandwich.

“No, thanks man! I will just stick to conquering this monster,” I declined and gave the hefty sandwich a gentle pat. Jake shrugged in response before going back to his own lunch. I studied my sandwich from all angles, searching for the best way to devour it. I lifted it carefully, feeling the weight of it in my hands and took a moment to appreciate the vibrant colours and fresh ingredients.

With a determined nod, I took a huge bite. Instantly, the flavours melted on my tongue. The rich, buttery avocado blended beautifully with the turkey and I was surprised at how satisfying the whole grain bread felt against my palate. Each chew felt like a small victory as if I were slowly unearthing the love my mom had packed into this meal. I closed my eyes for a moment, fully immersing myself in the unexpected flavours. A goofy smile crept across my face.

I realised just how much I enjoyed trying something new for a change. My unhealthy habits and bratty attitude had clouded my appreciation for the vibrant flavours and nourishing qualities that different foods could offer. It was a small but significant shift that encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone and break free from my stubborn routines. This newfound openness not only made me appreciate my mother's efforts but also ignited a curiosity to experiment with cooking for myself more often.

Up till this day, I can still vividly recall how surprisingly joyful I felt when I took that first satisfying bite of my mother's healthy sandwich. "Sometimes the greatest discoveries come from stepping outside your comfort zone and trying something new." The day I tried something new taught me a valuable lesson that embracing balance can lead to unexpected experiences and sometimes the things we resist the most are exactly what we need.

Trying Something New - Model Essay 4 (Picture: Sandwiches)

“You will definitely have a whale of a time! It is more meaningful for daddy to receive a present we made!” my sister, Lily, chirped cheerfully as we stepped into the culinary studio. Dragging my feet, I rolled my eyes at my sister’s enthusiasm. I could not believe that I actually agreed to attend a Father’s Day sandwich-making class with my sister. My few attempts at cooking were disastrous and I had never tried baking in the entire twelve years of my life. I dreaded trying anything new. Ignoring my reluctance, as eager a beaver, my sister tugged at my hand and led me to the kitchen counter nearest to the instructor’s. I was about to protest when I heard ominously heavy footsteps.

A burly man clad in a white well-pressed chef’s uniform entered. He was a towering figure with a grim face that reminded me of Gordon Ramsay from the television programme, MasterChef. My hair stood on end as I glanced at his piercing eyes. I could not help but wonder if he also had the same raging temper as Gordon Ramsay. My shoulders slouched even lower at that the terrifying image. Just like a guest star on a television show, the next person to enter the class was someone totally unexpected.

Surprise was written all over her face as she made a beeline towards my counter. My eyes widened and my jaw dropped when our eyes locked. I must have looked like a fool at that moment with my mouth agape. It was Bella, the prettiest girl in my class and whom I secretly admired. As usual, her silky hair flowed down her shoulders like a waterfall. Her huge doll-like eyes gleamed with excitement as she spoke in her honey-sweet voice, “Bernard, I am so relieved to see you here! Can I join you?”

My heart was palpitating like a symphony of a thousand drums. Lady Luck must have been smiling on me that day. Speechless, I nodded my head, not able to believe how lucky I was. At that moment, I was actually grateful to my sister for forcing me to try something new.

Soon, the class began. The instructor’s voice droned on, yet nothing registered in my head. All I could hear was the loud pounding of my heart in my ears. Bella was standing next to me and I caught a whiff of the fruity fragrance of her freshly shampooed hair. I stole a glance at her and admired her rosy cheeks and fair skin. In the midst of my reverie, I felt a pair of icy cold eyes on me.

“Show me how you blend the ingredients together!” the instructor’s voice boomed. Taken aback, I froze momentarily.

My mind was whirling. How would I know how to blend when I had not even been paying attention the entire lesson? With shaking hands, I scooped flour into a mixing bowl. At that moment, I felt flour tickling my nose.

“Achooooo!” I sneezed uncontrollably into the mixture. To my utter horror, my sneeze sent flour flying into the chef’s poke-marked face.

Time froze. Dumbfounded, I stood like a statue.

My skin was as tight as a drum as I stared in disbelief at the instructor’s face which was covered with flour. I could feel my cheeks flushing as a thousand thoughts raced through my mind. Why did I have to make a clown out of myself in Bella’s presence?

Brushing those uneasy thoughts aside, I stuttered in a voice as soft as a mouse’s, “I.. I did not mean to... I am so sorry!” I could feel all eyes in the studio boring into me as I braced myself for a tongue-lashing. Breaking the tense silence, a deafening sound of a sneeze reverberated in the air.

The flour had tickled the instructor’s nose, causing him to deliver a powerful sneeze which sent flour flying in all directions and onto everyone standing near, including Lily, Bella and me. For a moment, I stared momentarily at Lily and then at Bella. There was pin-drop silence. Out of the blue, giggles rang through the air like bells. Clutching her stomach, Belle was bent over in laughter. Her laughter was so infectious that everyone in class started laughing uproariously at the amusing scene. Lily was pounding her fists on the counter top. Even though the instructor’s face was caked with flour and there were even specks of flour on his moustache, his booming laughter was the loudest. In fact, I was laughing so hard that tears sprang to my eyes. When the laugher finally died down, everyone helped to clean up the mess. To my relief, the instructor did not give me an earful. Instead, he winked at me cheekily before proceeding to deliver the rest of his lesson with an additional dose of humour. The uplifted mood in class helped make the lesson more enjoyable. This time round, I focused all my attention on the lesson and managed to get my mixture right. I always thought that I had no flair for cooking yet baking bread was a breeze.

As I placed my hard work in the oven, I was over the moon. From the corner of my eye, I noticed Bella struggling with hers. Without hesitation, I offered to help her. A broad smile spread across her face and she thanked me profusely. In the blink of an eye, she managed to bake hers with my help. The heavenly aroma of freshly baked bread wafted into our noses when we took the golden beauties out of the oven. We immediately started slicing the bread. With no time to waste, we added a wide array of different ingredients such as cucumbers, ham and tomatoes. Just as I was feeling like a sandwich master, my face turned as red as a tomato when Bella hit me with her next idea.

“Let’s arrange them to show the word L-O-V-E later!” Bella exclaimed with a mischievous grin. Then a moment of epiphany flashed across her face when she noticed my blush. “… … for your daddy, of course,” she added quickly. At that moment, I could feel my sister’s elbow jabbing into my side. From the side of my eye, I stared pointedly at her as she threw me a knowing smirk that only siblings could muster. I shot her a glare sharp enough to cut through the dough but she just giggled, feigning nonchalance.

After two fun hours, our dazzling masterpieces were ready. Our instructor and assistant did a taste test. Seeing the half-eaten sandwiches left on a plate and the instructor’s stern face, my heart dropped to an abyss, thinking my first culinary attempt has failed. However, a smile slowly spread across the instructor’s face and I heaved a sigh of relief as he gave me a thumbs-up.

It was finally time to pack. I resisted the urge to devour the rest of my mouthwatering creations and gingerly nestled them in a box like they were precious crown jewels. Bubbling with excitement, I visualised my father being on cloud nine when he received the special gift. The lesson ended on a happy note and I certainly was grateful that my sister had dragged me along. I had always been uncomfortable about trying new things. Yet when I left my comfort zone and tried baking, I not only gained a new hobby and skill but also forged stronger bonds with my family and a special friend, Bella. That day, I walked home with an extra spring in my step, looking forward to more exciting new experiences in the future.