Sarah Morgan
Archaeology Enthusiast
New Lore Card
Sleepless Mind: Part Two
It was a calm Wednesday evening, and I was nestled in my room, lost in a book. The view of the mountains outside my window always filled me with awe. As I took a moment to pause from my reading, I noticed two missed calls on my phone. Intrigued, I checked and saw they were from Dad. He had left a voicemail.
“Sarah, sweetheart, I’ve got some exciting news! You remember the contest the Lakeview Public Museum runs every year, right? Well, it’s coming up soon. I thought, since you’ve been so dedicated to archaeology, maybe we could get you signed up this year. It’s a fantastic opportunity to see if you’ll win! We can chat more when I get home. Give your mom and grandma a hug for me.”
My heart raced as I absorbed his words. This was it—my opportunity to finally be part of something significant. If I won, my name and photo would be showcased on the museum wall for everyone to admire. I could already envision the pride swelling in my parents and Grandma.
Filled with excitement, I dashed downstairs to share the news with Grandma, momentarily forgetting she didn’t live with us. Instead, I told Mom, and she was just as thrilled as I was. That evening, when Dad returned home, we wasted no time. We gathered around my computer, headed straight to the museum’s website, and registered my name. Now, all that’s left is to wait for fate to take its course.
As I wait to find out if I’ll be selected, I thought it would be wise to research past winners of the contest. Learning about those who had been chosen before could provide insight into what it takes to win. Were they all high school graduates? Did they have college degrees? Do they have any experience in archaeology?
Any information could be beneficial.
Of course, this meant I’d be juggling a lot of work. With homework already piling up, I realized the only way to get a jump on my research was to pull an all-nighter.
I hoped Mom and Dad wouldn’t be too upset, but it was a sacrifice I was ready to make. I’m the type of person who likes to stay ahead of the game, to finish things early. Procrastinating is a recipe for headaches and unnecessary stress, and I’ve learned my lesson enough times to know that staying organized pays off in the long run.
That night, I slipped into my coziest pajamas, wrapped myself in a blanket, and surrounded myself with notebooks and snacks. With a steady stream of tea to fuel me, I got to work. The hours flew by as I immersed myself in each winner's story, taking notes and brainstorming ideas. I even managed to finish my school essay, which felt like a huge win. By the time I finally crawled into bed, I was completely wiped out, barely able to keep my eyes open.
The next morning, waking up was a struggle—an uphill battle. I felt like I hadn’t slept at all, but when I glanced at my notes and saw everything I had accomplished, I realized it was all worth it. Sometimes, you just have to push yourself a little harder to get ahead, and I was more determined than ever to make this contest my own.
