BE YOURSELF.... BEYOND YOUR LIMITS

CHAPTER 1

Gece, as every morning, she got up again reluctantly. She imagined in an accelerated way that they would go through all day. To get up, to have breakfast, to go to school. The last thought "to go to school" caused a pain in her stomach. Everyone at school was cool, beautiful, and fun. Gece was not at all satisfied with her skin color, curly and uncontrollable hair. In order not to attract attention, she would not talk to anyone and wait for the end of the school in a quiet corner. Even if the teacher knew the correct answer when asking a question, she would not raise her finger. She was incredibly concerned when she thought that everyone would be looking at her, and that the answer was wrong. It was best to be invisible, not to attract someone's attention.

Her mother's sweet voice stripped her from her thoughts. Her mum was calling her to breakfast. To try changing the depressed mood of the night into a positive every morning, her mother put a hopeful smile on her lips. Even though it was a one-sided conversation, she was trying to talk to her daughter every morning tirelessly.

Her mother left Gece to school after breakfast. She said she could call her friends to home to spend time at the weekend while Gece was getting out of the car. At night, she thought for a moment and said, “I don't think anyone will come, Mom. Bye." she said and walked away.

Ebru DEMİR / Uğur Mumcu Secondary School / Kocaeli / TURKEY

CHAPTER 2

    Gece's mother thought she could invite Gece's friends home to make Gece happy. She was sure that if they were together by doing some activities, they would get along better and that Gece would be happy.
         As soon as she reached home, she thought about what to cook, the games to be played and the activities to be held. She took notes all of them on paper. They could decide who would come by talking with Gece.
        Everything was normal when she entered the classroom. The first lesson passed quickly, and the break came immediately. Since the weather was so good, she decided to go out to the garden and sit down for a while.
        A few minutes later Cenk came over and asked, "Do you want to play basketball?". "Yes!" she said. She liked to play basketball. She had played basketball on the school team in Brazil. Today, she had been the player who scored the most points in the game. Gece and Cenk's team won the game while the bell was ringing. The class friends were very surprised because they did not know Gece was playing basketball well. This incident had spread to the classroom in a short time. Her friends were no longer leaving Gece alone, they were trying to make friendship with her.

    Today was normal for Gece, but just as far from normal. She liked getting along with the class and increased her self-confidence. When she came home, Gece told her mother what she had experienced with great excitement. Her mother was both surprised and delighted to see Gece happy. She felt relieved that she was getting better with her friends and that she did not have to call her friends unaware of her. While having dinner, she mentioned about the subject again.

       Gece's Mother: Do you agree with calling your friends?
       Gece: Actually, it was good that you said, mother. I was going to ask you this too. I think it wouldn't be a problem for them to come. What do you think?

       Gece and her mother talked about party preparations until bedtime while watching movie.

Bilgen SEZER / Uğur Mumcu Secondary School / Kocaeli / TURKEY

CHAPTER 3

Gece woke up very happy in the morning of the day, if her friends accepted, they would gather at their house and hold activities today. Gece had gone to school as eager as ever. After the first lesson, although she was a little shy at recess, she had told her friends that the majority of her friends had agreed. She wanted the first supposed school to end at night, because she didn't want to go home, but because she wanted to spend time with her friends. As their second lesson was over, before their teacher left the classroom, Gece stopped the teacher and
Gece: "Sir, can I ask you something?"
Teacher: "Gece of course."
Gece: "Sir, why didn't Cenk come today?" asked.
Teacher: "Cenk's grandmother called and said that he could not come from a special situation. Why did you ask my dear?"
Gece: "Sir, I invited my classmates to my house today, I thought Cenk would come, so I asked him, thank you." said.
Teacher: "You're welcome. Have fun!."
Lessons were passing, the day was never ending. The idea of a party was very new for Gece, and she couldn't sleep last night. And she wondered where Cenk was and why he wasn't at school.
Finally it was time to go home ...
She started getting ready for the party, she was going to wear her favorite clothes. As the clock was around 14.00, her friends started to come. They were the people she got along well with. But she got along better with Cenk. She wished he was there ...
Gece's mother had prepared very delicious things while enjoying the cakes and cookies with her friends, Cenk showed up! While Gece was welcoming her friend , she saw Cenk so depressed for the first time.

Gece: "Welcome Cenk I thought you wouldn't come, where have you been?"
Cenk: "We went to my grandmother's and my father's grave today, it's the anniversary of his death."
Gece: "I'm so sorry my friend, how about playing some games and distracting you?"
First they played chair grabs.Gece was very sure of herself. She was going to win, but she couldn't. Buse won. She comforted herself at night. "Anyway, I'll win the other game." But she couldn't win it either. They had a little snack. She was thoughtful as she quietly ate her plate . "Why didn't I win the games? Why am I so clumsy? Anyway I win the games after dinner." She was able to win only one of the games they played that day. She was half happy and half sad. Cenk asked:
    - “What happened Gece? Did someone hurt you? Or did I do something wrong? "
    - “No, Cenk. Nobody did anything. "
    - "So why are you sad?"
     - "Even though I am very confident, I won only one of the games."
      - “Don't worry about it . You feel sorry for something very trivial. Never mind. What a good fun we had. For example, I could not win at all, but I had a lot of fun. You still won one. You are not as clumsy as me. "
      - "Don't be unfair to yourself either." While Gece and Cenk were talking between them, Cenk's friend from the club, Semih, came. Cenk and Semih were working together in the school's journalism club. Recently, they had a hard time writing articles because there was one person missing in the team.Semih invited Gece to the club as well. She immediately accepted because she loved to write. She was very happy.

Bahar GÜLER / Ugur Mumcu Secondary School / Kocaeli / TURKEY

CHAPTER 4

Every article written by the Gece was read with interest, and her next article was eagerly waited by her friends. It made Gece happy.She immediately began her work for the next article. The books she had written were now her companion. She could write her thoughts without difficulty.
That day, there was very little time left for the end of the lesson. The student on duty knocked on the door and called the principal and the students at the journalism club.
Hediye Teacher:
- Come on, Gece and Cenk. The principal is waiting for you.
Gece and Cenk looked at each other. They wondered why the principal was calling. Did they do something wrong? It occurred to Gece that an article she had written had been criticized and disliked. She was agitated for a moment. She wondered if she was going to be suspended from the club. They arrived at the principal's office with these thoughts. They knocked on the door and came in.There was someone else with the principal.
Principal:
- Come here, kids.We have good news for you. I have a friend here who follow your articles as a journalism club. He wants to invite you to his show. Gece, my daughter follows your writings with love.

Sir:
- Hi, I love your writings, Gece. You will give ideas to many of your friends who like writing as you in the program. What do you think?
Gece in stress:
- Thank you for those lovely compliments. But I don't think I can fulfill that request. I get so excited, and I can forget what I have to say.
Even when she said these words, her voice trembled with excitement.
Principal:
- Think about it by tomorrow, girl. And your friends will be with you.
They went out. Gece thanked Cenk.
Cenk:
- Why did you say that, Gece? This is very good news for us. In this way, we will be able to make our voices heard to many more people.
Gece:
- Cenk, I can't trust myself. What if I can't, if I'm disgraced?
Cenk:
- Don't worry, we'll be there for you.
Gece came to her house with a great sense of excitement.

Hatice ÜSTÜNDAĞ / Yahya Kemal Secondary School / Ankara / TURKEY