If

The students have been studying the poem 'If' by Rudyard Kipling and have created their own version for the pupils of Aycliffe Drive School.

If you help each other without being selfish,
If you share and play together and don’t keep yourself to yourself,
If you put yourself out for others and always help them,
And think about each other and don’t think about yourself,
If you try your best at everything and not waste sixty seconds of your time,
and can think things through and be willing to put your thoughts into action,
If you try for yourself, expecting to learn, and if you fail, try again,
Then you will be doing your best,

If you can bear to hear the truth without feeling criticised,
If you don’t waste valuable time but get on without making a fuss,
If you find yourself struggling with one idea and don’t become frustrated but move onto another,
And if others struggle, help them and don’t laugh at their mistakes knowing that you yourself are not perfect,
And when you struggle, persevere and not mind the effort knowing you will learn from it and sit up straight and smile,
Then you will be doing your best,

If you can keep your mind when others doubt you,
If you want certain subjects to be your aim but care about other subjects too,
If you are happy doing your work and always strive to produce better work,
and always do your best and finish what you have started,
If you find a subject hard but fight with determination,
If you always try to better yourself and share your own improvements with others,
and do not copy others even when all about you are copying,
If you don’t just sit there but ask the teacher and learn wisely from their answers,
Then you will be doing your best,

If people do not care for you but you do not worry too much,
Or it seems as if they do not want you but you still try your best,
If all around you are hurting others but you are willing to help them yet being teased for doing so,
If you hurt someone saying hurtful words you regret and are able to apologise and mean it and not do it again,
If you can last one whole day and not give up nor forget others struggles,
If your confidence fails but you try and carry on,
Then you will be doing your best,

If you help close friends but make sure others are helped too,
And when a new child arrives at school, you share kindness and helpfulness,
and you become their friend when they have no one,
If you play with someone to keep them happy even if you would rather be doing something else,
If you see someone crying and wipe away their tears,
and smile at someone sad even if they don’t smile back
Then you will be doing your best,


If you struggle to get up for school but set your alarm to make sure you are ready,
If you play your part in school and help your friends,
If you think about others and don’t keep your ideas to yourself,
and happily share with others things you have that they don’t,
If someone is lonely and you reach out to help them,
And if you see someone sad you talk to them with care,
If you try for a part and don’t get that part but are still happy with the part you are given,
If being treated right is how you want to live and how you treat others then hold your head high
for then you are doing your best, and you will succeed.
All Students from the English Creativity Classes