i. 1k intro
1053/1000 words

Hey, it’s nice to meet whoever is reading this! I’m Emily, a tired highschooler that’s trying to survive the last few weeks until spring break ;-;. I live in the wonderful EST timezone and use she/her pronouns. I have a history project to speedrun, bio test to review for, and part five of The Book Thief to finish after this so let’s start!

This session is my 5th one and I’m very, very excited. My first one was Adventure Pirate Ship (July 2021). I wasn’t very active or involved with the storyline as I wish I would have been. Second time was in Hi-Fi Empire (November 2021). I also wasn’t very active and I ended up disappearing before the end of November. I left Scratch then for a little bit, since I thought it was for the best for my mental health. In July of 2024 I started a new account (this one), and was in Sci-Fi – The Outbreak. I am soooooooo grateful for Poppy, Summer, Snowy, and all the fellow scientists last summer because they reintroduced me to how fun SWC is <3. Last session, I was in Bi-Fi – The Dreamscape. I was really excited coming out of Sci-Fi, but I didn’t end up being as active as I wanted because of homework and the swim season. I’m in Illu-Fi this time, and I’m so excited to explore the Spiderverse, #ILLU-FIFTW <3. Definitely going to try to involve myself in the storyline and grind on words this session.

Some more about me:

I'm an Asian born American (where are my fellow ABCS?), specifically Malaysian-Chinese. Both my parents were born and raised in Malaysia but I was born in the U.S. *insert eagle noises*.

Last time I checked, which was probably a year ago, my MBTI was ISTJ - T. I honestly think that it’s crazy how well these kinds of personality tests embody my personality so well. I am probably one of the most introverted people, and social interactions are probably the hardest things for me. Big social events are so scary and tiring for me. Usually it’s not anyone’s fault but talking to people in person is just so hard for me. I’m definitely trying to branch out and try to network with people but sometimes it’s just exhausting ;-;. I wasn’t always a more (S)ensing person. The first ever time I took the test, I was a more i(N)tuitive person. I feel like as I grew older, my views have changed. Same with thinking vs. feeling. I used to be more of a feeling than thinking person, but getting older has definitely changed my views. I am also a really big perfectionist, which explains the J and T. I love structure and I need it to thrive.

Time for some things I like!

Swimming is literally my life. I started swimming when I was little because my parents didn’t know how to swim, so they wanted to make sure me and my siblings knew how to. It honestly didn’t grow into such a big part of my life until I joined my middle school swim team. During that year, it was my first time ever competing at a swim meet. I began enjoying myself in the sport, even though I wasn’t that great. My mom signed me up for the local swim club and I got a lot stronger. I ended my middle school season as captain, and placed top 3 in all my events. I wasn’t the biggest fan of my middle school team, my coach was a good coach but was that good with the technical aspects of swimming. She also was the P.E. teacher for my school so she was always trying to get her students to swim. It was also obvious she had favorites. The team was humongous, with 60+ people. It was too much at times and I honestly didn’t know half of the team. Last fall, I finished my first high school swim season. Although I didn’t do that great during the meets and I got quite burnt out, I loved the team. We were all so much closer, kind of like a family. We also did so much together: carpool, trauma bond, etc. I love the team so much and I’m so grateful for them. I’m going to miss the seniors that left this year. I’m honestly not great at swimming but the sport has been so engraved in me that I just can’t separate myself. If any swimmers were wondering, my favorite events are 100 FLY (even though it makes me want to cry sometimes), and 100 BK.

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math: STEM! STEM, especially Math, is such a big part of my life and it has been since I was little. My dad used to teach me math concepts late at night when I was a kid. But of course, since he only remembered the complicated stuff from college, that's the only thing I learned. It was all so foreign to me, but I wanted to understand. I honestly struggled with it at first, since I was also just so tired and he would go on and on. But one day, I got it! The things that he was writing down, I could understand! I’m honestly glad that I stayed up late these nights, since I don’t think I would have loved math the way I do now if I didn’t. Numbers just make sense to me, sometimes more than words do. Don’t get me wrong, I love writing, but sometimes words are hard ;-;.

I picked up crocheting two years ago, and it’s probably one of my favorite hobbies right now. It’s one of those things where you can just zone out and watch your favorite shows. I am so bad at finishing my projects though, I have a bucket of half-finished yarn blobs.

I. LOVE. FOOD. I see food and I eat it. I also love baking. It’s so fun being a mad scientist all the time, and all the stuff I bake, I can eat hehehehe. Honestly, it’s so calming to bake during the weekend, such a nice way to relax.

Thank you if you read all this, and I hope to meet you all during this session! Time to work all my homework now.

ii. bookender v.12.34.56
343/300 words

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have Percy Jackson living in the world of the Hunger Games? Or do you have a BORING test tomorrow and you’re panicking, trying to cram as much information as you possibly can in your brain? Well, here at EmilyEnterprises we’ve got the solution for
you. Introducing Bookender v.12.34.56! This versatile device can help you with many of your book related needs! Using it is easy. Simply add your books into the blender with the blending juice, choose your setting, and start blending!

The blade features our patent-pending, cutting edge technology (hehe), created through years of research and modifications by the engineers here at EmilyEnterprises. Each individual blender is made of plastic that was manufactured at 4:03 pm to ensure that our customers are getting the best experience possible when blending. What is the Bookender used for, you ask? Many things! There are an infinite amount of ways you can use this gadget, but here are some of our favorite ways.

1. Combining 2 Universes - Wanna see how one book character will look in another universe? You’ve found the right place! Simply add both books into the Bookender and start blending. Now you can create the wildest combinations of your dreams!*

2. Knowledge Absorption - Need help with your exams? By blending your textbook into the Bookender, you’ve created the perfect study tool! Drink your study smoothie and all the formulas, theorems, and facts will all be in your brain.**

3. Writer’s Block - Fellow writers, ever feel stuck? Don’t worry because we got you covered. Put your best work into the blender and let it do its thing. Drink your smoothie and you’ll be going 200 words per minute!

*You may not be able to read your book after it has gone into the Bookender. EmilyEnterprises is not responsible for broken or destroyed books.
** EmilyEnterprises is not responsible for any health effects that may come with consuming the products created by the Bookender. This includes: upset stomach, dry mouth, drowsiness, headaches, nausea, diarrhea, insomnia.

word wars w/ @lilyjen
5 minutes, 173 words

“Is it a bad time to tell you that I’m claustrophobic?”
Sydney’s words hung in the air, and for a minute, Oliver didn’t know what to say. Her voice was shaky,
completely contrasting the stillness of the elevator, stuck between two different floors.
“You’re claustrophobic?” He questioned, as he continued to slam the red ‘emergency’ button with
his thumb, each time more desperate than the last.
There was a constant rhythm, as if the more he pressed it the faster someone would come.
“Yea, I just never thought I would find myself in this situation. I just get really uncomfortable in
tighter spaces,” Sydney answered, shifting uncomfortably on the floor of the elevator.
She could feel the gray begin closing in, trapping her in a cage. Oliver could see her skin turning pale, and
her eyes filled with unease.
“Okay, great, ” Oliver began, trying to stay calm, “We’ll be fine, Everything will be fine.”
He was trying to convince himself more than anything, but then waited together, hoping for the elevator to move.

challenge 1 - ember (task 2)
331/300 words

The air was thick with tension as Elara stood in front of the hill. Around her, the world was suspended in time, as if it was holding its breath, waiting for Elara to make her decision. Her head ached as the prophecy echoed, weighing her down with centuries of expectations.

In her hand, she held the Elderstone. The crystal gleamed a deep purple, and radiated an eerie glow. As Elara Lockwood lifted the shard up to the beam of light peeking through the clouds, the translucence revealed a mesmerizing shine. The beauty of the stone could easily deceive at first glance, but the immense power that it held was dangerous. Inside, the stone contained Aetherblight, a dark form of magic. The ancestors had given the crystal to the Lockwoods, passed down for generations. Each Lockwood kid learned about the gift that their ancestors have given to them from a young age. It is said to originate from the void beyond the stars, a place where consciousness begins to slip into darkness. Those who use Aetherblight are able to manipulate the fragile line between life or death. But while it is powerful, it came with a great price– it corrupted the user, slowly draining their sanity. Although generations warn of the great peril, it was now in the hands of a 15 year old girl. Scared, she grips it tightly. This was the future. The future was in her hands.

“Place it on there Elara. The power should be distributed to everyone,” Aldric grunted.

In front of her, was a staircase leading up to a stone altar. At the center, was a groove where the Elderstone would sit.

“Don’t do it Elara, we can bring it back to where it belongs! You know what Aldric will do if you place it on the altar,” her father, Orin shouts.

Elara knew what she had to do.

She took a deep breath and watched as the Elderstone fell to the ground, shattering into shards.

challenge 1 - ember (task 1)
300/200 words

Finley wasn’t one to believe in signs, but everything about when she ran into a stray dog it was like fate. The dog was small, with deep, soulful eyes. It was scruffy and tired, but brought an unmistakable calmness. She watches as the dog stares straight into her eyes, as if it was waiting for something.

When she knelt down to look at the collar, she couldn’t believe what she found. On the tag, which was worn by age, was a name. “Arthur,” she whispered under her breath.

Finley froze in shock.

Arthur. The name of her grandpa that passed away two weeks ago from a heart disease. It had sent Finley into a spiral of grief, feeling as though her heart was now incomplete. The reminder of all the memories they had made together pained her. Her grandpa had loved dogs, she could feel her chest ache at the thought.

But in front of her, was a dog named Arthur. Something told her that she couldn’t simply walk away, she had to do something.

“Let’s take you home, okay?”

Finley hesitates for a moment, but gently picks the dog up, taking him back to her apartment.

Over the next few days, she noticed that something strange was happening. When she was feeling particularly isolated, Arthur would help her in ways that couldn’t be explained. Whether it was getting on her lap, or leading her to a park that she and her grandpa used to go to, reminding her of all the things that made her happy.

Finley realized that over time, Arthur wasn’t just any dog. He was a reminder that even in the deepest of losses, there could be unexpected gifts– gifts that, in time, taught her to learn to love again. That love truly never leaves us.

iii. flower daily
415/350 words

Orange blossom (purity), Sweet pea (departure), Dahlia (Yours until the end), Everlasting pea (remembrance)

The world seemed washed out, the colors muted and indistinct in the cemetery. In the midst of the gray, a girl sat in front of a tombstone. She was young, perhaps no older than seventeen, hands trembling as she held a bouquet in her arms– everlasting pea, dahlias, orange blossoms, and sweet pea– all carefully arranged in a bunch.

Death watched from afar, his presence felt more than seen. It was silent as he observed the girl. He had been here before, though he never lingered. But today was different. Today, the girl spoke.

“I’ve missed you, ” the girl whispered, her voice trembling.

“Even as the world moves on, I’ll carry you with me, in my heart.”

She takes the everlasting pea, carefully arranging the pink flowers at the base of the stone.

Next, her hands brushed the orange blossoms, their white petals offered a sense of purity that had been long gone. Their soft scent was a reminder of the innocence from her past– before it shattered when the world changed so cruelly.

“You know, I still remember the sound of your laugh,” she commented, breaking out a fragile smile beyond her tear-stained eyes. “I still hear it, sometimes.”

Her hands were gentle as she layered the white flowers, but Death could see the unsparing monster of grief in her eyes.

The girl reaches for another flower, holding it with trembling hands. “I don’t know how to say this,” she began, her voice quivering in the still air. “This…this is a goodbye. At least for now.”

The sweet pea– delicate, yet painful. The flowers symbolized a goodbye, to the past, and to a part of herself that would never return. She exhaled slowly, her breath shaky, trying to expel the sorrow that clung to her.

At last, the dahlias– a vibrant pink and orange, a symbol for devotion. “Before I leave, I must say something,” the girl murmurs, clouding at her eyes, and falling like the drops of rain.

Death’s gaze softens, as he waits for the girl to finish her sentence. He’d witnessed grief on many occasions in his years, but the emotions from the girl were so strong. Not just of sorrow, but also love. The love that refuses to die, no matter how the world changes. He wishes the girl well on her journey, hoping that she’ll grow, like the flowers laid before her.

The girl takes in a deep breath, dahlia in her hand. “I’m yours until the end.”

a summer day - emily’s july ‘25 co-leader app
1685 words (not including excerpt)

1.

Hey there! I’m Emily, a high school freshman counting down the days until summer. I use she/her pronouns and live in the wonderful EST timezone but with extra daylight (EDT).

A little bit about me: I have a wide range of hobbies and passions during my free time. One of my absolute favorite things is writing. Recently, I’ve gotten into journaling and most of my writing has been a lot of reflecting. It’s been a really great way for me to destress and grow as a person. Overall, I really like how writing allows me to explore the random little ideas that I have in my head and bring them to life.

In addition to writing, I also love art. This is a passion of mine that has been part of me since I was very little. I really enjoy working on portraits of my family and exploring new forms of art. During middle school, art was one of my favorite classes. Now that I’m in high school, I can’t fit the class into my schedule anymore, which sucks. Even though I don’t have much time to work on my art projects anymore, art will forever be part of my life.

I’m also very passionate about math and science. These fields have always fascinated me because of all the new discoveries that happen so regularly. I’ve always loved math because of the problem solving and logical side, which kind of contrasts the craziness beyond. As a little kid I really wanted to be a scientist because I thought they looked cool. I plan to go into biomedical engineering, computer science, or biology.

2.

I’ll start with experience in Scratch. This upcoming session will be my 6th, and I’m excited! July sessions are always my favorites because I can be super active and get involved in all the chaos. My previous five sessions have all been as a camper:

Adventure Pirate Ship (July 2021)
Hi-fi Empire (November 2021)
Sci-Fi – The Outbreak (July 2024)
Bi-Fi – The Dreamscape (November 2024)
Illu-Fi: Across the Spiderverse (March 2025)

I’ve also participated in a session or two of other camps like SRC and SXC but they were also as campers.

I definitely have more leadership experience outside of Scratch. I’m part of my school’s student council, where I contribute in planning for homecoming, hallway decorating for rivalry week, other in-school activities, and community service. I also represent my school as a STEM ambassador and plan projects for STEM outreach in my community. In middle school, I was my swim team’s captain and also led my chemistry competition team.

As for writing experience, I’ve written a lot when I was in elementary and middle school and I was an avid reader. I began taking on writing as a hobby when I discovered SWC, exploring the world of writing more than just the creative pieces I wrote for school. I write a lot more on my own time now and I’ve grown to be a lot more confident in my writing.

3.

First off, I would be honored to receive any offer to co-lead any cabin. I would preferably want to co-lead a cabin that I’ve never been in before, and get to experience building a world in that specific genre. These include: fantasy, utopian, gothic, horror, steampunk, and many more. But, I’m still willing to co-lead a cabin that I’ve already been in before!

I really enjoy the competitive side of SWC so I would prefer not to co-lead TCTWNW.

4.

Yours Until The End

The world seemed washed out, the colors muted and indistinct in the cemetery. In the midst of the gray, a girl sat in front of a tombstone. She was young, perhaps no older than seventeen, hands trembling as she held a bouquet in her arms– everlasting pea, dahlias, orange blossoms, and sweet pea– all carefully arranged in a bunch.

Death watched from afar, his presence felt more than seen. It was silent as he observed the girl. He had been here before, though he never lingered. But today was different. Today, the girl spoke.

“I’ve missed you, ” the girl whispered, her voice trembling.

“Even as the world moves on, I’ll carry you with me, in my heart.”

She takes the everlasting pea, carefully arranging the pink flowers at the base of the stone.

Next, her hands brushed the orange blossoms, their white petals offered a sense of purity that had been long gone. Their soft scent was a reminder of the innocence from her past– before it shattered when the world changed so cruelly.

“You know, I still remember the sound of your laugh,” she commented, breaking out a fragile smile beyond her tear-stained eyes. “I still hear it, sometimes.”

Her hands were gentle as she layered the white flowers, but Death could see the unsparing monster of grief in her eyes.

The girl reaches for another flower, holding it with trembling hands. “I don’t know how to say this,” she began, her voice quivering in the still air. “This…this is a goodbye. At least for now.”

The sweet pea– delicate, yet painful. The flowers symbolized a goodbye, to the past, and to a part of herself that would never return. She exhaled slowly, her breath shaky, trying to expel the sorrow that clung to her.

At last, the dahlias– a vibrant pink and orange, a symbol for devotion. “Before I leave, I must say something,” the girl murmurs, clouding at her eyes, and falling like the drops of rain.

Death’s gaze softens, as he waits for the girl to finish her sentence. He’d witnessed grief on many occasions in his years, but the emotions from the girl were so strong. Not just of sorrow, but also love. The love that refuses to die, no matter how the world changes. He wishes the girl well on her journey, hoping that she’ll grow, like the flowers laid before her.

The girl takes in a deep breath, dahlia in her hand. “I’m yours until the end.”

5.

I’m willing to devote around two, possibly more (not including writing time), during both the weekdays and weekends. This time will most likely be regular check-ins on Scratch. If I’m being honest, I’m unsure how my commitments will affect my activity during June and July since I’m doing things that are new to me. I will be starting driver’s training and taking an online health class for school. I also may be going on vacation to a few places. However, I know for a fact that I will be able to check Scratch at least once a day and that I will most likely be able to fit in the hour on majority of the days.

6.

One of my strengths for time management is being organized. I like to map out what a project will look like, keeping track of a list of tasks, arranging things to be easier to access. It helps me have a clear picture of what needs to be done so I can stay on top of my to-dos.

Something I struggle with when it comes to time management is underestimating how long specific tasks will take. I tend to fit too many tasks into my day, thinking that I can finish them all. Usually when I plan something, I am able to map everything out, but I end up miscalculating how much time is needed to complete it. That sometimes leads to me feeling overwhelmed, rushed, and feeling frustrated that I’m behind schedule. I’ve been working on it by breaking bigger tasks into more manageable subtasks, and adding buffer time between tasks. It’s still a work in progress, but I’m getting better at pacing myself and allowing ample time for each task.

7.

One of my strengths in collaboration is flexibility. This is definitely not a skill I was born with but I’ve learned to embody through previous experiences. I am able to adapt to changing situations by coming up with possible solutions. I feel that I gravitate a lot to a “we need to figure this out” mindset because I work better in structured environments and I want to get back on track. In team settings, I try to stay open-minded and try to approach challenges in different perspectives, so that I can help the team move forward.

Another one of my strengths is reliability. I consistently follow through on my responsibilities and make sure to meet deadlines on all my commitments, whether it’s a team project or my homework. During cabin planning, I’d be checking my account as much as I can to be fully engaged in the process and make sure that I get my part done on time. I take self-accountability seriously so that I can be a reliable team member. Once I commit to something, I try to be consistent in my efforts to help the progress.

Now onto weaknesses. I think my biggest weakness is being hesitant to speak up, especially when there are stronger voices in a team. While I’m engaged and I finish all my responsibilities, I’ve realized that not sharing my ideas is hindering my 100% contribution to the team. I often find myself scared that someone would not like my idea, or others will judge. This is a bigger weakness outside of Scratch, but I still find myself nervous to post a comment or add my input. Currently, I’m working on improving by pushing myself to contribute more ideas and changing my mindset on how people respond.

At times, I also am overly self-reliant. I’m afraid to ask for help if I don’t know something or I can’t take on all the tasks, even when I know I need it. Whenever the thought of getting help comes up, I often dismiss it because I’m scared of people thinking that I’m not a good enough team member, or I’m not contributing enough. I take pride in being independent and completing all my responsibilities on time, by myself. However, I’ve realized that this tendency creates a lot of stress and I get overwhelmed, especially when the workload gets too heavy. I’m reminded that I’m working on a team and there are others with their own strengths that can also help and possibly give me more ideas to make things better. I’m working on shifting my mindset to view collaboration more as a team working cohesively together and not just a bunch of individuals completing their own part.

8.

If I had to choose a quality that I admire, and want to embody, is the ability to listen and communicate effectively.

I’ve learned through experience in leadership positions that communication is the most important to finish a project or get through a game. Just this year through my extracurriculars, I’ve experienced not so positive experiences with bad communication. There have been many instances where someone didn’t clearly state details until the last minute, and there was a misunderstanding that resulted in emergency
adjustments to make sure that things still went well.

Communication ensures that expectations and feedback are understood by everyone, which prevents misunderstandings. It also keeps the team aligned, and sets the morale for the project. Leaders with good communication also are able to guide their team to the end goal.

This skill is something that I want to improve and hopefully embody, but it’s definitely not an easy skill to master. I know just how hard being a good communicator can be, but I believe that being willing to learn to be better is already better than bad communication.

9.

A welcoming atmosphere to focus on goals and build lasting friendships (with some friendly competition)! (105 characters)

10.

A.

☑️ I will be available to help add points in the main cabin consistently throughout camp
☑️ I’m willing to share a promotional project for SWC.

B. Nope!

C.

In case of inactive leadership by me, I will let the other (co)leaders know if I know I will be inactive in advance. Then, I make sure to complete any responsibilities ahead of time if there needs to be anything done while I am away. I will make sure to communicate continuously with my team to make sure that everything is situated if I ever need to go inactive.

In case of inactive leadership by someone else, and they didn’t communicate beforehand, I will try to contact them in some way. If they do not respond to me or anyone else on the team, I would take initiative and help complete their responsibilities as best as I possibly can to ensure that everything still runs smoothly.