DSON Study Set

The wind howled outside as Mia stared at the letter in her hands. She had always been shy, never one to speak up in class or volunteer for anything. But this letter was different. It was an invitation to join the school debate team. Mia’s heart pounded. She remembered how, just last week, she had let her group down by not sharing her ideas during a project. Now, she wondered if she could really change.

Later that night, Mia’s older brother found her pacing the hallway. “What’s up?” he asked.

“I got invited to join the debate team,” Mia said quietly. “But I don’t know if I can do it. I’m not brave like you.”

Her brother smiled. “Bravery isn’t about not being scared. It’s about doing something even when you are.”

The next morning, Mia took a deep breath and signed her name on the acceptance form.

“I can’t believe we’re lost,” groaned Ben. He and his friend Tara had taken a shortcut through the woods, but now the path had disappeared. Tara looked around, searching for clues. She noticed the moss on the trees and remembered that moss usually grows on the north side. “Let’s head this way,” she said, pointing north. Ben hesitated, but followed. After a while, they saw the edge of the park and hurried toward it, relieved.

Ben turned to Tara and said, “How did you know which way to go?”

Tara grinned. “I used what I knew about moss and directions. Sometimes you have to use clues around you to figure things out.”

“You never listen to me!” shouted Alex, slamming his backpack onto the floor. His sister, Lila, frowned. “I just want to help,” she said quietly. Alex glared at her. “You always think you know what’s best.”

That night, Alex thought about what Lila had said. He realized she was only trying to help because she cared. The next day, Alex apologized. “I’m sorry for yelling. I know you were trying to help.” Lila smiled. “Thanks, Alex. I just want us to work together.”

Passage:

Sophie stared at the empty playground. When she first moved to the new town, she felt lonely and out of place. She missed her old friends and didn’t know how to start over. One day, she noticed a group of kids playing soccer. They seemed friendly, but Sophie was nervous. After a week of watching from a distance, she finally gathered her courage and asked if she could join. The kids welcomed her, and soon Sophie found herself laughing and making new friends. She realized that sometimes, taking a risk can lead to happiness.