The essays on this page have been provided by a wide cross-section of Bermuda's school children as their contribution to Education Month. Every Thursday in February, The Royal Gazette , in conjuction with the Department of Education, will present a page of students' work.

If I had a party I would invite Oprah Winfrey because I think I would enjoy her company. I would also invite Terry McMillan. There is something that most people like about Oprah: It is that she is a wonderful person because she could be doing a show about something that is very funny and she could have you laughing and crying at the same time. Terry McMillan is a writer, as some of you may know, but when she is writing she can make you feel like you are in the book and it is happening to you right now.

When you read one of Terry McMillan's books I guess you can say you kind of get addicted to it and you can't stop or put it down. I would invite them both because both of their careers are the same careers I want to do. I would invite them because of their words of wisdom and because they have great personalities. I have watched a lot of Oprah's shows because they are so interesting. I think she knows that little saying: "Think wrongly if you please but always think for yourself''. I admire both of them and what they do for a living. Both of them have respect for themselves and that's why they have respect for others. I would invite them because both of them take pride in what they do and they don't let anyone get in their way, because in life there is always someone that wants to stump you right back down.

I think the best place to have the party would be at the Southampton Princess Ballroom. There it is nice and spacious, no-one can bother you, nice seating, and all the right touches.

The time would be from 6.30 p.m. until 8.30 p.m. That way it will give them time to relax after their day's work, and time to get ready. It will end that time so that when they leave it won't be too late nor too early.

When they come we would eat a nice Bermudian dish like Fish and Chips or peas and rice, so that it will settle nicely and it would be nice to eat in the evening. We would drink something soft like iced tea, that would quench your thirst. For dessert we would have strawberry shortcake.

For entertainment we would listen to somebody like Luther Vandross and Patti LaBelle and maybe something else more upbeat. Something that everyone can dance to, something easy to talk and relax to.

We would talk about how they got started, what are some of the ups and downs, do they think about what they are going to say or write, or does it just come when it comes. We would talk about when McMillan was young, did she read a lot to help her with her vocabulary and ideas for her stories? Are the jobs they are doing now, the jobs they wanted to do when they were younger? Do they have any ideas that would help others become or get better at writing, acting, and hosting TV shows? And then, I would thank them for coming. So if I had to invite someone to a dinner party, that is who I would invite and why I would invite them, because I think we would have a good time and I hope that we would enjoy each other's company, at least I hope so! By Shalane Dill Age 11 Dellwood Primary School PARTY GUESTS -- Oprah Winfrey and author Terry McMillan would be Shalane Dill's dream party guests.

EDUCATION MONTH ED