(no subject)
So, I just typed up the 'journal entry' thing for my english project about the senior anthology... and I'm really proud of it. Feast your eyes, everyone!
"May 21th, 2006
Dear ____,
With the end of my final year of high school quickly approaching, I continuously find myself looking not to the future but to the past. Remembering difficult middle school transition years, the times I met some of my best friends and then my first year of high school can keep me occupied for hours.
I can remember so much about my freshman year, even though it seems so long ago. I remember the classes in which I met the people who are still my best friends, even to this day. I remember my first set of teachers in high school, and how incredibly intimidated I was walking in to such a huge fortress of a school every day. I remember that I was the tallest girl in my class in middle school, and it gave me a bit of confidence until I came to Gar-Field and was looking into the belly-button of a basketball player on my first day. I remember how confused I was to not receive a school supply list, and then my overall glee at picking out things on my own. Freshman year seemed to be the only year that I decorated my locker, the only year I was organized, and thankfully, the only year I was scared.
By sophomore year, I at least knew where I was going; where my classes were, and what to expect. I was finally no longer ‘fresh-meat’ and I was prepared to fade into the buzzing energy of school. I was successful, and worked hard, and in effect played hard and enjoyed myself at school for the first time in years. Sure, the workload was heavy, but I had Choir and drama to balance me out, and I found that I had lots of friends, and I had more value in school and its activities than I had ever had. The end of sophomore year was difficult, but I’m proud of how I fought through my problems and managed to keep my nose clean and head high.
Junior year moved so fast I can barely remember anything that had happened, but I know I grew up so much that year, and I grew so much closer to all the people around me, and I learned a few valuable lessons about my own worth that I will always be able to reach behind me and find when I need it.
Now it is my Senior year and I’m left wondering where all the time has gone. I miss the days when the thought of moving away from this place I’ve called home for so many years was only a blip in my mind. When I think about it, I know why I’m only thinking about the past. I’m scared. I’m so afraid of what’s going to happen to me soon that it tastes steely in my mouth. But I know that I’ll be so happy when I’m self-sufficient, when I’m completely independent, going to college, hanging out with friends. The thought occurs to me that it’s going to be so much like now, but so immensely different.
I guess I’m afraid because I’m so family rooted, so dependent on my daily stream of advice and conversation from the people close to me. I know my dad is still going to be right there, only a phone call away, but he’ll no longer be right down the hall like he used to. It’s scary that I won’t have someone telling me to take out the trash everyday, or someone badgering me about my messy bedroom, or someone that I’ll have to order pizza for because he can’t stand dealing with the people himself.
But at the same, I’m so excited to be on my own. I’m itching to be allowed to leave the dishes in the sink over night, to stay out as late as I want, to have ‘my’ spot on the couch. The future means opportunity to me. It’s like one road suddenly forks off into hundreds of others, and I find that so exciting, so intriguing, that I can’t wait to graduate and get out of here. God help me, I have no clue what I’m going to do, what career choices I want to make, but I’m perfectly okay with that. I think it makes it all the more fun. If someone were to ask me where I thought I would be in 5 years… I don’t know how I’d answer, because I really don’t know, and I don’t think any of us honestly do. I think we have an idea of where we want to be, but are we honest enough with ourselves to say where we really think we’ll be?
I think, at a time like this, that it is just as important to view your past as your future. It’s important to remember how you got where you are. But no one should forget to look at their present too. I graduate in three weeks, and then I leave to go on a week long vacation with some of my best friends, which, in some cases, I’ll probably never see again afterwards. Through all the stress and hardship I’ve fought through this year, and all the talk of the future from everyone around me, I think I deserve to live in the present for a while, to steady myself before casting a bright eye on the future, and leaving all of my past behind. But it’s coming, whether I’m ready or not, and its coming fast.
But I’m okay with that.
In fact? I’m damned excited.
Sincerely,
Tory E. Ritter (T-Rit)
"
Whaddaya think?
"May 21th, 2006
Dear ____,
With the end of my final year of high school quickly approaching, I continuously find myself looking not to the future but to the past. Remembering difficult middle school transition years, the times I met some of my best friends and then my first year of high school can keep me occupied for hours.
I can remember so much about my freshman year, even though it seems so long ago. I remember the classes in which I met the people who are still my best friends, even to this day. I remember my first set of teachers in high school, and how incredibly intimidated I was walking in to such a huge fortress of a school every day. I remember that I was the tallest girl in my class in middle school, and it gave me a bit of confidence until I came to Gar-Field and was looking into the belly-button of a basketball player on my first day. I remember how confused I was to not receive a school supply list, and then my overall glee at picking out things on my own. Freshman year seemed to be the only year that I decorated my locker, the only year I was organized, and thankfully, the only year I was scared.
By sophomore year, I at least knew where I was going; where my classes were, and what to expect. I was finally no longer ‘fresh-meat’ and I was prepared to fade into the buzzing energy of school. I was successful, and worked hard, and in effect played hard and enjoyed myself at school for the first time in years. Sure, the workload was heavy, but I had Choir and drama to balance me out, and I found that I had lots of friends, and I had more value in school and its activities than I had ever had. The end of sophomore year was difficult, but I’m proud of how I fought through my problems and managed to keep my nose clean and head high.
Junior year moved so fast I can barely remember anything that had happened, but I know I grew up so much that year, and I grew so much closer to all the people around me, and I learned a few valuable lessons about my own worth that I will always be able to reach behind me and find when I need it.
Now it is my Senior year and I’m left wondering where all the time has gone. I miss the days when the thought of moving away from this place I’ve called home for so many years was only a blip in my mind. When I think about it, I know why I’m only thinking about the past. I’m scared. I’m so afraid of what’s going to happen to me soon that it tastes steely in my mouth. But I know that I’ll be so happy when I’m self-sufficient, when I’m completely independent, going to college, hanging out with friends. The thought occurs to me that it’s going to be so much like now, but so immensely different.
I guess I’m afraid because I’m so family rooted, so dependent on my daily stream of advice and conversation from the people close to me. I know my dad is still going to be right there, only a phone call away, but he’ll no longer be right down the hall like he used to. It’s scary that I won’t have someone telling me to take out the trash everyday, or someone badgering me about my messy bedroom, or someone that I’ll have to order pizza for because he can’t stand dealing with the people himself.
But at the same, I’m so excited to be on my own. I’m itching to be allowed to leave the dishes in the sink over night, to stay out as late as I want, to have ‘my’ spot on the couch. The future means opportunity to me. It’s like one road suddenly forks off into hundreds of others, and I find that so exciting, so intriguing, that I can’t wait to graduate and get out of here. God help me, I have no clue what I’m going to do, what career choices I want to make, but I’m perfectly okay with that. I think it makes it all the more fun. If someone were to ask me where I thought I would be in 5 years… I don’t know how I’d answer, because I really don’t know, and I don’t think any of us honestly do. I think we have an idea of where we want to be, but are we honest enough with ourselves to say where we really think we’ll be?
I think, at a time like this, that it is just as important to view your past as your future. It’s important to remember how you got where you are. But no one should forget to look at their present too. I graduate in three weeks, and then I leave to go on a week long vacation with some of my best friends, which, in some cases, I’ll probably never see again afterwards. Through all the stress and hardship I’ve fought through this year, and all the talk of the future from everyone around me, I think I deserve to live in the present for a while, to steady myself before casting a bright eye on the future, and leaving all of my past behind. But it’s coming, whether I’m ready or not, and its coming fast.
But I’m okay with that.
In fact? I’m damned excited.
Sincerely,
Tory E. Ritter (T-Rit)
"
Whaddaya think?