High school is a place we all view in different ways. Whether we see the place as the best four years of our lives, or the years in which we began our collection of tear-filled jars, high school is a place we all must enroll in.
The majority of those that enjoy those four years are often the ones that play sports, and carry giant groups of people that are just like them. They wear the same clothes, style their hair in the same way, and only date each other. They go to team dinners, late McDonalds’ runs, and drink on Saturday nights.
But some students are a little different. Some rely on just a little moment to get them through the day. Strange, right? So, what makes a good day a good day, and what makes a bad day unbearable?
The answer is up to you. What is horrid? Is it the English teacher that yelled at you for being late? Is it when Karen tells you that your ponytail is frizzy? Maybe it’s all those events. They pile up, all those little things, until you explode as if you’re a balloon with too much air.
It’s scary, right? All it takes is some bad news to throw you over the edge. Do you ever think about the good events that occur throughout your days of high school? I am not talking about the time you had sex for the first time, or when you drank through the tap of a beer spout. I mean the moments that meant something, personally, to you. Those little highlights. Telling you that it’s the little things is not only cliche, but ridiculous, too. Life is pretty ridiculous, though, so it’s okay.
Allow me to share my favorite part of my day at school yesterday. It’s stupid, but it really stood out to me. English class, period five. Something so quick will last so long in my memories. Reading Shakespeare in a way of performance not only allows one to understand the play more, but makes the experience entertaining.
Something I have always been afraid of is talking in front of people. I get sweaty, my fingers feel cold, but numb, too. My legs shake, and my words stutter. Presentations are something I dread doing in my years of high school.
So, as Miss Jones (name altered for privacy reasons) looked for hands to call on those ready to perform the beloved Othello, I reluctantly raised my hand. The role was small, and only required a couple of short, quick lines. I was terrified. I felt my legs sticking to my seat like glue. But when Miss Jones called my name to go to the front of the room, I knew it was time to face the anxiety.
The next day was the same, except this time, I played a role with some more lines. After stuttering through Iago’s monologue, a feeling of tension released from my body. The acting itself had been butchered, but being able to go up there again was something that truly made me take a step in the right direction.
Yesterday the day came in which I played the part of an angry, main character. As I chased Roderigo into the classroom after getting my running start from the hallway, I felt so filled with energy. My heart was beating out of my chest, my legs were shaking so bad that I could barely stand, and my smile spread into a beam.
Yeah, being in high school sucks, it really does. Those little moments, though, they build up. But instead of tracking the bad ones, treasure the good times. Admire little achievements. Do it for you. You can, and you will. I promise you that.
Carly Zichella 