I don't mind the snow in April. Really I don't. I lets me stay inside and clean (for some reason I always get really "nesty" when the weather is crappy) And we all know how I feel about the rain.
But I think the biggest reason I don't mind the snow in April is because I know that it won't last. Even though it is quite late in the season to get snow, that still doesn't matter for what we have coming up. Trips to the lake, trips to Missouri with my mom and finally fitting into that bathing suit I bought last year. All good things to look forward to.
I think that this is the same reason I don't have horrible memories of high school. I know this seems like a stretch, but follow me here. I know lots of people out there have horrible thoughts and feelings about school. Many of you (like me) changed schools when you were in Jr High and High school and that didn't help you at all with the fitting in.
Just the other day my sister and I were talking about this and she's is thinking about pulling her kids out and home schooling them when they are middle school aged. She just doesn't want her kids to be exposed to all the stuff that they will most likely get in a normal Jr High. And while I agree with her on that aspect, one of her arguments is that school at that age is rough on kids' self esteem. And I just don't see that. I never had that.
I guess I was always someone that had a friend and a past time. I always had someone to eat lunch with, and I had sports after school to keep me busy. Not only that, I was kind of a nerd, so I enjoyed going to classes and I enjoyed learning with the rest of my nerdy friends. We all had the same classes together, and so we all got to be "class friends" at least. Maybe we didn't hang out outside the class, but if I saw them in the hallway they wouldn't spit on me or shove my head in the toilet at least.
However, I think the biggest reason I don't have bad memories of high school is because I never wanted to be something I wasn't (except thinner. I always wanted to be thinner!) and I never wanted to be in a different group. I never looked at the popular kids and said "oh, I want to be in their group" nor did I think that with the Emo kids, the skaters, the band groupies, the goths or the cowboys. I was just happy being where I was. I was happy talking to my friends, hanging out with them on the weekend and playing sports. I was just happy with what I had and with what I was.
And I knew it would all end soon. I knew that I would graduate and most likely go to BYU. If not there, I knew I would go away to SOME college. I knew that I would leave my high school behind and I would continue on with my life and not really have to worry about the clique I was in (or wasn't in) in high school. I knew that it would all end someday and when that happened it wouldn't matter if I was a goth or a cheerleader. It wouldn't matter what I did every weekend. All that I take with me from high school is a love of geometry, a love of Shakespeare and good memories of volleyball games and chips and ranch at my friend's house while watching silly Austin Powers movies. It was just. . .nothing!
There's nothing to get all worked up about, no reason to lament and sob about what was not. It's done. It was high school and it's over now. It was just a little snow in April.
(The view from my balcony today.)
Friday, April 30, 2010
Snow in April
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4 comments:
I totally get you about the snow/rain in April. And I have to say that being pregnant, I am REALLY appreciating the colder weather. But BOY, I wish I had had the foresight and wisdom to have the attitude you did in high school. Not that I hated it or have horrible memories of it or anything. I enjoyed myself and it was a TOTAL improvement over middle school. But if I had been able to keep my head like that about high school, then I might be doing better about the newborn stage, too! *chant to self* "It too shall pass, it too shall pass, it too shall pass...." Thanks for coming to my shower! It was good to see you!!
Very well said. I love the analogy you make.
I think the hard part about Jr High is puberty. Those are some of my difficult memories of Jr High and dealing with my body. Friends were important. I kept busy with sports and schoolwork. I probably admired the pretty skinny girls, but my friends liked me how I was, and that was all that mattered.
Hey by the way! My husband has his 10 year high school reunion up there the first weekend of June. I'm gonna take my kids to the pool. Care for a rendez-vous?
We've had wacky weather here too, and I'm a fan for the same reason Amy stated. ;-) Seriously, if it's above 65 in my house, I'm baking -- this cool weather is a blessing.
Middle school was okay but not the best time for me. I had "friends" I hung out with, but in retrospect they weren't great friends -- they weren't very secure with themselves and would tear other people down to make themselves feel better. I didn't realize that at the time, of course. I didn't want to be in another clique necessarily, but some good friends would have been helpful. Thankfully I had friends from church (Mindy for one) and even though we wouldn't see each other at school much (until the latter high school years) it kept me grounded and going on.
Are you sure about the bad weather not persisting? I do recall June being in the 50's last year. I just haaaaate long winters!!
I agree with your friend, I wish I had your attitude in high school. It's a tough time for most, so I'm happy someone got through unscathed!
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