ARGH (or, why high school bugs me)

I am so incredibly jealous of all you people who are done with high school. Really, you have no idea.

There are a few things I absolutely cannot stand about high school:

1. Teachers who really don't want to be there and do not enjoy teaching.
   
2. Students who really don't want to be there, and insist on making stupid comments that distract everyone else.
3. Having to pack a lunch that's easy to pack and transport.
4. High school relationships. Really? Really?
   
5. Other people judging you on what you're wearing and who you're hanging out with.
6. People constantly assuming that teenagers are wild and crazy and love to party--and insisting that high school is the best time of your life.

And then there are the things that generally make it worthwhile:

1. My friends, people who I would never get to spend all day, five days a week, hanging out with, in any other location.
   
2. Meeting people that you would never meet anywhere else.
3. Learning new things. I know that sounds stupid, but how many people are going to study the history of Canadian fur trading unless they're getting graded on it?
4. Decorating your lockers--it's like the ultimate personal space, even if it's painfully small and sometimes hard to remember the combo to.
5. Band. If I didn't go to high school, I wouldn't be in school band. If I wasn't in school band, I wouldn't get to have those amazing, almost out-of-body experiences when all that matters is this wonderful noise that you're creating.

This year, I've decided to make Valentine's for all the lovely people who make high school enjoyable (to be fair, I actually enjoy it most of the time--tonight I'm just particularly frustrated!). Sooo... this has been my ridiculously long winded way of asking you if you know any dorky jokes/cheesy pick up lines/lame Valentine's sayings. Really, the worse the better.

Have a great weekend,

Erika

never be the same

(Image from weheartit.com)

My friend, Hope (name change, just in case she doesn't want it here), moved away at the end of the summer.

It's nice, talking to her over MSN, hearing about her day and her school. But it's also weird--removed. Hope is one of those rare, wonderful people who are totally fearless and totally vulnerable at the same time. She was always up for anything; a loud, vibrant person. Except when she wasn't. Hope could be shy and awkward just as much as the rest of us. But she could make anyone feel comfortable with just a few words.

She's coming back to Terrace in a few days (13 days, 14 nights, she told me), and I'm excited, but I'm also worried about what might have changed.

Hope has always kind of overwhelmed me. She's so bright and alive and crazy, and I definitely wish I could be more like her. As much as I want to talk to her in person again, I'm a little worried.

She and one of her good friends have a bet going that Hope will star in a movie before her friend publishes a book. They're the kind of people that will still be in touch in, say, twenty years. Me? I'm not so sure.

I'm sure I'll still know at least a few of my close friends. I really can't be sure, though. I definitely want to know what all these fabulous people will do with their lives, but once we're no longer seeing each other in school every day, I don't know if we'll really remember.

There I go, getting all nostalgic over things that haven't happened yet.

One thing's for sure, though. I don't want to forget. The evening air is cool and crisp, and we have our fireplace lit. It's the perfect first day of Fall.

This is a season of courage.

Erika

I me you we

bSoundtrack: Uh, I'm watching "Camp Rock 2"... Yeah.
Words: +2500 in a strange spurt of inspiration

When I was starting high school, I had to go to a workshop for teen girls (I'm pretty sure everyone in our grade had to attend--I don't even know why, it was just mandatory). It was supposed to help girls talk about and work through their "issues". Or something.

One of the main things they talked about at the workshop was body image. The instructors had us each read one line from a poem called something like, "I Am Me." It was all about accepting yourself as who you are--your good points, talents, attractive qualities, and all the bad stuff, too.

The end of the poem is the only part I really remember:

"I am me. And I am okay."

When it was done and everyone was clapping awkwardly and shooting each other weird looks, I was sitting their with a stupid smile plastered on my face, thinking "Bullshit."

Body image is a huge issue for a lot of people--girls and boys, women and men. And so many people sell themselves short.

Some of my friends go on and on, talking down about how they look, what they wear, who they are. I'm no shining example, nor do I claim to be, but I don't think that talking yourself down is any way to treat a person. You wouldn't look at a complete stranger and say, "You're ugly," so how can you possibly do that when you look in a mirror? It's disrespectful.

I know I'm generalizing. Not everyone hates how they look--a lot of people love their bodies, their minds, their personalities (though not necessarily in that order). I think a lot of writers make this generalization, as well. Everyone deals with self confidence problems, but a confident character here or there can be a nice change.

I don't mean you should walk around saying, "I'm awesome, I'm the best, I win at life." That doesn't make you awesome, that just makes you a jerk.

I think it's finding the balance that's key. You can't be self-absorbed, in a good or bad way. But next time you're looking in a mirror, try this line instead:

I am me and I am fantastic. Beautiful. Unique. Talented. Extraordinary. Brilliant. Lovely just the way I am.

Because you are.

Love,

Erika

PS: I don't meant to get all motivational-speaker on you. I just had something on my mind.