As i was reflecting on this past week, the activity of reading "how to survive" letters from last year stuck out like a sore thumb. I found that activity to be engaging, and I only wish I had had more time to read other letters. I found this to be an exciting activity for two reasons. First off, simply reading my peers' writing (some even my close friends) is an adventure in itself. It allows me to explore the minds of those around me (e.g. writing style, tone, word choice). Secondly, I was intrigued by what they had to say in retrospect of their senior years. The girl whose letter I read gave many suggestions about how to "live life to the fullest" in my senior year. What caught my attention, however, was my inability to connect with her advice.
Although I fully appreciate and understand that the writer wrote with her heart in her pen, I could not bring myself to think on the same plane as her. Her advice suggested that I make new friends and try new things, but this horse has been beaten to death and then beaten to death again by the spiked club of "new-friendship and trying-new-things". In short, I've become jaded by these hollow suggestions. I don't mean to insult her writing, which was captivating and well-written, but I just could not bring myself to embrace her advice. High school repeats these words like a broken record, and in response, I have gradually tuned it out.
On the other hand, I can see myself where she was coming from in ten months. I can see myself trying to make the most of the end of my senior year, and I can see myself thinking exactly what she was thinking. In fact, I'm certain that's what I'll be thinking by the end of the year. But I just can't do it now.
I guess that's just one of the many journeys of senior year.
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This is a great blog, Mr. Lee. You come around to the very point I would have made: she is in a different place than you are, a point in time at which you might write the very same sort of letter because you will know things then--about yourself, this year, the world--that you can't know yet, don't know now. It's also an interesting blog because I wasn't sure how to read (i.e., understand) and respond to your comments about the letter, wondering if it signaled a more cynical attitude and jaded perspective than you reveal in your blog.
ReplyDeleteGreat first week and I'm grateful for the example of using the blog in such a thoughtful way. Enjoyed what you wrote. Look forward to an even better week ahead.
Harrison, I also thought I'd comment on your blog by saying that I agree with what you're saying about the advice we've heard over and over again throughout our years in high school. I know that I've been told to "try new things" and "get involved" too many times to count. However, while I completely understand where you're coming from and find it hard myself to take this redundant advice, I felt that reading a letter from someone who just went through what I am about to go through and survived was reassuring and put things in perspective for me. I definitely agree that it wasn't necessarily a huge revelation and won't be the thing that causes me to change how I behave this year but I just thought it was a cool idea to give us a small taste of our where we will be in a short year. Great blog though! You made excellent points and overall, I completely agree.
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