We all have glum days. Hard times. Sad events.
We all have our share of problems, annoyances, grudges, and irritations.
They are simply a fact of life. One we must deal with constantly.
Many try to avoid them. A few try to get rid of them. Most never get past them. No one can totally escape them.
No, it’s not fair, but what can you do?
In your science class, early morning, you sit quietly in your fifth-row seat. You never speak, never question, never volunteer. There is no need. They hand you tests, and you complete them, often flawlessly. You’re at the top of the class, a straight-A student.
But are you noticed? Admired? Respected? Because, if not you, then who is? You do everything you’re supposed to. You follow all the rules. You’re even the smartest. Everyone should want to be like you.
But no, not you. No one sees you. No one notices you. Few people even know you. But, then, who gets the people’s attention, their friendship, their respect?
No, it’s the small girl in front of you. The one with the blonde hair, pink braces, and loud voice. The one who shouts out as often as she can, sometimes more often, guessing randomly at any class-wide question. The one who shouts to her friend across the room, who behaves identically. It’s enough to drive anyone crazy. But, during her ridiculous outbursts, when she finally runs out of steam, people laugh. When she calls out to her friend, they all laugh. When the teacher shouts at her with her broken English, nearly impossible to understand, everyone laughs. And she laughs to, with them, enjoying the limelight. Because it means everyone likes her, admires her, enjoys her. Her friends are innumerable, her influence infinite. Her every move is watched and replicated by countless others.
And what do you have? Genius that you are, at least by comparison? You have the grades, don’t you? The knowledge? And for what? You could count your friends on one hand. You’re always the bottom rung, the low-man on the totem pole. Your life sucks.
No, it’s not right, but what can you do?
Later, in another class, there are the athletes. The jocks. The tough guys. The morons who expect to get by on athletics alone, despite what their teachers say. They always move in groups, and are just as stupid as the girl from science class. Except, they take it a step further. Rather than enjoy being stupid, they constantly mock anyone who is considered nerd. Every answer is stated clearly and precisely, every question carefully enunciated. You might assume brain damage, except that they all do it. And again, everybody laughs.
But what really eats at you is that the teachers don’t get it. They take the intelligent mask and think it to be real. Suddenly, the grades don’t matter. If you act smart, you are commended for being smart. They’ll even go so far as to suggest that you model your efforts after them, whether or not your grades are better.
The jocks feed off of this, and, what’s worse, they seem to have singled you out. They constantly chide you for poor work, often when theirs is worse, and tell you to, ‘get with the program.’
Yes, it’s aggravating, but what can you do?
Then, there’s another girl. This one is different.
She’s an old acquaintance of yours. You were both in the same elementary class. You shared a year of middle school. And now, you attend the same high school. She’s pretty, she’s funny, she’s smart. She’s as close to a perfect person as you will ever meet. She’s also among the small group of people you consider as close friends.
Seeing her smiling face, framed be curtains of smooth, black hair, has become one of the highlights of your day. Every day, after third period, you would race down to her classroom and wait for her. You would then walk with her to lunch, then back to her locker, chatting the whole way. It was a pleasant arrangement. And she would wait for you, if you got held up, so that you could walk together.
But then, quite suddenly, her home was struck with disaster. For a few days, she was gone. When she returned, she was different. Understandable, of course. She didn’t talk to you much, for a while. She didn’t walk to lunch anymore, but instead went straight to her locker, then to wherever else she decided she had to be. You adjusted your route to follow hers, but she kept changing it. Your chats became more cynical and sarcastic. She seemed more reluctant to talk to you. You saw less and less of her. After awhile, you began to come to terms with it: you had probably lost one of your oldest, closest friends.
It’s a sad feeling, but what can you do?
I’ll tell you what you can do.
For the blonde, who won’t shut up. You already know all the answers. Try saying a few of them. Under your breath, lightly, so that only she can hear you. Right before she blurts something out. She’ll pause, long enough for your answer to be announced as correct, or for her to volunteer it as her own. Either way, she’ll turn, and give you a bright, “Good Job!” before returning to the task at hand. Keep this up, and her reaction will change. Watch her eyes. The expression they show will begin to resemble surprise, even amazement. Watch her head. It will turn slightly, to hear you better, but not so that others will notice. Watch her mouth. It will open less, and even then, it will release calm, correct answers. You will know you have won her respect, and that is all you need.
For the jocks, who call you out. Keep your head down, eyes on the page. But keep your tongue ready and your wits sharp. When they try to say something to you, something meant to sting, respond in kind. For, since you’ve already got them beat at the mental game, you need only to win the verbal one. They will be left only with the physical game, and that means you win, two-to-one. Smarter and sharper will win the respect of anyone, if you can prove it to them.
For the girl, the dear friend. Continue on. Continue to talk. Maybe, if it’s realized that you’re here to stay, she will open up some. You can only hope.
We all have glum days. Hard times. Sad events.
We all have our share of problems, annoyances, grudges, and irritations.
They are simply a fact of life. One we must deal with constantly.
Many try to avoid them. A few try to get rid of them. Most never get past them. No one can totally escape them.
No, it’s not fair, but what can you do?
You can keep at it. Continue on. Be among the few that fights them, removes them, lightens the load. For you are a fool, if you choose to simply endure, or even give in. enough determination can accomplish nearly anything. And when you can accomplish anything, you are truly unstoppable.
