Beyond High School

"You want the truth? Well, here it is. eventually, you forget it all. First you forget everything you learned - the dates of wars and Pythagorean theorem. You especially forget everything you didn't really learn, but just memorized the night before. You forget the names of all but one or two of your favorite teachers, and eventually you forget those, too. You forget your junior year class schedule and where you used to sit and your best friend's home phone number and the lyrics to that song you must have played a million times. And eventually, but slowly, you forget your humiliations - even the ones that seemed indelible, just fade away. You forget who was cool and who was not, who was pretty, smart, athletic, and not. Who went to a good college. Who threw the best parties. Who had the most friends. You forget all of them. Even the ones you said you loved, and the ones you actually did. They're the last to go. And then once you've forgotten enough, you love someone else." -Anonymous

 I found this quote the other and, after reading it, I realized how true it is. There are so many facts that I learned (or memorized) from high school classes that I definitely don't remember anymore. It's hard enough remembering details from classes I took last semester! I have already forgotten what classes I took and who taught those classes to me. The only ones that stand out in sharp relief are the classes that taught me more than just math equations and history lessons. Those classes and teachers are the ones who shaped my personality and helped me find out what I wanted to do with my life (like all of the classes I took with Mr. Vaughan!). I can't remember who I sat with at lunch or what songs defined my life in those days. I know that I must have had some horrific embarrassments, since everyone does during high school, but I just can't remember what they were. If I didn't have my yearbook with its senior superlatives, I wouldn't be able to tell you who was most athletic or most likely to succeed. I've even forgotten the moments I shared with the guy I thought I loved. All of those high school memories are fading to gray in my memory and only a few still shine brightly. There is more to life than high school...a whole bright world out there ready to explore. I've had one year of the real world, and while it might have its problems and responsibilities, I know that I'm prepared and will succeed.