High School!

I've been reading a lot of Jennifer Niven lately.  Dear friends recommended her books to me, and I was off and running with a three-novel series she wrote.  Fascinating!  Endearing!  Addictive!  I was sad when I finished the three and had enjoyed her writing so much that I investigated her other books and came across one entitled, "The AquaNet Diaries."  Pretty catchy title, huh?

So I purchased it from the Kindle store and just finished it.  It chronicles Jennifer's high school days and set me thinking about mine.

Some observations:  high school days were fun!  and trying...and hard...and mystifying...and wonderful...and awful.  All the above.  I don't remember much about my freshman and sophomore years.  I remember being excited and overwhelmed and happy.  I had come from two years at a public school grades 1-12; 1 1/2 years in a new elementary school; 4 1/2 years at a local elementary school...and felt suddenly like a fish out of water.  Junior and senior years I remember vividly, down to small details!  Must have found my waterwings because I loved every minute of those two years, particularly.  Might have to do with a certain somebody named John!  It was puppy love at first sight, and we've been together now those two years, two in college, and 43+ in marriage :) 

Back to Jennifer's experience:  I must say my high school years were tame in comparison to hers.  I bet her mom got an instant education in what went on in J's life when this memoir was published.  There were lots of parties, drinking, cigarettes, speeding, cutting class, and other shenanigans from the beginning to the end!  As for me, I would have died rather than disappoint my parents by getting in trouble or doing poorly at anything.  Miss goody-two-shoes of the first degree!  And no regrets at all.

Her conclusion...and mine...is:  high school can be a wonderful experience...and high school can be an awful experience.  It's a wonder some survive, both physically and emotionally.  So much competition; superficiality, self-absorption, pettiness, silliness, meanness...but so many friendships, great conversations, meaningful relationships, life-long soulmate formation, lessons in maturity...plus much learning and mind-stretching and reaching-for-the-star experiences academically.  Plus some great teachers and crummy teachers...fun sporting events and heartbreaking lessons in losing.

She surmises that the high school experience is about the same worldwide!  I wouldn't know about that, from personal experience, but I do recommend her books for your reading enjoyment.  Beware that there is some language in all.  Not horrible but perhaps a little too much for some.

All this being said, I rate my high school experience as super-good, and I wouldn't trade my friends in the Knoxville Central High School Class of 1967 for any in the world!  I might add that many other friends, older and younger than I, are right there, too.  Love you guys!