Year 1: Lifeways 101

Lesson 2:

“Absolutes”
-You can’t make people like you
-Death comes to everything
-Love does not conquer all
-Some acts can not be forgiven
-You can not control your destiny
-Anger never resolves any problem
-Knowledge is the one thing that can never be stolen from you

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When I was in first grade I helped a friend cheat on her spelling test. I was caught and then I lied about what I was doing. The teacher made me write a note to my parents. It was awful. My parents were so disappointed in me.

I just thought I was being helpful to my friend. I couldn’t understand why it was bad. I knew the answers and she didn’t. It seemed more like I was sharing not being deceitful.

Now I can see that I was not only was I hurting her I was hurting myself. I was allowing someone else to benefit off my hard work. I was allowing myself to be used. And, she was selling herself short by not putting forth the effort to learn the material.

It’s a lot to think about but when you’re that young you don’t put that much thought into things.

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My adolescence was a tad different than most since I spent more than half of it in the hospital. Despite this fact, I still had the displeasure of attending public high school. It was the worst and best part of my life so far.

For every struggle that I dealt with I encountered experiences that expanded my mind and made me who I am now.

I learned that some people are cruel not matter how nice you try to be toward them. And, that some people are uncommonly pleasant despite their own troubles.

I learned that sometimes, no matter how hard you work at something you may never be great at it. And, that your mind can surprise you with the amount it can remember.

I learned that some people are born to be popular and the best at everything. And, that some can fight their way to the top with cleverness and talent.

I know that adolescence is the trial that all humans must face on the way to adulthood. For some it is very much like facing a firing squad for others it’s a walk in the garden. I look at it as both.

My motto is that I would not be who I am today if yesterday had not happened. Adolescence was a large part of my yesterdays and I know that I was profoundly shaped by each day of it.