Last week, Farrah invited me to her house. She lured me to Perrysburg with the promise of home cooked fish and a tantalizing glimpse into her diary from the 12th grade. My interest was piqued - what was Farrah like at age 18? I was almost positive that although her comedic timing wasn't as matured and developed in the twelfth grade, it was well on its way. After reading an entry from 9/12/01, I realized I couldn't be more wrong. Senior year Farrah was not the person I know now - she was so incredibly earnest, very angsty, and tragically very, very Republican. A perpetual fear of terrorism, straight from George W.'s fear-mongering speeches, was a continual theme from said entry.
This prompted me to tell my parents to bring my diary from its hiding place in my room so that I could reflect on what kind of dork I was. Here is an entry from 5/22/97:
In science, Hardy [my 7th grade science teacher who was the Heidi to my LC, the Goliath to my David] goes "any gum 2day." I said "no." She told the whole class I got a demerit. I want 3, then I can get demerit SH [study hall]. He [?] gave me tips on how to get a demerit. Then we were taking notes and my light arrow was pointing the wrong way b/c I had no room. She was checking my notes and couldn't find anything wrong. So she goes, "Why is the arrow pointing the wrong way" "B/c I didn't have room." She tore out the page and goes "Now u do." I hate her.
In English - British tea party. During break, I was asking Lauren something near my locker and Nathan walks past a & hits me on the butt (this time no long object). I was like "U perv." He blamed it on Brice. More LATER! I asked Mrs. Horlacher 4 a demerit. She said no. Then I started chewing my gum really loud & she says, "You're chewing gum, automatic demerit." I was all excited and I thanked her. After I left, she said, "What's her problem." Mrs. Gibson never gave me a demerit. I asked 3 times. In Pre-Algebra, Nathan told me to get another demerit, just in case.
In history, I found out who Betsy liked - Nathan W!!! She said in her note, "he's so foxy." So she's over NF. In art, me and Jenna drew our houses and William told all the guys about how I live near him. Then I was like, "One time I said hi to u & u ignored me." Then Ryan and Nathan W said, "If I lived in your neighborhood, I'd ignore u 2." Whatever! Guess what I found out, Mrs. Morrison didn't give Betsey a demerit 4 chewing gum. I hate her! In PE, Saira & Nathan F. broke up. Now they're going out again.
And here endeth a typical journal entry from my seventh grade year. To glimpse into my twisted seventh grade mind is truly enlightening and frightening. I barely recognize myself - a boy crazy Valley girl whose greatest obsession was a guy who barely knew she existed. Hardly the pretentious, liberal hipster who references 30 Rock and I am Charlotte Simmons regularly that I am now. Most importantly, after reading this blast from the past, I realize how important it is to keep a journal. If we can't look back at our angst-ridden teen years and laugh, at least we can feel infinitely superior about how much we have changed. Or how much we have stayed exactly the same.
--By Mariam, who is an MS4 and thereby, INVINCIBLE.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
6 comments:
um so like, why am i not in your journal entry. am utterly upset and feel betrayed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
and you had a crush on Wiita? well i guess all the girls did. ps i hated hardy too. if she only knew you're a dr now....i think that would make my day.
Your demerit system seems really complicated. We didn't have that in Colorado.
Imagine how weird it would be if after fifteen years you return to this website and read this stuff. I cringe when I read something I've written just a few days earlier!
Yeah, I can't even read reports I written about things like "Spatial orientation ability in children" let alone a journal with feelings. That is why I have so many spelling errors in my typing. I am really not looking forward to writing my personal statement, which I imagine I will have to read at least twice! Blurgh!
As a teacher of seventh-graders,I LOVED reading your journal entry. I especially love how three words were dedicated to what I assume was what you learned that day- "British tea party". It really puts to rest any "Freedom-writers" fantasies I have about my kids learning major life lessons from me.
Hahaha Eileen. I don't think I absorbed any life lessons until I was in the 12th grade. 7th grade - your mind is just a combination of mush, hormones, and Bath and Body Works perfume.
Post a Comment