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Give Me Class, or Give Me Death!
by
Sam Hackel-Butt
(Age: 18)
copyright 09-03-2007
 Contest Winner
Age Rating: 10 to 127
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Give Me Class, or Give Me Death!
When I was in elementary school, and even in high school, the second the final bell rang, or the final exam paper was handed in, I rushed out the school doors to embrace freedom head on. Needless to say I hummed the song ‘School’s Out’ in my head while I walked home, anticipating when I could begin summer activities.
Now that I’m a college student, my views of school have changed dramatically, and so have my views of summer. From grade 3 until my final year of high school, I must admit that I didn’t enjoy school at all. I used to fake ill and leave early or not go at all, and endure a lecture from my mother and a morning of her hard looks and quietness that followed said lecture. She always guilt-tripped me by saying how much the tuition cost, and how was I supposed to get the education they’re paying for if I never went to school?
She also said it wasn’t her loss if I don’t go it was mine. I’d loose valuable opportunities and fall behind if I didn’t go to school, and possibly even fail. By some lucky star, and the fact that I know how to kiss up when it’s needed, I passed through everything with an average grade, or a barely passing grade. As long as I passed, I didn’t give a hoot. I knew there was something greater for me out there than learning Jewish History in Yiddish.
But I couldn’t take it! School depressed me. I wasn’t good at math or French or even the Hebrew classes we had. I wasn’t good at anything, but Art, Music and reading. I was quick to learn how to read, and I took great pride in learning, able to be a book level ahead of the rest of the class in grade 1. I was even happier when in elementary school Art; I excelled, and joined the school choir when I was in grade 4 and lost myself in the world of harmonies and lyrics.
For each of us, we need something to hold on to in order to survive the insanity of people trying to behave sane. For me, it was art. It was being able to sing on stage for people, and knowing I can meet up with friends during breaks. High school for all, I think can be a very trying time. For me, my first few years were terrible, and summer came too slowly, and went by too quickly. Even though I drowned myself in the theatre group, I still wasn’t happy and I wouldn’t be happy until grade 8 when I found two people who also seemed to be unable to survive, either, and the three of us were like fish out of water, flopping together.
That summer lasted too long. I actually wanted to get back to school. It was like that for the rest of my summers between high school grades. I met more people who were tired of sanity and who let loose, forming a small group that survived hardships, and college life.
I’m the oldest of the group, and one of my greatest fears during the summer before my first year of college, was that I‘d be too busy for them. That summer was the one that went by the quickest. In a blink of an eye, it was the morning of my first class and I couldn’t help but be excited. Soon, a few weeks past, and the excitement grew and grew until I was actually happy to be going to school. The last time I was actually glad to go to school was when I was in Kindergarten.
If someone enjoys school, summer can seem like a nuisance. I must admit, I enjoy the sleeping in and the laziness of it, but two months is just too much. Give me a month to rest up, give me a month to reset for a new semester. Don’t stretch it out and tease me, because class is great! I’m no longer forced to conform to one standard, I’m no longer required to be math and science smart; it’s just not me. I’ve never had a head for it. I’m no longer forced to spend many hours a day with people I dislike, and acting like I don’t mind them. Even the greatest of actors crack, and I started towards the end of high school.
The greatest feeling, though, is waking up on the last day of summer with a smile on your face, the sun in your eyes, and you glance at your alarm clock only to realize you’re running late and might miss the bus. Dressing and packing become a sport in which you need to record the fastest time, and food becomes a requirement of the weak. Summer is wiped from the mind as you dash to the bus stop flailing your arms and looking like a fool in the process. But once you’re on that bus does it hit you; you’ve left summer on your front step and you won’t need it for a whole year.
So, it’ll creep around for a bit, and try to entice you with hot days and muggy nights, offering ample opportunities to hit the beach or pool, go biking with friends or sipping cool drinks on the deck at sunset. Don’t fall for its tricks. Its time has gone, but the grin never fades.
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11-28-2007 Mehrina B.
Haha, Jordan was a bad freshman! ^-^ You know, it never fails to amuse me when all the upper classmen talk about how *annoying* freshmen are. Let me quote from a senior I heard yesterday: "The 'freshmens' are so stupid".
*bursts out laughing* Seniors can be so dumb sometimes...
Is this what college is like? *dreamy look* I loved elementary school, but I hated the guts out of middle school. 7th and 8th grade were miserable, especially the latter. The only thing I liked about 8th grade was my algebra class, but I did so shamefully horrible in that class, I can't stand to think about it. *shudders*
The best thing about college, I think, is that you can take any course you want, and there aren't any required courses. That'd be awesome... I could finally drop all the useless courses they make you go through again and again, year after year. I mean, is there *any* point in taking something like English for 12 years in a row? Half the classes are basically repeating everything from previous classes anyway! And why do even have to write essays? It's not like all of us are going to be journalists or something later on. Besides, all my teachers say that half of the school turns out to be factory workers, and where in factory working would you need to write an essay?!
Anyway! I really liked this story, because it was so optimistic, or in Frank's words, bouncy! I happen to disagree with summer being too long, because I myself can't get enough of summer. For me, though, it's not as much about no school as it is about the weather. I *hate* cold, I hate winter, I hate snow, I hate rainy, damp, cold, miserably gray days, I utterly loathe static electricity, and I absolutely despise it when the sun goes down so early. I love sunshine; maybe it's because I'm practically cold-blooded with my anemia, or maybe because I was born in a desert, or maybe even because I was born in the summer, but I just love warm, sunny days. So I guess you could say that I'd love spring just as much, but I hate spring almost as much I as I hate winter because of two things: allergies and bees. I don't think there's any need to go into why I dislike those two...
Anyway, good piece! I think I know what to expect for college now! That is, if I ever decide which college I'll ever go to. I've always wanted to go to a college in another country, like Britain maybe, but my parents would never let me, and to be honest, I know I'd miss them way too much to ever leave.
I enjoyed reading your story! It had a few grammar mistakes, which I believe have been covered already by previous commenters, so that's me out of a job.... Nice work, Sam!
~*Meh*~
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11-09-2007 Jordan Screws
Amusing... we have vastly different views of college vacations. You cannot wait for summer to end once it starts while I cannot wait for it to begin. However, a couple of months into it, I get terribly bored and have to fight to stay sane. At any rate, summer is a welcome break from having papers and tests basically crammed down your throat, and I believe we can agree there. As an aside... don't let the bureaucrats shorten the sacred break season known as summer!
I agree with a LOT of what you say. I thought that elementary school was a waste of time and I HATED middle school, probably because I was too lazy to do a good deal of the work. I barely passed middle school and almost failed English in 9th grade... I was the epitome of lazy. But around 10th grade I got my act together and made As and Bs, and I managed to graduate high school 47th out of 142 students. I could have done better, but the 9th grade year killed me.
The important thing is getting your act together in time for college, where it really counts. Like you, science and math were not my favorites or areas of competency. I was much better at English and History, especially the latter. So I elected to become a history major, and that is what I intend to be right now. I thought college was going to be more drudgery, but with the freedom it offers I actually enjoy it, which I never thought I would say about any school!
I would venture to say that I rambled on quite a bit. But to sum it up, this work speaks for a good deal of the college population and will probably bring back memories for former college students. I also like your narration and colloquial language: rather than offering a dissertation, you speak in terms familiar to anyone. All in all, you did well. Good work.
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11-07-2007 Chermayn Fong
Oh hey, I'm no longer a loner. I have the same feelings too! I've always been saying High School is nothing but a glitch in the system, it's not as important as it seems and their assessment of intellect is completely out of bounds.
Anyway, I will cease my rambling and continue on...Thanks for the good read!
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09-28-2007 Richard Reed Jr
**Congratulations**
for a great piece of prose poetry
It captured the mood and essence of what I was asking for in a very well-written manner.
It was very believable, even if school did win.
And I especially loved the simple way you narrated it.
Thanks for entering my contest!
~Rich
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09-23-2007 Frank Fields
Congratulations, Sam for a well-deserved pair of stars.
Sincerely,
frank :)
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09-14-2007 Marilyn Mackenzie
Hi Sam. Like Frank, I like this. I agree with the comments he made about jumping around and about that verb tense problem. I also found this: Soon, a few weeks past. I think you meant, "Soon a few weeks passed."
Thanks for sharing. And...write on!
Blessings,
Kenzie
P.S. What I didn't agree with Frank on was that this made me want to go back to college. Nope.
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09-11-2007 Frank Fields
I liked this, Sam. Very much. Probably because it mirrored some of my own activities and thoughts when I was going to school. As you point out, the irrationality of both the lower grades and high school, but the ecstasy of college or university. This piece reflects that very well in that it is kind of bouncy. I think that's a good word. LOL Seriously, the writing is very good, but the action seems to go back and forth, instead of being a more chronological portrayal. The last two paragraphs really end this piece nicely. And on a very happy, enthusiastic, and emotionally charged attitude. Your imagery throughout is good, as are your paragraph separations, the sentence structures, and word choices for the descriptions. There are two minor errors. Paragraph 3, I believe you meant to use the word "lose" instead of "loose"?
And Paragraph 5 there is a verb/tense disagreement with "can." I think it should be "could." Really picky, I know, but if I didn't say anything, ....It's a good write, Sam.
Almost makes me want to go back to the classroom.
Almost. LOL
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