Throughout my 4 years in high school, I want to share a few things that I’ve learned. Some of these are important, and some of these even matter, but not many. I had to rush to make this because I was about to not have a senior column. You know when you get to that point where you procrastinate even the most important things? Well, I’m there. Thankfully the hard workers who do layouts are still laying out the senior issue and waiting on Senior Superlatives. Did you know that Mr. Phillips’ high school superlative was “most likely to get hit by a bus trying to retrieve a fallen can of Pepsi from the street…and survive”? I think that’s funny. Anyway, here’s my list.
1. Beyonce is pretty much the next coming of Christ. Have you listened to Rennaisance? House music was created in a club called “The Wearhouse”, where Black and Latino queer and trans people went to party in a safe space (and probably do molly). It was a revolutionary category of music that incorporated both soulful and EDM sounds. People don’t know the history of House. They think of some European club that sounds like untz untz untz and smells like White privilege. Beyonce’s Renaissance, which is a 3 part act started with the album Rennaisance itself. Her goal for these acts is to reclaim music originally made by Black people, with her second act being COWBOY CARTER. The way that the album was done was very tasteful and an amazing tribute to the Black and Latino queer community. It incorporates vogue, drag, and soul. Do you know anybody like Beyonce besides me? Oh… Okay then.
2. Mood stabilizers are the truth, honey. People categorize all teenagers as moody and hormonal, which is true. But I’m a teenager who needs Lamotrigine to be a normal amount of moody and hormonal.
3. People dislike feet because it’s trendy. It’s a body part bro. Most people have them. So be grateful for what you have. I want my toes to feel the breeze and I’m not sorry about that.
4. The stigma on cannabis (or flower, or bud, or marijuana, weed even… whatever floats your boat) is largely due to racist American propaganda. When an influx of Mexican immigrants moved to America, they brought marijuana with them. Former Harry Aslinger, in an attempt to criminalize Mexican people, spread harmful and unscientific memos about cannabis. In his messages, he referred to cannabis by the Spanish pronunciation “marihuana”, which further associated the plant with negative bias and implemented xenophobic thoughts in the brains of Americans. Now White liberals with medical cards love flaunting their revolutionary plant that Hispanic and Black people have been sitting in jail for years due to possession of small amounts.
5. Go do something new. I directed Writer’s Showcase, which is a show that composes of student’s writing that gets adapted into play form. It was an intimidating experience but ultimately, Lauren, Foster, and myself created a hilarious and encapsulating show that I will never forget. Unless I experience sudden memory loss, which I hope I don’t.
6. Don’t be afraid to branch out from your friend group. The hard truth of high school (and life) is that nothing is forever. You will meet people who hurt you and you will meet people who are good for you. Either way, they can come and go. Look hard for your people and put the effort in to make it work.
7. Hold empathy for yourself. Everybody says it, but only you can change the way you look at yourself. No use going further because it takes internal work and people usually listen to those motivational speeches and move on the next day.
8. If you are a new vegetarian PUT.THE.WORK.IN to research! It’s not an easy transition and you might end up accidentally starving yourself if you don’t plan meals out and give yourself enough nutrition.
9. You make a change in people’s lives, good or not.
10. I joined the yearbook club because I wanted to put myself in there as many times as possible. If I’m going to pay for something, I’m gonna make it work! Period.
11. I want to major in Biochemistry because it gives a good basis for aiding in environmental restoration and/or developing medicine for countries affected by climate disasters. Places need our help! But being yourself is a gift to the world unless you’re an objectively mean person.
12. Go to the log
13. I’m awesome
14. It’s been a wild ride y’all.
Mr. Phillips, thank you for giving me the platform to speak my truth on the Evanstonian. Thanks to my family and friends who have supported me through high school and in my life in general. Everybody else at ETHS, besides the people who were rude to me, good luck to you. To those who were rude to me, I sincerely hope you find peace in life… I guess. BYE GUYS!
