A C H A P E L TA L K
by Christina M. Oelhafen ’21 February 12, 2021
“Risk It for the Biscuit”
W
e all have that really fun uncle, right? The one that stirs the pot at Thanksgiving dinners or the one who makes little jabs at you during family gatherings. No, maybe not, that might be just a me thing. OK, well, I do. From a young age, my Uncle Jeff has been teaching my cousins, brother, and me life lessons, ones that I have never forgotten. These life lessons, however, are not what you might think. They are not like the basic “never give up” or “believe in yourself ” sayings that we all have heard a million times. Rather, they are
Christina, atop Rubicon Peak
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basic sayings but with a twist—a rhyming, magical, and catchy twist. My Uncle Jeff teaches us lessons like “suck it up, buttercup” or “when in doubt, don’t let it out.” While it may take a little more deciphering to figure out the meaning behind my uncle’s life lessons, they are so catchy that you will never forget them. Yes, they are simply funny little sayings, but I have come to find great meaning in his comedic rhymes. So, I will tell you my four favorite phrases and a few stories that have come from them to convince you that these phrases are worth remembering. First, my personal favorite: “Risk it for the biscuit.” “Risk it for the biscuit” essentially means to shoot your shot, be spontaneous, or be adventurous for a reward. For example, do the minute-to-win-it during Spirit Week to win the McDonald’s feed, or, even more risky, cut the Circle in broad daylight to reduce your total walking distance by two. For those of you who know me, you know that I am no stranger to this saying. I am a sucker for the double-dog dare and, even more so, the triple-dog dare. I love to be adventurous and audacious even if the biscuit is just a smile from my friends or a memory that I can lock away for a rough day. Now, for a more convincing story, let me take you back to December 11, 2017, a truly magical day for me. It was winter term during the two weeks [between Thanksgiving and Christmas], and talk of winter formal proposals filled the hallways. A friend and I were prepared to serenade two Upper School boys at Roll Call when the plan began to fall apart. My friend was forced out of the plan when another Upper School boy asked her to formal, leaving me with a song and a man in mind, but no partner to sing with. After much deliberation and many practice runs in the dorm, I decided to take the stage alone. I decided to
