How the south changed my life jeannaCAMPBELL editor in chief
Coming to a new school my sophomore year was something I hope no one else has to ever do. It took me up until about April of that school year to actually feel like people knew my name, and not just that I was new. It was also difficult to get into a group of friends that I really got along with and felt comfortable with, to keep myself from being caught up in my life I left behind, and how much I hated my dad for it. As I got used to my four honors classes on a day and my extremely easy classes on b day with this block schedule that made my A days dreadful. I went through Mrs. Brock who gave me a completely new perspective on studying for a test, Mr. Orr who gave me a whole new meaning of the number 14; I came to realize that the south is not as slow as I had assumed. Sophomore year was the year for me to remember considering I made new friends and became part of the Irmo community. But now, as a senior, I have come to realize that moving to this Irmo community was actually one of the best things that ever happened to me. I have learned so much about southern hospitality, that South Carolina bands (The Movement!) could kill any mid-western band, that the beach could keep me occupied for the rest of my life, that Irmo weekend gatherings are always going to be something to always be remembered for giving me the time of my life. I will also always remember the Nebraska vs. Clemson game my senior year that kept me talking to these Tiger fans for days. Although my life was completely turned around, I have come to a whole new meaning of school work, southern belles, southern entertainment, southern accents, southern love, southern summers (FW!) southern principles, and I have come to love the south more than I ever thought I could. So I raise my glass to the Class of ’09 for giving me high school memories to last a life time!
It’s been a long time coming kristenPOLINSKI circulation manager
Up to this point, a part of my life has focused on high school and everything associated with it. When I graduated from kindergarten, my parents and grandparents were already planning 12 years into the future; they told me that before I knew it I was going to be graduating high school. From then on I was a high school student in the making. In elementary school, as I started to watch Disney shows and movies such as Lizzie McGuire, Cadet Kelly, Pixel Perfect, Even Stevens, and Brink!,my high school training began. In those early years, my friends and I would pass notes, gossip about crushes, go to the mall (via the parental unit), and have sleepovers. Like millions of others, I adopted a Hollywood version of high school. I had quite a reality check my first week of freshman year – high school was absolutely nothing like what I was led to believe. Of course, I didn’t expect students to break out in song and dance, but I at least thought I’d decorate my locker. All
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four years, I’ve never bothered to find my locker and something tells me I’m not the only one. After the reality check, I moved on and adapted. But, despite all the differences, I have found a similarity between myself and the characters. I have found a trendy truth from the high school shows I once watched so devotedly. Just like all the characters that end the show with some sort of epiphany, I came out of high school learning about myself. I’ve known for a long time that life doesn’t realistically revolve around me or anybody in particular, but during high school I’ve become more consciously aware of the world around me. During my junior year, I registered to vote, and as a seventeen year old I voted in the January 2008 presidential primaries. After that, I became obsessed with the election process; by the time the November elections came along I became an Obama junkie – I stayed up way after the Electoral College vote was swept by our new president. Seeing how the world reacted to was an eye opener. I’ve also learned the true meaning of responsibility – four years in high school is definitely filled with many experiences such as getting a drivers license, staying out late, getting a job, and managing everything on top of school work. After taking the SAT and ACT, I realized that I’m not the best standardized test-taker and I didn’t let that bother me as I began searching for potential colleges. In high school I have gained the self-confidence that will be important as I enter college and then the job market. Now that I am moving on to college, whenever I watch a “high school” movie again, I will fondly look back at the highlights that only come in high school. April/May 2009
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