Senior Citizenship

The day is finally here; my senior portraits are done. I remember the times, not so far in the past, when I envisioned pictures of me in my senior yearbook, ones that would hopefully enshroud my chronically uncomfortable smiles in yearbooks past. I imagined the senior photo shoot as dynamic, allowing for a level of freedom and creativity that a good ol' "say cheese" yearbook mugshot can't convey.

My expectations for the photography session were certainly upheld. A family friend recommended getting the photos taken by BSAWeaver Photography, a business in Decatur managed by Brenda Weaver. After discussing various senior portrait options with Ms. Weaver, we settled on doing a photo shoot at Allerton Park, a beautiful place I had seen a few times but never got a chance to sufficiently explore before this Sunday. I planned out a couple outfits to wear, and that afternoon, I got ready and my mom, brother, and I made the half-hour trek to the park.

"Smile nicely."

"Remember to fix your hair if it's windy."

"Be thankful it isn't raining."

Forced to look out the backseat window by my brother's unexpected call for "shotgun," I thought of all the ways to make this afternoon go swimmingly. At first I regretted not bringing my math and philosophy textbooks to do work during the ride, then I realized in a weekend swarmed with vector equations and Socratic arguments, a few hours away in a tranquil place was just what I needed. The area was totally serene aside from a few families walking their dogs; I doubt I could have chosen a better place to spend the afternoon.

It was a great time. The weather was warm, Ms.Weaver was more than friendly and accommodating, and I think many of the photos turned out nicely. I have yet to see all of the pictures from the session, but a part of me just can't wait to pick one out, crop it to 4 x 4 inches, and submit it to the yearbook. There is definitely a sense of pride in making it through many years of school (and mediocre school pictures) and finally being able to choose your favorite way to represent yourself in your senior portrait.

I'm getting a bit nostalgic, thinking about all that I have learned in life up to this point and the uncertainty of what lies in the future. Having my senior pictures taken was bittersweet--it marks a time in my life full of change and more responsibilities--and yet entirely enjoyable. I had so much fun at Allerton Park during the session that I didn't even notice when two hours passed and it was time to hop back in the car (this time in  the front seat), head home, and finish my remaining work.

In short, the senior portrait serves as a guidepost of growing up, and should be memorable. For those who read this and have not yet had the privilege of taking a senior picture, please remember to enjoy it. No matter how many other things there are to do, temporarily forget about them for your senior portrait; you will look happier and be able to realize the significance of being in a nice place taking the picture that will be next to your name in your last high school yearbook. For those who may have already had a senior picture, I hope this post brings back good memories and can remind us all to enjoy such little things in life--4 x 4 inches, to be exact.

Comfort Within Chaos

I collided with a brick wall of heat. My eyes squinted, trying to separate the hazy shapes of the few trees plotted around the backyard. My whole body felt toasted and sticky, like the baked butternut squash left in the fridge from our family barbeque a few days earlier. Easing my way down the porch steps, I straightened my back, breathed a deep sigh, then started running. The lifelessness outside exaggerated everything I sensed; the glare of the sun, the blast of passing pickups’ exhaust fumes, and the harsh noise of gravel crunching underfoot seemed worse than ever.

I don’t hate summer. I love lying on a hammock midday, blasting upbeat music over the hum of the air conditioner, and refueling myself with a slice of watermelon and a cannonball into the pool. But my motivation, like everyone else I know, enjoys traveling over the summer, and rarely pays me a visit.

Maybe I have so little motivation during the summer because then my days rarely have any structure. Unless, of course, waking up anytime between ten and one, eating my first meal around three in the afternoon (“I’ll have an order of Whatever’s on the Top Shelf of the Freezer”), and spending much of the rest of the day re-watching episodes of House Hunters International is structure. But during the school year, life is hectic. By August 20, sleeping in becomes impossible, deadlines are unavoidable, and retaining information is vital. In many ways, having so much to do is what compels me to finish everything, and to try to do it well. The fear of falling behind, along with the seasonal attractiveness of going to bed relatively early, is what pushes me to get things done.

What I'm trying to emphasize is that despite the increased work load and busyness during the school year, I need the stress to motivate me. I am often more productive when it comes to doing my homework during sport seasons (as opposed to during the off-season), so perhaps the more things I need to do in a shorter amount of time, the harder I work to get it done. I will use this blog to discuss life for me throughout the school year, and how many of the most high-pressure, challenging situations one can encounter show what we are truly capable of accomplishing.