This Section of My Life

Since I woke up, I almost knew that I was going to head to state on my senior year.  I had worked for years for this moment; this green stage is where I was ready to perform my best.  The course was difficult, and my game was ready for everything the course had to throw at me.  The last words I was told before I stepped up to the tee box was by my coach and mentor: “I really do expect you to be playing next week.”  Now it was up to just me, to capitalize on my game, and to prove to everyone that I was good enough to go to the state golf championship.

            For the past 2 ½ years, I dedicated myself to being the best golfer I could be by practicing as often as I could.  When I didn’t have a driver’s license, I would try to get a ride up to my golf course as often as I could, whether that meant going for only a half hour or staying up there six hours.  Once I did get my license, I would go golfing even more.  I would play as much as I could, even if it was raining.  I practiced on the putting green, hit balls on the range, and even saved my money from work to buy a better set of clubs.  Even with all the practice, I knew what I needed was a coach.  I found a great coach, and we worked together quite a bit.  We improved my game, and that gave me the confidence going into each season.

            As I began my final golf season for my high school, I was all the long preparing to make it to state.  I had been watching golf shows and reading articles through the winter, and tips on how to improve.  I took a risk at the beginning of the season by completely changing my swing, but did not see immediate improvement. I knew though, soon enough, it would pay off.  Luckily, it did pay off.  As sections came closer, and my excitement grew, I never wanted to stop working.  The team and I were so into it that when it got dark, we pulled up our cars to the practice area, put on our lights, and continued to work.  All of us could smell success in the coming weeks; we knew we were going to blow away the other players.

            Sections, the tournament that decided who would advance to state, was finally here.  Although I was sick the previous day, today I was feeling great.  The smell of freshly cut grass, the sound of the creek running through the course, and feeling I got when you know you are in the middle of some of the best competition of your life, made this day all the more memorable.  Even though I was ready for state, and it was something I had wanted for so long, I realized that I was up against nearly one-hundred of guys with the same story.  I was different though, and I was going to be better.

            As I was stepping up to the tee box, I could hear the talking of teammates, and the sound of clubs clashing together as the golfers walked down the fairway.  There were birds singing, leaves crackling, and yet it was silent.  I didn’t care about the distractions, and like that, they were gone.  I only heard one thing: “I really do expect you to be playing next week.”   As my first ball splashed into the pond, I wondered if perhaps this was not meant to be.  Now, the singing birds sounded of a high-pitched screech,  and the crackling sound of leaves were getting in my head.  However, as I continued on, nothing was going well.  My game was letting me down.  I lost a ball that was as good a shot that I had hit all day (I still believe that another golfer mistook it for his ball), and I even missed a putt that was shorter than minute hand on my watch.  Unfortunately, as my game fell apart, so did my confidence.

            Upon arriving to the club house, I was informed that I have missed the cut by three strokes.  For a while, every time I looked back I thought about all of the mistakes I had made, and if I had not done them, would I have gone to state?  That lost ball was two strokes already, and the stubbed put would have made the difference.  That was most upset I have been at myself to this day, but I now understand how unimportant it was.  Looking back on the season, I realized I as good enough to go to state.  I set the low score for my team all but twice, and I medaled in two meets.  I shot an 80 at Lake City, which is better than most previous golfers at our school had even shot there.  As I realized that my hard work had paid after all, I decided to put that much effort into my life.  I worked harder at school, and even at my job.  Because of that, I earned more scholarships than I could have predicted, and even got a promotion at my job this summer.  Throughout the summer, I placed fourth against the best golfers in high school in the La Crosse county area, twice.  I also placed third in my final of those tournaments, earning my second golf medal of my life.  I also placed second in my flight at my club championship, one stroke off Boomer, who is nearly a legend at our course.  So although I did not go to state, I earned so many more qualities.  Better work-ethic, honesty, and perseverance. 

            I had one chance to go to state, and I did not make it.  Quite frankly, I am okay with that.  I worked hard to make it to state, and even though I did not make it, the work was not wasted.  Not only did I improve my game, but I learned what it is like to fail.  Failure is not something I had significantly experienced before sections, and it has taught me a lot.  I learned to persevere and learn from my mistakes.  I have improved my work ethic and increased my chances of succeeding next time.  I have many years ahead of me, and more golf to play.  So when I do well, or not so well, I will always have the memory of sections in the back of my mind, and that will always keep me going.

Being Qualified Might Help

                “I guess the transport officer got sidetracked, and that’s all it took…The juvenile was handcuffed with his wrists secured to a belt and his ankles were shackled.”  This was Houston County Sherriff Doug Ely’s response to the recent escape of a juvenile.  “He bolted down the stairs, out of the court house and disappeared…I was told even though he was shackled, he could run like a deer.”  (Warner 2).  As reported in this week’s issue of the Caledonia Argus, a seventeen year old juvenile was being transported to the Houston County court house from Red Wing where he was being held.  While in the building, the juvenile ran through and out the court house and went into hiding.  After an hour, he was discovered in an abandoned upstairs apartment in the city. 

                I will admit that I found this article quite humorous when I read it.  Quite frankly, most people would.  When I think about it though, it makes me wonder what would have happened if this juvenile had been a serial killer or rapist.  I for one would not have confidence in my local police.  If a criminal could escape through the whole court house and into the city, while chained up, what does that say about the qualifications of our law enforcement?  Are they qualified?  The same could be said for a few teachers as well.  I have had, and currently do, teachers that just don’t teach well enough to satisfy the students’ needs.  Although teachers teach in many different styles, there are some that simply don’t do their job well enough.  Some people just don’t seem right for a job, and there should be stricter regulations for certain professions.

                The other day I briefly talked to a security guard at Western.  I simply asked how he was doing and talked about the weather.  As he left, I realized that he was old.  Not mid-forties, but in his late fifties or more.  If someone had robbed a teacher, I wouldn’t put my money on the officer catching the criminal.  Another officer at Western I saw was not obese, but not in the best of shape.  I wouldn’t count on him to chase down a criminal either.  After these observations, I did a little research and found that sixteen percent of Sacramento deputies were considered obese.  Why?  It may have something to do with the fact that there are no physical requirements for being a police officer in terms of strength and fitness.  One officer, when confronted with this statistic, stated that with long and stressful officers and often having to eat while on patrol, fitness is the last thing of many officers’ minds.  This, however, makes a key part of their job (protecting the public) harder. 

                Another profession in which some people are not qualified is teaching.  Although I have had a good experience with most of my teachers, there are a few that simply don’t belong in the teaching world.  One high school teacher would walk into the class and tell her students to read from the text book.  When we were done, she would tell us to read it again so that we really comprehended it.  While we read, or at least pretended to, she would be at her computer typing away. This was a daily routine, and only once in a while would we get a quiz or test.  Naturally grades in the class were well below average because she never taught us anything.  Then is occurred to me that if she hardly ever gave quizzes or tests, then what could she be doing on her computer all day?  Anyway I ended up with a C- in that class, and I am usually on the honor roll.  I only managed to squeeze in a C-because she made some tests open book or open notebook.  A current teacher tries hard to teach and although he tries, we students, for the most part, are not doing well.  The tests are hard and I am below average in that class.  Perhaps a simple teaching workshop would do him well.  In both classes I have talked to other students and it is almost unanimous that the teacher needs to improve his or her teaching methods. 

                I am aware that jobs are often stressful and difficult, but that’s part of the work.  If I am willing to work harder in class by studying more, then the teacher should ask students ways to improve teaching ways.  If I pay taxes towards public protection, then officers should be physically capable of doing their job.  Work is more that doing what is written in a job description, it is preparing you for doing those jobs well.  Maybe then I will be more confident in those professionals.

Musicals

            It was freshman year at Caledonia High, and there was something different with my friends: they were tired.  The whole year they were alive and excited, but something about January dropped their energy like Eminem drops rhymes.  At first I thought it was the cold winter season, or perhaps being the new semester.  When I finally asked a buddy why everyone seemed so tired, she responded with a kind of annoyed tone, “It’s the musical.”  Yet, if they were so tired, there had to be a reason that they continued it year after year.  So the next year, I started my adventure in the art of theatre.

            At first, I wasn’t sure that I wanted to do the musicals.  It sounded dull, and practicing nearly every day after school for hours didn’t help persuade me either.  And yes, there had to be enjoyment in it if everyone liked being in it.  What finally got me to say yes was when a friend on the golf team said,
“Well at least it gives you something to do in the winter before the golf season.”  Yes, because those four months of the year were the longest wait I have ever experienced.  Joining the musical would keep me from thinking about golfing and possibly help me make some new friends.  Without another thought, I placed my name on the signup sheet next to my best friend’s, and waited for the time to come.  It was nerve-racking to sing and act in front of the directors, even though one was my choir director.  Even worse was the wait.  Would I make it?  Would I get a part or will it be another embarrassment?  There was no way to prepare myself for the list to come out, so I simply waited.

            It was excitement, and relief, that I felt when I saw my name on the cast list.  Sure, I had a very small role, but it was enough for my first year.  As the entire cast practiced more, and memorized lines, songs, dances, and scenes, the energy level was becoming harder and harder to maintain.  Most nights we were there until seven or later, and after dinner and homework, there just wasn’t time to relax.  Pressure was building as I realized that everything was needed to be memorized soon; the show was only a few weeks away.  I had so much more to learn, and before I knew it there we only four practices left.  I’ve seen it on television: I forget my line or mess up in a dance, and there’s no turning back.  My body was drained when I got home, but I couldn’t sleep because I had to work on my songs and dances.  This is why everyone was so tired during the winter.

            I can never forget the feeling of when the curtain rose for the first time.  My first real show, and there was so much excitement in me.  Oddly enough, I wasn’t nervous when I was on stage.  Perhaps it was because I was focused so much on the next line or next cue, that I couldn’t focus on the audience.  The show was fun, and so was the after-show party.  Finally, I was able to sleep.  A whole week of relaxing and regaining my energy.  This is what we musical people call PMS (Post Musical Syndrome).  And before I knew it, here came the reason I joined the musical in the first place.  The golf season had arrived already.  This whole time in the musical I had no time to think about golf.  Then I knew that I was sticking with the musicals.

            That first show was entitled “Once Upon a Mattress” and the next year I had a slightly larger role in “West Side Story”.  This past year, though, offered my first big role.  I was Elisha J. Whitney in “Anything Goes” and that took the most out of me.  I had almost too many lines along with dances and songs, but it was worth it.  Since I began my musical adventure I have made plenty of new friends and it has expanded my personality.  I am more outgoing and learned how to be a leader to the younger actors.  It was a great experience, and I wish everybody knew what it felt like to be part of a show.  Though tiring, the musicals contained some of the best memories of my high school.

Getting Under My Skin

            Someone who bites his or her nails.  People who decide not to use their blinker when they make a right turn.  That girl who writes, “I’m so stressed, don’t know what to do…” on their Facebook wall, just waiting for someone to ask what is wrong.  We all have our pet peeves, and though small, they can drive even a priest insane.  I have quite a few myself, and I am sure that I also attain someone else’s pet peeve. 

            Perhaps my biggest pet peeve is not only because it bugs me, but because it is disrespectful.  We’ve all been there: you are talking to someone about something that happened.  You aren’t two sentences into it when the other person says, “Well that’s kindda like when…”  They continue to ramble on about their story.  Upon returning to yours, they respond,  “Yeah…but this one time…” and the process repeats itself.  Some people naturally speak a one-way conversation.  Perhaps they just like to hear themselves talk, or perhaps they have nobody else that will listen.  Wonder why?  It would be respectful to at least listen to most of the conversation and respond.  When one story is done, then is would be appropriate to tell yours.  I’ve learned to avoid these people, and have discontinued even talking to them online.  If they don’t have the respect to not interrupt, then I am not willing to talk at all.

            Although I don’t consider myself a grammar freak, I do get annoyed by some things that I hear and read.  For example, “I seen you the other day” or “Me and my brother went to the baseball game” or writing, “Noone can beat us”.  There is a reason that a language exists, and that is to be able to communicate accurately and efficiently with people.  Americans are butchering the English language, and I don’t see what is so hard about speaking and writing the right way.  I would agree that when English was created, it wasn’t necessary to have different ways of writing similar things.  Having to say “My sister and I” for a subject and “My sister and me” for an object” is a little ridiculous.  None the less, there is only one English language, and we should all follow it.

            Another thing that really gets under my skin is when I go to a nice restaurant, am trying to enjoy my meal, and out of nowhere, “I DON’T WANT TO!”  A child screams because of the lack of parenting skills.  To make it worse, not only does the child continue to scream, the parents do not take the child out of the restaurant.  They either start fighting back (verbally of course) or ignore the child.  I am not sure if it is the easy access to violent and poor-exampled television shows that the children watch, or that parents find it too easy to say, “I don’t know why my child screams, that’s not how I raised him.”  If someone wants to go to a restaurant and enjoy themselves, then I am willing to bet that they don’t want to hear a child screaming, unless it is Jack the Ripper with his date.  Even so, it is the parents’ responsibility to raise their children with respect and manors, and screaming in public does not fall under either category.

            They say it’s the little things in life that that you cherish, but little things are also the things that drive people crazy.  It’s only human nature to notice the negative things in life, which is why everyone has pet peeves.  Pet peeves are hard to ignore, and there’s nothing I can do about that.

American Society: Corrupt Values

America is changing in so many ways, and although many things like technology have changed for the better, there are many things that should not be changing.  Children are watching shows that express vulgar ideas and words, drugs are taking over several streets in urban cities, and family time seizes to exist in many households.  America is losing is sense of morale, and it seems nearly impossible to slow down the damage that is being done.

                Back when my parents were kids, television was like a dream come true.  It was such a breakthrough; the concept of seeing live action from somewhere else in the world was remarkable.  Then came something even better, multiple channels!  As television grew, families could gather around and watch it together.  Even until the 80’s and 90’s television provided instant news, entertainment, and most importantly, family time.  Recently though, television has been providing shows that not only are inappropriate, but down right wrong.  “The Maury Show” and “Desperate Housewives” are enabling content that I would be embarrassed to be associated with.  Even worse, the show “Family Guy” is a cartoon, grabbing children’s attention.  It is teaching corrupt models to younger and younger generations.  These shows degrade people’s minds and attitudes, and they also suggest that drugs and alcohol are a way of life.

                While I have accepted the fact that alcohol and cigarettes will not be prohibited any time soon, both are getting out of hand.  Cigarettes are becoming available to younger generations so easily, just as alcohol is, and marijuana is no exception.  Every weekend parties are thrown that give out alcohol to teens.  This behavior seems less immoral to teens, parents, and even police officers; I know of officers that go to parties just to scare the underage drinkers knowing that they will not give tickets.  Marijuana punishments are being lessened, and many people believe that it should be legalized.  If someone really needs alcohol and drugs to have a good time, then does that mean they lack enough personality to have fun around?  I would say that a real friend doesn’t need drugs and alcohol to be fun.  Unfortunately, society has changed, and it says that this is all okay; apparently there is nothing wrong with damaging the body, increasing the number of drunk drivers our roads, and taking vital brain cells away (because who needs to be smart when you can be stoned?).

                Perhaps the biggest change in society today is the amount of time a family spends together.  Where once families spent time every day with each other, now there are business meetings, parties, and Facebook to attend to.  Family dinners are replaced with takeout orders that everyone eats whenever they feel like.  Weekends are no longer spent with each other, but are used for parties and going to the bar.  Togetherness is something that every family needs because it leads to success and happiness in the future.

                Although society needs to change back into what it used to be, I fear that time has done its damage.  Society will continue to fall apart in its values, and its wakeup call may never come.  I intend to live the way I was raised, with integrity.  I will teach it to my children, and will not allow them to fall into the immoral ways of today’s society.  It disgusts me to think that America is living this way, and I am waiting for this all to change, one day.

               

Education of Children

            You hear it all the time.  “Mom, I don’t want to go to school.”  “Mom, school is so boring.”  Unfortunately school is not designed to be fun; it is designed to educate and develop the minds of children.  School is the place where our children learn basic fundamentals that will prepare them for life.  With reading, science, and art children are able to develop into educated and original individuals with plenty of potential.

The public school system is designed to unveil the specific interests of each child.  While they learn the basic skills to be successful in life and throughout the rest of their schooling, they also learn to share and explore personal likes.  Coloring and painting opens their minds to art, while basic songs inspire musical interests.  Legos and building blocks infuse their minds with the fascination of simple architecture.  Little do the children know, while they are playing and laughing with friends, they are starting their adventure into the world.

            Some schools focus less on basic math and science, and more on art and creative thinking.  I do not agree with this type of schooling at all.  Even up to when you are a senior in high school, you do not necessarily know what your plans for the future are, let alone being in grade school.  Because children don’t know what they are going to do, they should not be allowed to ignore what the public school system is teaching them.  Although a young girl may think all her life she is going to be an actress, it does not mean she should attend a school for fine arts.  Her interests will likely change, and by then she would have missed out on many important grade school lessons.  Children should stick with the basic concepts of education, and pursue interests outside of the school walls.

            Potential lies within every child, and the basic studies that we all had to take in elementary will help that potential to grow.  School, though it may not be as fun as a trip to the swimming pool or amusement park, is the key to a child’s successful future.  Kids should be allowed to explore new ideas and interests, as long as they keep up with school as well.

Labor Day Weekend

This holiday weekend was filled with only one thing, work. Because our dishwasher at TGI Friday’s was on vacation, we needed someone to pick up all of his shifts. Naturally the General Manager came to me, and I worked my shifts and Ricardo’s (the other dishwasher).
 Friday night was my first shift, and it was uneventful. That was until my boss asked if I would like to work as line-cook after this weekend. I gladly accepted and continued my 5-1:30 shift. I slept for a few hours, and then continued to my 9-3:30 shift. Upon arriving home, I had only one thing on my mind: sleep. After eating a meal, a blueberry muffin, I fell swiftly to my bed. It was a good night’s sleep, and when Sunday morning came, I was all but ready to work my 9-1:30 shift. I again went home, ate, relaxed, and headed to the golf course. I was only able to hit a few balls on the driving range, before heading to, you guessed it, work.
That night was supposed to be a 6-10 shift, but alas ended up as a 6-1 shift. That night I was able to sleep in a little longer, because I did not have to arrive at TGI Friday’s until noon. Although I was on the schedule until 4, I was let go at 1. Perhaps it was because there was hardly anyone in the restaurant, but I like to think that they simply appreciated everything I did for them this weekend. I was finally able to arrive home and do something other than work at my job: homework. I did a little homework and filled out some student loan forms. I checked facebook as I always do, and hit the sack.
 As you can clearly see, my weekend was not as exciting as others’ may have been. When the thirteenth comes around though, and I receive my pay check, I will have the last laugh.