ASSIGNMENTS:
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Chris A.
Long Island, New York USA
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REPORTS:
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Advice to Chris at age 11, currently age 18
1. Take that advanced class at a different school. I know that you don't want to leave the friends that you have, I know it's a scary thing. But most of the friends that you have now are not going to be there for you later. You want to stick with Megan. She is a really sweet person, who is nice to you no matter how shy and anti-social you get, even now, when you're about to graduate from high school. And there are other people you should get to know there, too, in particular a girl named Kelly who will seem weird to you now, but who is really a beautiful person, another girl named Meghan, who is smart, funny, and just plain great to be around, and a boy named Jeff, who you will eventually come to find that you like a lot, too. And believe me, you ARE smart enough to take extra classes. You basically got a one hundred on all of your finals in sixth grade, so an extra challenge couldn't hurt.
2. You've noticed since first grade that you were a little different from most boys. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that, so don't try to fight it. But at the same time, that does not mean that all boys are jerks. Just because you're not the stereotypical male, that doesn't mean that you have to act cold or afraid of other boys. And don't write off all sports as being only for "jocks" or anything, either! You can have fun playing sports without joining a team or getting all competitive and worried about your skills. And the exercise will do you good. Fortunately, your metabolism is really fast, and it still is right now, but if you get into the habit of exercise a little earlier, you can help yourself stay in shape longer.
3. Joe is not your best friend. He never was. He never will be. You know that thing that he does where sometimes he ignores you when other people are around and then gets upset with you when you react badly? That gets worse. So does his bigotry and homophobia. Do not waste your entire middle school years clinging to him and barely bothering to try to make new friends, because when he starts saying and doing things that REALLY hurt you in high school, well, you'll understand why it's a better idea to ditch him early on. While you're at it, do not, do NOT let yourself be jealous of him. Because you know what? That's exactly what he wants from you. And you have no reason to be. You are just as smart as he is, you are far more creative, and most importantly, you are empathetic, a trait you'll soon find he is completely lacking in.
4. Puberty is a good thing. Don't be worried about it. Sex is also a good thing. It's a VERY good thing. So don't become a complete prude about it, either. When you're a senior, you'll actually want it. Oh, and yeah, your voice getting deeper means you can't sing soprano anymore, but singing doesn't really turn out to be your thing, anyway, art does. You sound much less like a girl, too.
5. While we're on the subject of art, start keeping a sketchbook. And not just of cartoons, but of things that you actually see. Drawing from life is something that all art colleges look for, and trust me, you do not want to find that out in eleventh or twelfth grade. Don't worry, you'll get into a good one anyway, but if you start drawing from life more now, you'll be so good by the time you're ready to graduate, you could get into the best art school in the country.
6. Don't get into the school musicals. If you want to do a couple in middle school, that's fine, but don't do any in high school. They really bring you more misery than they do fun, and they're full of people with over-inflated egos constantly clashing with each other. And like I said, singing is not your thing. It's art. Memorize that, like, now.
7. Do not stress over finding a girlfriend. I'm not going to freak you out by telling you why, but trust me. Girls are going to be the last thing on your mind by the time you're a senior.
8. Stop seeing everyone in blacks and whites. Nobody that you will ever meet is absolutely not worth talking to at all. Nobody that you will ever meet will be the most completely perfect best friend ever. They will all just be people. Just like you. They have the same problems, they worry about the same things. Get that in your head now, because the sooner you get over that, the better, because if you don't, it's going to take you until high school to get that habit out of your head. And stop seeing yourself in blacks and whites as well. You are not perfect, nor will you ever BE perfect. You are also not a complete fuck-up. This habit DOESN'T leave you by the time high school is over, so I suggest that you end it now. Trust me, you do not want it to develop into neurosis. Because it's annoying.
9. When your orthodontist tells you to stop wearing the bottom retainer, just wear the top one? Don't listen to him. He's an idiot. Wear them both as often as you can until high school.
10. Do not ever, ever, EVER think that Crafts is a good art class. EVER.
11. Get a job in tenth or eleventh grade, rather than the summer before senior year. Money is good. And you're going to find you need a lot of it very soon. Believe me, you want to start saving for a moderately decent car as soon as possible, because driving a minivan is generally frowned upon.
12. Be a little nicer to you sister. When you're both a little older, you'll actually find that you don't hate each other THAT much. But when you get your license, don't take her everywhere she wants to go, either, because she'll start abusing your kindness.
13. Buy a CD by either Coldplay, the Red Hot Chili Peppers or Incubus and never, ever listen to WBLI for the rest of your natural-born life.
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