Back for a Visit to Co-op After a Year Away
Brianne Ballard 4/15
I feel like whenever I move, I should always befriend the librarian first. It makes your time in the library less stressful and they give you information on the school that you’re attending. I feel like I left a whole other world when I moved from New Haven, Connecticut, to Atlanta, Georgia. The Peach of the World--it’s great. The weather is warm, the people are nice, and I feel like I can be a new me, without having to change too much. There are the occasional people that want to dislike the new girl, but I feel like I’m doing well. I stay in the shadow of it all, I watch and listen, but never repeat. I’ve gotten a good view of what my college life might be like and what career I want to pursue as an adult.
When I first got the news that I was moving in February 2014, I was nervous, but excited. I was excited to explore, make new friends and see new things, be able to view other places and be the new girl again. I would be able to be who I wanted to be, and see whatever I wanted to see. I felt like my leash just got a little longer, a little looser--that I could stretch to new lengths.
Now that I’m in Georgia, I miss being home, and being around people I knew. At times I was depressed, sad that I didn’t have anyone to run to. Nobody understands the little creative girl with the black lipstick and ripped jeans. But I made my little group of friends and I’ve gotten used to everything, the different kinds of teaching and different faces.
Now a year later, here I am, writing this piece in the Co-op computer lab, feeling like I never left. I’m excited, my friends missed me, the teachers still love me, and I feel like I’m back at my home away from home; now I know how the seniors feel. I don’t know where I like it better. I like both--in Connecticut I’m surrounded by people, family, friends, everyone, but in Georgia, I’m new. Everyone is still getting to know me; I don’t have any drama or history with anyone because I’m making history.
Ms. Englart asked me to write this because she wanted everyone to know how things have changed a year later, well here it is. I like it, I like being in Georgia, I like the warm weather and I like the nice people. I like the food and I like the job opportunities that are available for me. I do like it in Connecticut, but I think it’s good if I just visit once a year, see all my old friends, see what’s new, what’s changed, and what’s going on. I do want to be able to keep in touch. Of course there will be people that don’t want to keep in touch, and that’s fine with me; things change and people drift apart. I get it, but I missed all the familiar faces and all the familiar areas, sights, smells. It’s all like being home again; it’s refreshing for the brain. I hope I can come back my senior year. Co-op is the best school ever, and I wish I had taken more advantage of what this school could do for me.
I hope everyone grows up into the person they want to be, and I hope they continue to do the things they love.
Brianne Ballard 4/15
I feel like whenever I move, I should always befriend the librarian first. It makes your time in the library less stressful and they give you information on the school that you’re attending. I feel like I left a whole other world when I moved from New Haven, Connecticut, to Atlanta, Georgia. The Peach of the World--it’s great. The weather is warm, the people are nice, and I feel like I can be a new me, without having to change too much. There are the occasional people that want to dislike the new girl, but I feel like I’m doing well. I stay in the shadow of it all, I watch and listen, but never repeat. I’ve gotten a good view of what my college life might be like and what career I want to pursue as an adult.
When I first got the news that I was moving in February 2014, I was nervous, but excited. I was excited to explore, make new friends and see new things, be able to view other places and be the new girl again. I would be able to be who I wanted to be, and see whatever I wanted to see. I felt like my leash just got a little longer, a little looser--that I could stretch to new lengths.
Now that I’m in Georgia, I miss being home, and being around people I knew. At times I was depressed, sad that I didn’t have anyone to run to. Nobody understands the little creative girl with the black lipstick and ripped jeans. But I made my little group of friends and I’ve gotten used to everything, the different kinds of teaching and different faces.
Now a year later, here I am, writing this piece in the Co-op computer lab, feeling like I never left. I’m excited, my friends missed me, the teachers still love me, and I feel like I’m back at my home away from home; now I know how the seniors feel. I don’t know where I like it better. I like both--in Connecticut I’m surrounded by people, family, friends, everyone, but in Georgia, I’m new. Everyone is still getting to know me; I don’t have any drama or history with anyone because I’m making history.
Ms. Englart asked me to write this because she wanted everyone to know how things have changed a year later, well here it is. I like it, I like being in Georgia, I like the warm weather and I like the nice people. I like the food and I like the job opportunities that are available for me. I do like it in Connecticut, but I think it’s good if I just visit once a year, see all my old friends, see what’s new, what’s changed, and what’s going on. I do want to be able to keep in touch. Of course there will be people that don’t want to keep in touch, and that’s fine with me; things change and people drift apart. I get it, but I missed all the familiar faces and all the familiar areas, sights, smells. It’s all like being home again; it’s refreshing for the brain. I hope I can come back my senior year. Co-op is the best school ever, and I wish I had taken more advantage of what this school could do for me.
I hope everyone grows up into the person they want to be, and I hope they continue to do the things they love.
Graduates Experience Early Midlife Crisis
By Jess DiLieto (Creative Writing 2012)
“We ask 18-year-olds to make huge decisions about their career and financial future, when a month ago they had to ask to go the bathroom.” - Adam Kotsko
It’s been about a year and a half since I enrolled in college. I’ve been noticing that most people my age are already going through a rough patch in their lives. At first I just thought it was me. I was never a good student academically, and, along with having to rely on people for transportation half the time, it took me longer to get my paperwork and medical records straightened out. Back in the summer, I realized that my panic wasn't that odd.
I had a conversation with my friend, Ian, who was already living in an apartment with a roommate. He expressed to me that he was afraid of the future. Not just because of the fact that he'd been laid off from work as a plumber, but also that he wasn't ready to become an adult. It was a few days before his birthday and he was turning 22. Along with that, he told me I was lucky because I was only twenty. Ian might not have gone to college, but he is still on the same boat as the rest of us. He’s worried about his wellbeing already; he doesn't have enough time to keep himself grounded when he’s still in his early adulthood.
My good friend Johnny is the same. He had to quit college after leaving the home he had with his aunt. He started working different jobs and still isn’t finding a suitable one that lasts more than a holiday season. He’s also expressed to me that he desires to go back to school, but if he did he wouldn't enough have money to support himself. He says he feels ashamed that he isn’t where he wants to be, that he expects more from himself, and that he’s not a good example to me because he’s three years older and hasn't done anything spectacular yet.
Why are so many young people worried about their entire life existences now? I remember back in sophomore year the only thing I worried about was passing a class and celebrating my birthday. Right when I hit my junior year, I started becoming stressed out. Everybody is different, I know. A lot of my friends are happy and consider themselves successful in what they are currently achieving.
Are we too young to handle so many responsibilities? There’s nothing wrong with wanting to strive for more, but how do we know when we are aiming too high? Again, every individual is different; somebody reading this will disagree. They'll say that isn't bad for a teenager who just got out of high school to become totally independent.
To those of you who are still in high school and are getting ready to graduate, I just want to give you some advice. It’s okay not to know what you want right away. Many people don’t know what to do for a living; this doesn’t just include young adults. In order to mature as a person, you must experience new things. Choose something you're not familiar with, such as a course in college that you might not think you’ll major in, like photography. You might enjoy it even if you don’t commit to that particular study. Also, don’t be afraid of failure. If you don’t achieve a goal, then take a breather to relax. Remember, overworking yourself can cause you serious problems, like depression. According to NIMH.org (National Institute of Mental Health) 30% of college students suffer from depression.
Soak in the positivity of your new academic future! Make sure you stay healthy and happy!
By Jess DiLieto (Creative Writing 2012)
“We ask 18-year-olds to make huge decisions about their career and financial future, when a month ago they had to ask to go the bathroom.” - Adam Kotsko
It’s been about a year and a half since I enrolled in college. I’ve been noticing that most people my age are already going through a rough patch in their lives. At first I just thought it was me. I was never a good student academically, and, along with having to rely on people for transportation half the time, it took me longer to get my paperwork and medical records straightened out. Back in the summer, I realized that my panic wasn't that odd.
I had a conversation with my friend, Ian, who was already living in an apartment with a roommate. He expressed to me that he was afraid of the future. Not just because of the fact that he'd been laid off from work as a plumber, but also that he wasn't ready to become an adult. It was a few days before his birthday and he was turning 22. Along with that, he told me I was lucky because I was only twenty. Ian might not have gone to college, but he is still on the same boat as the rest of us. He’s worried about his wellbeing already; he doesn't have enough time to keep himself grounded when he’s still in his early adulthood.
My good friend Johnny is the same. He had to quit college after leaving the home he had with his aunt. He started working different jobs and still isn’t finding a suitable one that lasts more than a holiday season. He’s also expressed to me that he desires to go back to school, but if he did he wouldn't enough have money to support himself. He says he feels ashamed that he isn’t where he wants to be, that he expects more from himself, and that he’s not a good example to me because he’s three years older and hasn't done anything spectacular yet.
Why are so many young people worried about their entire life existences now? I remember back in sophomore year the only thing I worried about was passing a class and celebrating my birthday. Right when I hit my junior year, I started becoming stressed out. Everybody is different, I know. A lot of my friends are happy and consider themselves successful in what they are currently achieving.
Are we too young to handle so many responsibilities? There’s nothing wrong with wanting to strive for more, but how do we know when we are aiming too high? Again, every individual is different; somebody reading this will disagree. They'll say that isn't bad for a teenager who just got out of high school to become totally independent.
To those of you who are still in high school and are getting ready to graduate, I just want to give you some advice. It’s okay not to know what you want right away. Many people don’t know what to do for a living; this doesn’t just include young adults. In order to mature as a person, you must experience new things. Choose something you're not familiar with, such as a course in college that you might not think you’ll major in, like photography. You might enjoy it even if you don’t commit to that particular study. Also, don’t be afraid of failure. If you don’t achieve a goal, then take a breather to relax. Remember, overworking yourself can cause you serious problems, like depression. According to NIMH.org (National Institute of Mental Health) 30% of college students suffer from depression.
Soak in the positivity of your new academic future! Make sure you stay healthy and happy!
