The Smiths in Between

Smith’s in Between

            If I could give you one piece of advice, it would be to listen to the Smiths, one of the greatest bands to ever exist. I encourage you to drift off while listening to Asleep, or to dance like an idiot as you listen to girlfriend in a coma, I know.

            I would also advise you to not give up. Pursue your dreams; wish for the stars, the moon, and the galaxies. Never let anyone tell you that you are not capable of doing something. Do whatever it is you wish to do, and I can guarantee that just by doing that, you’ll be happier than most people I know.

            On dark nights, I dare you to make them beautiful. I dare you to look up and ponder at the stars; at their depth, at their meaning. I dare you to wonder beyond science and actually ask yourself why they are so beautiful.

            Lolita, one of the best novels I’ve ever read. Keep an open mind as you scrutinize Humbert Humbert. Look beyond yourself as you learn the story of Ivan Illyich, and also remind yourself everyday thereon to be grateful for yet another day.

            Most special places I know are bucolic. Go on a road trip, visit the countryside. Take pictures, even if you just capture cows and hillbillies, I promise you will upon them kindly.

            Be careful with love. Allow yourself to determine whether it’s real or not, whether it’s worth it or not. But even if it breaks your heart, love. Love as much as you can; you will know no greater pleasure than lying naked with someone and forgetting your own mortality. Time goes by lightly when you are naked. It goes by even merrier if you are with someone you love, with someone that loves your body for what is, especially its imperfections.

            Daydream. Daydream of infinite possibilities; waste the time away imagining yourself a rock star, a pop star, or even a porn star. Your mind is a blank canvas of infinite possibility.

            Don’t feel fat, don’t feel ugly, don’t feel too skinny, feel content. Eat all of the food you can dream of; one of the most rewarding feelings I’ve felt have come from jamming a chocolate fudge brownie into my mouth and smiling because hey, the calories make me happy and I am proud.

            Travel. See the world, know the world. Meet different people; we’re all different after all. Have a favorite city, a favorite country. One you’ll visit once and always daydream of coming back to, even if you know you won’t.

            And finally, maybe the most important of all: Don’t ever forget or become oblivious to the meaning of life, which is just to live. Live man! Be happy, be sad, be excited, be bored, but do it because you want to. Do it because through it you are living. You are breathing, you are alive and you’ll never forget that that’s all you have. Your moments are all you have, so live them.

To Students

Don't follow trends. Odds are you won't look like how you want to, and if you do, someone will always be there who will show you up. Don't complain when this happens. It's not worth the effort.

Leggings aren't pants, girls. Boys' minds aren't perfect, and neither is your rear end.

Pull up your pants, boys. You aren't thugs. Get a belt. No one, and I mean NO ONE wants to see your baggy underwear sticking out of your shredded XL Levi's. Wear nice pants in the appropriate size.

Don't stand around in hallways. Cows chewing their cud, when prodded, move faster than you do when you're told to move as you're cussing someone out or complaining about the school . You block and infuriate people who want to get places and to not be late, which you will be.

If you paid attention in Earth Science you will know that the world does not revolve around you. Neither does the universe. Don't be awful to people because you disagree with them and therefore think you are a better person because the way you think is better. You're not, and it's not.

No, your school does NOT suck. Stop complaining.

If school food doesn't kill you, skipping breakfast and lunch will.

Do your homework. It saves you guilt and punishment.

Always say to your teachers, "Have a great day," and thank them. They work hard for you.

Always anticipate learning something new in class, unless you have a textbook-following teacher. But even with dull teachers, the textbooks have hidden facts that you may have never known.

Discovery is the true teacher of knowledge.

It's important to worry about grades, but also remember that your hair is precious. Don't let stress get literally to your head or your luscious locks are the first thing to go.

Don't judge the "weird" people. You look like cloned robots to them.

And finally, say thank you to the janitors.

Teenage Advice

Our teenage years are the most important, the moment of life where we try to find ourselves, to the beginning of high school to the end we will realize that we are who we want to be. This is just some advice I like to share, the most important I think teenagers need to know.
Be yourself, don’t act like you’re someone you’re not, that’s just dumb, eventually people well see through your cracks and realize who you truly are.
Listen.
Listen to people when they speak, and it just gets annoying if you keep talking and talking, no one wants someone that just sits there and brags about them self all day while the other person is trying to get one thing in there, they will walk away. You never know what you can learn, or better yet earn, maybe a friend
Give chances.
Give chances, some people might not deserve a second chance, but some might need a new chance, some just need a chance to prove them self.
Take risks
Take a risk, these are important in life. Are you afraid to do something? Don’t be everyone makes mistakes, don’t regret them, just learn from them.
Smile.
Smile, cheer up, and be happy. Do the things that make you happy not what other people are doing. If it makes you smile do it, which cares what others say.
Don’t judge.
Don’t judge anyone around you. Judge yourself before judging others because you don’t know what they are going throw and no one is perfect and the truth is you’re not better them.
I leave you with my last advice, honesty.
Be honest, because lying is the worst thing you can do when you’re a teenager, it just starts drama and lies end up to unfold like a Pandora box, once that’s unleashed lies will be harder to stop, and that is something you don’t want to do, covering up lies after lies.

Life is full of possibilities, and the way you choose to live it during your teenage years defines you. Learn from your mistakes, and take the advice people give you, because sometimes it helps more than you know. So take mine.

TOP TEN WAYS TO ACHIEVE ANY GOALS

A piece of advice that I would give to anyone with a particular dream or goal in mind would be to first, say it loud. Saying it loud, or actually realizing what you want to do, is the first step. You have to be sure that this is what YOU actually want to ACCOMPLISH. This is what you are committing your time, your hard work, your blood, your sweat, and yourself to, full throttle, no matter what happens. You are giving your all or nothing chance.

            Second, would be to write it down somewhere. Write it in your journal, on your bathroom mirror, in your math notes, a used napkin, anywhere will do. I know, it may not sound like the most life changing thing, but writing it down will help it seem more legitimate in your mind. It is a helpful visual, and similar to a To-Do List, it will keep you focused on exactly what you have to do until you finish the job.

            Third, just say the word CAN, instead of CAN’T. Even if you don’t believe in it now, if you keep repeating positive, encouraging words to yourself, it will generously add to your confidence, which is what the next step is.

            CONFIDENCE! Be confident! Every step you take, take it with certainty.           

       Next, talk, talk, and talk about your goal, and then talk about it some more. Talk about it to your neighbor, to your babysitter, to your cat, to your Mom’s friend’s barber, anyone. Chances are that someone will know someone who knows someone who could somehow help you. People are more willing to help than you might think! Talking about it to someone will also give you more drive to achieve your goal, because now, you have to prove yourself to not only yourself, but someone else too.

            Also, accept the fact that you will probably fail. Every successful person has failed either five times, or five thousand times. Remember, it isn’t the fall the matters, it is what you do when you’re on the ground that shows your character.

            Be almost annoyingly persistent. If it seems like all the doors are shutting on you, you climb through a window. You have to work hard, EVERY SINGLE DAY. Don’t say tomorrow, don’t say next year, do it right now. What would you have wanted to accomplish now, if you looked back on yourself five years from now? Go out and just do it.

            Be grateful. If someone even gives you the smallest amount of help, or advice, even if it doesn’t help you at all, you say thank you.

            Help others. Helping others along the way is not only good karma for you, but you may never know when you might need a favor. Plus, it just feels good.

            Last, when you achieve your goal, soak in the moment. But after that, aim higher, and start all over again.

Advice to a Rising Junior

Well here you are; Junior year.

These past couple years have been fun:

Hanging with friends, going to games, learning to drive;

These are all memories you’ll look back at with a smile,

But the fun stops here.

You’re a sixteen/seventeen year old; a junior in high school.

You don’t have time for fun!

I’m sure you’ve heard the rumors,

“Junior year sucks,” “It’ll be the death of you,” “Real life starts here,”

They just couldn’t be more true.

Still a non-believer? Think the year will be a breeze?

Well, think again.

Reality will hit you like a ton of bricks.

That thing called free time, gone.

That thing called sleep, gone.

That thing called homework,

Multiplied.

You’ll be up to your nose with notes, study packets,

And worst of all; essays.

Trying out for sports this year?

Good luck.

No, I’m sure you’re great, but your grades won’t be.

Yes, I’m sure you’ve dealt with this in earlier years, but 11^th grade is a whole other level.

Now don’t get me wrong, you should definitely go out for the sports you love,

But unless you want to be up until early morning finishing your unfinished homework,

I’d advice against it.

At least until more free time opens up.

In the meantime, try out some clubs, take leadership roles, and get involved in your community;

It’s a good way to spend your time while also helping out your college resume.

This brings us to the next topic:

College; some of the best times of your life,

But it can’t happen without preparation.

Junior year is the best time to start constructing your road map for the future.

Start looking at college websites, guidebooks, even text books!

It’s more fun than it sounds, you’ll understand more when you go on college visits.

Also, make sure you keep track of your academic credits so you can graduate.

Make sure you study for those SAT’s;

Aim for completing a couple SAT’s by March,

And save May and June for those AP and final exams.

You’ll find it’s always best to start early.

If you don’t quite feel like a junior yet, you’re definitely going to look it.

You’ll get pimples in the most random places,

Dark circles will form under your tired eyes,

And you’ll seem so much paler it’s as if you’re sick.

Oh wait, you are.
It’s called “Junioritis”,

And there is no cure, my friend.

Finally, the most vital, most crucial advice I can conjure up for you:

Don’t slack off.

The less you procrastinate, the better the grade. The better the grade, the greater the college resume! The greater the college resume, the more chances you’ll get accepted into college! It’s not as far away as it seems!

In a matter of minutes, you’re in your final year of high school; Senior year.

So put away the technology and get out those books.

It’s going to be a long year.

Advice to a Freshmen

First off, everyone is different.

Yes, you may see a 6- foot tall student,

You will see a 5-foot tall teacher,

There are some hairy men,

And some multi-color haired girls.

But, it’s completely normal here.

Let me clarify something for you,

There is NOT a swimming pool in the middle of the school.

You’ll thank me later.

While we’re on this topic, DO NOT ASK AN UPPERCLASSMEN WHERE TO GO,

Unless a teacher said the same thing.

If you do get lost, don’t freak out about being late.

The first week of school is a non-tardy week.

The ONLY non-tardy week.

We have maps labeled on teacher’s doors and signs for each hallway. 

By the next week, you won’t have to pull out your schedule.

When you’re in the hallway, it’s important to KEEP MOVING.

Yes, there may be tight spaces between the student body (see what I did there? No..? Ok)

Politely squeeze past them, and don’t look back.

You may want to suddenly stop and talk to your friend

But you'll be causing a school traffic jam.

Stay out of people’s way.

Please.

You’re immediate reaction to high school might be

“I’m so scared! What do I do?”

Or…

“It’s just another school, no big deal.”

For those who are scared, it’s all going to be ok.

Stay calm.

You may want to keep to yourself on the first couple days, that’s fine.

But don’t be afraid to talk to people:

Maybe a nice girl who complemented you on your shoes

Or a good-looking guy/girl.

Whatever floats your floaty.

High school IS a big deal.

It’s the place you can be you.

It’s the place you will attend school dances,

Have your first boyfriend/girlfriend,

Your first kiss.

It’s where you meet your life-long friends and maybe your future husband/wife.

Take lots of pictures.

You won’t realize how much you change in years to come.

DO NOT SHARE LOCKERS!

You may think it’s cool to share lockers or give your combo to your friends.

Don’t even try.

It’s like trying to cram two Thanksgiving Day turkeys into one shelve of a fridge.

There’s only so much space you can use.

It’s ok to cling to your friends the first week of school

But you will tear off their arm eventually.

Talk to other people.

There is a 50% chance you stray from some of your middle school friends.

It happens.

Say hi to people you don’t know.

The worse they can do is not reply.

You will have friends who are the complete opposite of you.

Don’t try to push them to be like you.

Everyone is different, embrace them for who they are.

Freshman guys, this is for you.

Yes, cheerleaders are pretty and tend not to wear a lot of clothes.

But that doesn’t mean you should go for them.

Yes, there are lots of new girls in high school, but don’t try to take them for granted.

They may want to be your friend, but it doesn’t mean they’ll be their girlfriend.

Unless they happen to have a crush on you.

That’s all I can say for the male gender.

Not my fault you guys are so confusing.

Your turn, girls

Yes, there are a lot of good looking guys here, but not all of them are perfect.

The captain of the football team may not date you.

That doesn’t mean the world will end.

Just because you have some guy friends, doesn’t mean they like you.

Guys won’t tell you if they like you, you have to tell them.

Before you do, give them subtle hints (guys aren’t that quick… sorry guys):

If he catches you staring at him, no don’t turn away, that’s WAY too obvious.

Smile. Laugh. Then turn around.

Just don’t write his name all over your agenda if you don’t want anyone to know.

Don’t focus on having a boyfriend your whole 4 years.

The right guy will come.

Look at me for example.

I’m a junior and single.

Being single doesn’t make you forever alone.

Embrace it, single people have more fun!

Teachers are not your friends, nor are they your enemies.

They are teachers.

They are here for YOU.

They take time away from home for YOU.

They teach new material for YOU to become successful.

When you think of how much you hate your math teacher,

Just think about how long he stayed after school with you to improve your grade.

They want to see you succeed.

Even when your sophomores, say hi to teachers you had.

They were there for you, be there for them.

Don’t judge people.

You never know what they are going through.

Don’t tell everyone everything about you.

Just because people smile at you when you talk

Doesn’t mean they won’t repeat what you just said.

Choose your words EXTREMELY carefully.

Don’t be shocked if you walk down the hallway and someone shouts

F***!

Not everyone has the best mouth at school.

If you still don’t know what to do when you start high school, just remember this:

Talk to other people.

Be honest, but not too honest (don’t lie either, confused yet?)

Don’t expect a relationship as soon as you enter high school.

Do your homework.

NO REALLY!

It’ll help you in the long run, I promise.

Most of all.

Smile.