This is the first draft of an article
that I am submitting to be published in
my high school's newspaper. It is a holiday
issue, and the article is meant to be somewhat
of a human interest story.
Feel free to comment thoughts, critiques,
what have you. I hope you enjoy!
Advice on Holiday Priorities
It has recently become evident to me, that now, even as busy junior in high school, I feel more alone than ever before. I am seventeen years old and incredibly busy, with friends, school and plans for my future. You would assume that someone like that could not possibly have time to feel desolate. Over this past fall break, I have been shown why I feel so inexplicably empty.
My two older brothers Adam and Austin stayed at home over the vacation. This, as of late, is a rarity. Adam, my oldest brother, is 24 and has long since been living on his own. Austin, who is now 19, is likewise scarcely seen as he is a residential freshman at FSU. In the midst of food, football and fun, I was hit with a climatic realization that they, as well as I, are growing up.
In one year, I will be considered an adult. Soon after, I will move out of my childhood home and move onto college. From then on, I’ll be in control of my own life, someday even having a family of my own. It was emotionally baffling to see the truth that the older we become, the less we will see of each other.
Growing up as a sister to three brothers, I was accustomed to countless boyish adventures. Rocket Power type enterprises were an everyday normality, as was my acquiesce to brutal wrestling matches, and day long escapades of being ninjas, GI Joes, and whatever else fit the day’s imagination. But especially remembered, were those endowed hot summer days by the pool. Days of cooking homemade pizza, with everyone together, always laughing and smiling. Ultimately, those days represented how fast we were growing and changing as a family. Like the snow cones and cherry popsicles hastily melting down our hands and arms, the days of our childhood bliss was quickly dwindling away too.
Saying goodbye to my brother, as he returned to school for a few weeks until Christmas, I found myself wishing I had known then how fast time can move.
As a child I felt constantly combative towards my brothers, fighting to show them that I could be as tough as they were. The neighborhood parents called me “a tyrant”, and it was rightly so. I was far more brazen than any boy, and you can bet I relished the title. Yet again, I find myself in envy of any clock that can readily be set back. Brisk is the clock of life, and time slyly escapes us. It is steadfast and unwavering, never abiding so that we may learn quickly and fix our mistakes before it is too late. I wish I had been more adoring, and that I had been more thankful for the incredible brothers I have, rather than be constantly in pursuit of trying to prove that I could be as remarkable as them.
My holiday wish is that the time you have with your family is cherished. From personal experience, you’ll be thankful that you did. If a younger sibling asks you to play video games - oblige. Because that football game can wait, and there will be more parties to go to. But your childhood is limited, and the clock is ticking. So enjoy the holidays with your family. Dedicate yourself to making everlasting memories and bonds with the ones who are closest to you, even if we never chose them to be.
As for me, I’ll be planning a family throwback boxing match. Maybe this year we’ll try out those Sock’em Boppers from the 90’s. That’ll loosen up the competition… right?
photo credit: Ashley Mancuso "Our Swing"
