The column that follows is an expression by senior Jeremy Gardner.
It’s amazing how many things can go wrong in 24 hours. Just in my life, for example, in the past 24 hours several things have happened: Last night I got in a huge argument with my parents, I missed an extra help for pre-calculus that I desperately needed, I learned I have to serve restriction on Saturday night for something I do not believe I deserve restriction for, I got rejected from college, and then my mouth started swelling last night from the wisdom teeth extraction I had done on Monday. I took painkillers but I was consequentially unable to take my sleeping pills for insomnia. However, since the painkillers are such a low dose, I was unable to fall asleep until two A.M. I woke up to receive a 64 on a recent math test, and then was tragically informed by my best friend, Oliver Munsill, that he had been dismissed this very morning. Then, to top things off, I was told that there is a high likelihood that I will be unable to go on Senior Project due to my “academic and social standing”. Yet today was a very good day.
The song “Moment of Truth” by the rap trio Gang Starr has been running through my head since the first of my troubles arose. All of the things they say in the song have started to materialize into one solid message in my head. I won’t make you listen to the song (although I recommend it as long as you don’t mind profanities) and help you understand my thought process by giving you the chorus:
Actions have reactions, don't be quick to judge
You may not know the hardships people don't speak of
It's best to step back, and observe with couth
For we all must meet our moment of truth
Seeing Oliver leave today might have just been the hardest thing I have had to do in my entire time at Proctor Academy. I have seen friends dismissed, withdrawn, and not return; I have received bad grades and have gotten in trouble; but to see my best friend since I arrived here my sophomore year just leave in the blink of an eye is devastating. Nevertheless, Oliver knew the possible ramifications of his actions last night.
With every decision every student makes here there will be a consequence, as there will be in any situation in life. Sometimes that consequence is positive, sometimes it is negative, but no matter what, there is always an outcome. I will be first to admit that I have made decisions that have resulted in serious repurcussions, but I will also be quick to say that I do not regret a single bad decision I have ever made. I know Oliver feels the exact same way.
Although he is the one being kicked out, I think we both had quite a significant (and similar) realization today: life goes on. Straight up, Oliver will be fine. He will find something he truly cares about in life and will pursue it to the utmost extent.
No one can be mad at the administration for dismissing Oliver as they followed the rules. As much as I wish they could have allowed him to appeal his expulsion, they did what they felt was necessary.
A lot of bad things have happened to me in the past 24 hours but life will go on. My gums will heal from where my wisdom teeth once lay, I will make up with my parents, I will have another extra help for pre-calculus and correct my test to make up points, I will go to college (as I have already gotten in), I will get some sleep tonight, I will work to resolve my Senior Project issue, and I will remain friends with Oliver for the rest of my life.
As my guys in Gang Starr say:
Sometimes you gotta dig deep, when problems come near
Don't fear things get severe for everybody everywhere
