Mini Golfing gone wrong

One time I was hanging out with some friends and we decided to go mini golfing. It was pretty hot that day, but nonetheless, we were determined to go. We had a specific order we would hit in. It was Tommy, Elizabeth, Me, and David. We were on hole 8 or 9 out of this 18 hole adventure when it happened. To set the scene this hole had a bridge thing with a stream that went under it. The stream was connected to this fountain. Anyway, so I after I hit the ball I went after it to go see where it went, but my friend Dave hit his ball right as I got there. Not wanting to get in the way of his shot I took a couple steps back to get out of the way. Unfortunately, I have the balance of a Jenga Tower. One foot caught me after another until SPLASH. I had landed in the fountain. Everyone else was in shock. They didn't say anything for fear that I would be upset. But once I realized what had happened, all I could do was laugh. How funny would it be to tell the story of how I fell into a water fountain while mini golfing? I got out and we continued playing, my clothes dripping with water. At one point David said to me "I don't know how you're laughing, cause I would have been mortified." But I guess my philosophy is it be like that sometimes.

Sports

Sports have become a cultural center over the past 50-100 years. What began as small organizations of people competing against each other for fun has become a multibillion-dollar business that continues to grow. Just over fifty years ago people were playing basketball with a peach basket and football gear consisted of a worn down pair of cleats and leather helmet. The grass fields were lit by car lights and the only fans were people walking through the neighborhood. As sports rapidly gained prominence there exclusiveness and value grew. There is a multitude of documentaries which walk through the absurdly overburdened life of a kid with dreams of playing in the NBA. These kids, some starting in 1st and 2nd grade, compete against each other year round. The high school season is their offseason as they play against smaller, and less skilled kids. By the time the kids actually reach high school they have already talked with several college coaches and have large shoe corporations knocking at their door. If they are able to get through their high school careers without performing poorly or injuring themselves then they might play at the D1 level in a system which is built against them (that's a whole other conversation). Still, a shockingly small percentage of these kids end up as professionals. This is just the process for basketball and it is similar for the other major sports. What began as a simple game of throwing a ball in a basket or getting the ball across a line has expanded to encompass and dominate someone's entire life.

A Society Based On Partying?

Every year, the high school parents come together to throw an event for juniors and seniors known as "HD" or Holiday Dance, which is usually held in the top of the Hop theater and is a semi-formal event. Generally people go as dates with one another (although not required), whether as friends or otherwise. A social person myself, I think the event is a great annual tradition meant to bring grades together. Yet, what about the kids that aren't as extroverted? Is the pressure to ask or find a date societies way of forcing kids to socialize? I can understand how it might ostracize certain types of people, and create a separation in status, even though that's the opposite goal for this event. I'm not saying to just stop doing the event, but just to encourage anyone to go to have a fun time with their friends. I think it's sad that sometimes kids don't attend it at least once, even if only for a short time. I think it's incredibly important for those that may be shy to open up or have some fun with friends in a social setting, so they won't have trouble interacting with others for a job or other things. We all know that a large percentage of jobs requires us to be able to interact and network with others, so I think that something as simple as a dance helps build confidence that will be needed later on in life.

SnapMap?

Something that I’ve been thinking about recently is this thing called SnapMap. SnapMap is a feature on Snapchat where you can see the location of anyone you’re friends with that allows you to see their location. I would say at first glance it seems innocuous, but it’s not. The fact that you can see where people are every time they get onto snapchat is pretty terrifying. Once I was talking to a friend and he mentioned how he thought that there was a sleepover happening that night with a group of people. When I asked how he knew this he said that he looked on SnapMap and saw this group of people at this person's house late in the night. That’s genuinely terrifying that your friends could know where you are at any time. It literally brings stalking to a new level. I know of someone else that watch his ex and a friend of his on a date and live-texted me about everywhere they went. I’ve never turned on SnapMap because I do not want people to know where I am at all times. I wish I understood the purpose of it, but alas, I believe it is just a tool to advance cyberstalking.

Homemade

There's something about homemade Chex-Mix that easily surpasses the store bought brand. The sweet and salty mix of the brown sugar and Rice Chex cereal explodes in your mouth and the occasional peanut keeps it interesting. It seems that every bite is different and the natural freshness makes it have a satisfying crunch. It is so easily made, only taking about 15 minutes, and it can act as a snack for the entire week. This store bought Chex-Mix is just way to salty and quickly becomes overbearing in its flavors. After a few bites you need a big glass of water because you feel your lips starting to crack. At the end of the day it is not worth the convenience to buy it from the store, it's better to just make at home.

The Starosta Bowl

Each year for Thanksgiving, we have traveled to Falmouth, Massachusetts to be with my grandparents and cousins. Usually almost everyone (with one or two exceptions) is able to make it annually for the dinner and football game. Most families that do Thanksgiving football play by two-hand touch rules  naturally, but when the Starosta family started playing in 1993 (this year being the 25th anniversary), we decided to be a little extra. Shirts developed into full on jerseys, and there became a silver bowl with engraved names and dates in order to remember the "MVP" of the game each time. Although some years have been more popular in terms of attendance, there has always been enough for two teams to enjoy some friendly competition. The morning after Thanksgiving we always gather at my grandparents, and then walk down the road together to a field to play, and then come back and eat sandwiches from the same shop every year. It's a very basic tradition, but it brings the family together in the last couple hours that we're with each other, and has been one of my favorite parts of the Thanksgiving break for a long time.

School Spirit

When things such as Halloween or Quidditch happen I am reminded of a constant hypocrisy that exists within the Hanover High School staff. So often I hear complaints from staff about the lack of school spirit from the students, yet I see many staff members completely ignoring their own complaints. During Quidditch, only one staff member who was not required to be there showed up just to watch simply because he had never seen it before. He had a blast and even volunteered to be a snitch. During Halloween, a time which is often seen as an opportunity to show school spirit, yet about one out of every ten staff members have maybe attempted to dress up. Some departments go hard and have a theme which is fantastic, but even within that, there are teachers who ignore that and wear normal clothes. I love going hard for spirit days, but often feel that it’s not taken seriously when staff members completely ignore the event. I think in order to make the school more unified there should be more commitment from those who want it.

November 1st

It's finally November 1st of my senior year. It's a date that holds a lot of power in many high school kid's lives. For those that are only applying to schools by November 1st, this date provides both a deadline and a cutoff. Once you submit your college applications there is nothing more you can do for the college process. Sure, you have to keep your grades up until the end of the semester, but for the most part, your stresses are lifted. You feel as if this 100-pound weight has been lifted off your chest. For some, this is only the beginning with more application being due November 10 or 15, or some not even due until January 1st. This date is the beginning of the end for college applications. It is a date that causes some of the biggest stresses, but tomorrow is still November 2nd.

Secrets of the Football Team

Unbeknowst to most of the Hanover High student populace, one of the most recent and popular traditions of the football team is singing. Each Thursday or Friday, (depending on if the game is Friday or Saturday) groups of people sing a song of their choice to the rest of the team after the dinner. The groups usually consist of mentors and mentees, which is a special program unique to the football team. A mentor is an upperclassmen who is assigned to an underclassmen or two, and is there to become a role model, whether it be by helping them out in school or on the field. Mentors and their mentees are generally required to sit together at team dinners for the first half, and can help their mentees out by doing everything from giving life advice about high school to giving tips on blocking techniques. So, to bring them together for a little performance, the guys sing a song. The most popular choices are songs by Taylor Swift, anything country, and female artists in general. It provides a little entertainment and is a good way to bring grades and the team together if everyone knows the song. Just because we like to hit people doesn't mean we can't sing Beyonce's "Single Ladies."

World Champs yung thug

Two years in a row now the Dodgers have made it all the way to the world series and taken a big phat L to the cubbies and sox. This is an example of why the Dodgers are trash, sorry Yasiel Puig. Boston sports are the most dominant on the field of gooons. Pats are 6-2 getting W's, Celtics are heating up and the Red Sox are world champs. Good stuff boss. This city is legendary for its victories at this point and all the salty LA and New York fans take L's.

Leche

Milk is a very good thing to drink. Although some have begun to disparage the health benefits and claim it is no healthier than soda, milk is worth it. The feeling of elation when you get some girl scout cookies, and eat the whole bag up with some nice milk. It's unparalleled. One must use moderation, as one can easily become lost in the sauce. As a young kid I was always told to drink milk, which I would sometimes not enjoy. Nowadays, I need no cajoling to enjoy a big ol glass of milk, as I guess I have grown from my youthful dislike of milk. Gotta love the leche.

Not Much Time Left

Today as I helped out with the annual Giving Bowls event with a couple of my football teammates, I couldn't help but notice the beauty around me. Colors ranging from deep red to a couple lonely greens exploded into my corneas, forever imprinting itself into my mind. I believe we take our home severely for granted, and don't take enough time to appreciate it. The nippy 50 degree weather was offset by the bright sun, necessitating sunglasses. I often stopped talking to old teachers, familiar Norwich residents, or my teammates in order to just glance around and take in the setting. Nothing says Vermont more than a small community gathering for a good cause in the most attractive season of the year. Between the ticket selling and bread distribution, one thought ran through my head, "damn I'm lucky." The few dogs that were around almost all ended up lying down in the sun, and falling right asleep in the middle of a group of people. Even the dogs knew Mother Nature was in rare form. Despite all this, I knew why I was feeling this way. In less than a year, I'd hopefully be somewhere else (assuming I'm deemed good enough), and I truthfully believe my mind was subconsciously telling myself to make the most of it. Was I becoming homesick without not even being away from home? I already regret not being outside enough this fall, (busy as I was with sports and college apps) and I'm already planning a local adventure where I can get away from others, and just be alone for a couple hours. I think we become numb to the world around us due to social media (though Planet Earth is a must watch), and we forget where we come from. Even if it means just looking out the window a couple minutes a day in silent observation, it brings a sense of calm to the mind. We were blessed with the opportunity to live in such an untouched place, and it weighs heavily on me that I do not have much time left.

Why we tell the story.

Something that I feel weirdly passionate about is the fact that children deserve quality stories. I understand this seems like a weirdly specific hill to die on, but hear me out. For six summers I performed at the New London Barn Playhouse in the Junior Intern Company. The Junior Intern Company performed the Children’s Series at the barn. Because of this, I have a lot of experience with children’s theatre.

Sometimes the shows are just bad. The plot is poorly constructed, the lines are uncomfortable to say, and the story is not funny or engaging. People think if they stick some well-known fairytale characters into a script and have some sort of twist on that story (always inevitably involving a detective and/or police officer) that kids are going to love it. No! Kids can see right through your half-baked, lackluster, rough-draft script. And they are not buying it.

During my last summer at Junior Intern,s I was fortunate enough to be cast as the lead in one of the middle shows which was Puss in Boots. What was different about this show versus some of the other children’s shows that had been done is that this story had depth. The plot was clear, the characters were interesting, and most importantly there were no awkward lines or embarrassing things that anyone was forced to do on stage (I did have to kiss a boy on the cheek and let me tell you it took a lot to make that not awkward.) It was so rewarding to be genuinely acting and feeling as this character and watching as the kids in the audience got invested into the story. In one scene a character named Will is being taken away to a dungeon for lying to the King. As he was being dragged off stage a young boy in the audience let out a tiny “no!” He cared about what was happening to the characters in front of him. That’s what theatre is supposed to do. It's supposed to inspire you and make you feel something and theatre for children is no exception.

Procrastination

I am writing this the period before it is due. I had a weekend to complete this but spent it goonin with the boys. I have been an avid procrastinator since a young age, and it has screwed me over many times, while also allowing for more free time. I find it hard to work hard on a schoolwork assignment when there is no true incentive for me to complete it. I would rather spend my time young wild and free than grinding 3 hours nightly to complete my homework for dat 4.0 so I can do another 4 years of even harder work. Without these pressures, people our age could be far less stressed, spend their time learning about things that they will use as an adult, and be able to enjoy their youth. I did this assignment doe so there we go mr Bourne.

-TM