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