Everything

Ron Currie Jr.’s Everything Matters! was by far my favorite book of the year. Just ask anyway not in AP English 12, because I have most likely demanded that they read it. Really, I could not say enough positive things about this book and Currie’s writing. For me, this book encapsulated everything I love in a story. There was love and there was heartbreak, there was drama and there was humor. Although the book is really science fiction, Currie makes everything so realistic and the characters very relatable. In addition, I find Currie’s message refreshing and inspiring. Currie recognizes that not everything in life is good, and that is good. He encourages you to “welcome Everything, the good and the bad alike” (292). In the story, Junior spends too much time stressing over everything, much like us. As Ms. Serensky frequently reminds us, we tend to “over exaggerate” our work load and almost ask for “pity.” But everything we go through only makes us who we truly are. Like Junior and his choice for the alternate universe, we “chose…to risk suffering” and because of that we grow as people (292). Currie takes the reader on an emotional roller coaster throughout the story, often times leaving you angry and frustrated with the outcome. But that’s life; you never know how your choice will affect something. Currie advises that “the key [is] to relinquish control” (299). This advice has stuck with me since reading the book. I find that I often stress over things that I cannot control. However, as Currie proves, that will not lead to happiness in the end. This book has made me appreciate the good and the bad, the small things and the large things in life and provided me with laughs along the way.

The Top Ten

10.Othello Collage- Ms. Serensky informed us we would be doing a fun activity that day- making a collage about one of the characters from Othello. Although other groups groaned, Mary Beth, Carolyn, Jillian and I (better known as “Toast”) could not contain our enthusiasm and we wanted to “enjoy this time! (Currie 3). Especially with our character Iago. The best part of that day was not even that we ended up winning for our collage, but rather when we found the quote about inception. (Cue Carolyn whispering, “Inception!”)
9.AP Physics- Now this may seem an odd choice, since many know I hated that class. But having a class with Mr. Roberts was most definitely worth the struggles and pain I went through. I may not having learned much about projectile motion, but I have also never laughed so much in one class, after all, “you have to laugh at the things that hurt” (Kesey 250). I’ll never remember the formulas we learned in that class, but I’ll never forget Mr. Robert’s obsession with licorice and the craziness that ensued when he had some.
8.Multiple Choice Game Winners- I am sure everyone knows who won the third quarter multiple-choice game. If not, you apparently never look at my blog or Jillian’s and you missed the parade Dr. Koons arranged for us. Too bad, because it was awesome. Of course, the thrill of winning the game with Jillian, Mariel and Kathryn was amazing; it was “like we were conquering heroes” (Kesey 255).
7.Uplifting comments from Mr. Brownlow- The normally angry man actually paid me a compliment. As the third child, I frequently am compared with my brother and sister, especially when a teacher has had all three. So, when Mr. Brownlow told me that he thought I was smarter than both my siblings, I was extremely flattered. Especially when he said that I did not seem to work as hard (which he was not trying to compliment me for), to which I must say, “I cannot deny it” (Wilde 39). Smart while being lazy? I’ll take it. Thanks, Brownlow.
6.Completion of the Othello Data Sheet- After hours of working, no longer even being able to keep my eyes open, my first data sheet was completed. “I felt like I was flying. Free” (Kesey 324).
5.Receiving two stickers at once- The passing back of papers always causes anxiety. You sit there, nervously waiting your own paper and watching others, trying to gauge their reactions. So, as we got our Act Two notes on The Importance of Being Earnest back, I sat there, thinking, “This suspense is terrible” (Wilde 52). Then, I saw it. Two stickers. Sure, they were small, hardly the size of one respectable sticker even when combined, but still-two stickers.
4.Getting a 5 on AP English 11 Exam- After months of preparation and stress, the day of the AP test had finally come. We all realize “there is no escape and never was” as we sit down in the desks and open the exam (Currie 302). Then, months later, with the pain in my hand finally gone, the scores arrive. Five.
3.Cum Laude- The day I received my letter for Cum Laude, I thought back on all my years of hard work in high school. Along with all the excitement, I felt that my induction into Cum Laude “makes everything that you’ve suffered to this point worthwhile” (Currie 261).
2.Editor-in-Chief of the Yearbook- Ever since my freshman year, I had my hopes on one day being the editor-in-chief of the yearbook. Then, at the end of my junior year, Mrs. Hoffmann announced that I would in fact be the editor. I looked forward to the task of taking control of the yearbook; “What more could one desire?” (Wilde 48).
1.Acceptance Letter from University of Michigan-It probably does not come as a surprise to many that I wanted to go to the University of Michigan. So, I would consider the day that I find out that I got in my most thrilling academic day. It proved that all my work had paid off and now I could go to the school I always hoped to attend. I look forward to my future at Michigan and I know that “anything, anything, anything is possible” (Currie 302).

No Worries

My favorite poem this year was “Chester” by John Koethe. I like this poem because Koethe really emphasized the importance of enjoying the simplicities of life. People often end up too hung up on everything in life having excitement and seeming extraordinary. Instead, Koethe recognizes that “The true soul is the one that flickers in the eyes/ Of an animal, like a cat that lifts its head and yawns/ And looks at you, and then goes back to sleep” (Koethe 24-26). I think that the ideas in Koethe’s poem really parallel to my favorite book we read this year, Ron Currie Jr.’s Everything Matters! Like in the poem, Junior learns to appreciate the simpler things in life in the alternate universe. He could have chosen anything for his alternate universe, including possibilities that did not seem possible. The voice tells him, “pick a self. Any self” and he chooses to go back to his own life, but change just one thing (Currie 262). Even as the world comes to an end, Junior recognizes that “there is joy…greater joy and love in just this one last moment” (Currie 302). Junior finally realizes, like Koethe discusses, that you cannot control everything in life. There is no use in stressing over everything because “Nothing is guaranteed” (Currie 264). So, rather than suffering, why not just enjoy what you have? I admire both Koethe and Currie’s attitude about living the life you can enjoy over the life you think you must have.

Winners

We all know what the most exciting day of every quarter is: the multiple-choice game. This day also brings about stress, fierce competition and dirty looks. For the third quarter, “Team Toast” could sadly not be together. Instead, Jillian, Kathryn, Mariel and I put our heads together and took on the other teams, which did not include the self-proclaimed “Dream Team.” As we stressed over questions, not sure which answer to use when we had various one, we came to quick conclusions, knowing that “Hesitation of any kind is a sign of mental decay in the young” (Wilde 45). Then, Ms. Serensky revealed the answers; everyone could see that it was a tight race. Each team had already missed a couple. Our group tried to remain enthusiastic and cheerful, even when we missed one, because “you have to laugh at the things that hurt just to keep yourself in balance” (Kesey 250). Finally, it came down to the last question and our team won. All I could think about were those ten extra credit points. We could hardly contain our excitement, ignoring the unhappy faces of our fellow classmates. Our victory was made even sweeter with the fact that the “Dream Team” had only come in third place in the other class. Of course, “anything, anything, anything is possible” (Currie 302).

An Explosive Meeting

On a sunny day one August afternoon, Lane decided to take a break from obeying Algernon and take a stroll in the park. While wandering, he came across a man in a wheel chair. The man had dropped something and he struggled to pick it up, since he only had one hand and no legs. Always one to help, Lane rushed over to the man to help him. The man introduced himself as Reggie, but insisted Lane call him “The Fox” and the two began to chat.

Reggie: So, Lane, right? Lane, I ain’t ever seen you ‘round here before.
Lane: Well, I normally am off running errands for Mr. Moncrieff. Actually, I should be doing that right now. He needs cucumbers from the market. But, “there were no cucumbers in the market this morning…I went down twice” already today (Wilde 8).
Reggie: That Mon-whatever guy sounds like a real jerk. You should ditch him and hang with me instead. I could actually use some help myself.
Lane: It appears that way. If you don’t mind my asking, what exactly happened?
Reggie: It’s a long story, really. Just a word of advice: Don't mess with your boss.
Lane: Pardon?
Reggie: Forget it. Listen, you want to help me out or not?
Lane: What exactly do you need help with?
Reggie: You know the social security building on West Madison? “I’m-a blow that...up” (Currie 109).
Lane: Excuse me?
Reggie: I think you heard what I said. And if you’re not in, then leave now and forget this conversation ever happened. So, you in?
Lane: “Yes, sir” (Wilde 1).
Reggie: I had a feeling you would say that. Now listen, I have all the explosives we need. So, let’s head back to my place and put this plan to action. Now, don’t freak out or nothing, but let me warn you, I’m gonna get real weird with it. Can you handle that, Lane?
Lane: Yes, sir. I think I can.
Reggie: Alright, good. “We got [work] to do, here” (Currie 42)

Lane's Worst Class Ever

Sigh…it’s just another day in AP English. No one ever seems to listen to what I say. Everyone always focuses on Chris Lange, the most popular kid in the class. He thinks he is so cool when he says things like, “High Stile is definitely going to be my new street name.” I begin to talk and bring up a brilliant point, but again Chris interrupts me. “Shut up, Lane” he barks at me. “Yes, sir” is all I can manage in return (4). I cannot exactly argue with the most popular kid in the class. He continues on about how he and Carolyn will form a rap group together. Carolyn just smiles and laughs. I find myself drifting into a slow sleep and I mumble under my breath, “[this] is not a very interesting subject” (2). Then, suddenly, everyone stops talking. I open my eyes to see what happened, Jillian and Lizzy probably threw a pen into the middle of the circle again, I think. However, when I open my eyes, I find everyone staring at me- especially High Stile. In fact, he is giving me quite the dirty look. Even Carolyn’s smile has disappeared. “What did you say?” she asks through her teeth. Wait-did I say that out loud before? Oh, no. By the look on Mariel’s face, I know I said it aloud. Now I have made myself the enemy of the most popular kid in the class. I try to think of a way to save myself; I quickly mutter, “That was in consequence of a misunderstanding between myself and a young person” (1). I add in a quick “sorry” for good measure, but when I glance towards Chris and see him shaking his head and punching his fist into his palm, I know I am done for. I slump down in my seat and eventually the discussion starts back up. I suddenly wish everyone ignored me again. Worst English class ever.

Dear Junior

Dear Junior,
AP English 11 really is a funny thing. For the most part, you sit there in a state of stress, occasionally crossing into a state of pure fear. However, there are times where you think, “I am, God help me, in a state resembling happiness” (196). Sometimes you just cannot wait for class and once there you find yourself smiling and laughing along with everyone else. Even Ms. Serensky. Although, those moments are always ephemeral; soon enough, you find yourself thinking fondly of the fetal position. I remember walking into the room on that very first day. As expected, all the joy and confidence that comes with the status of being an upperclassman quickly left me. I found myself looking longingly across the hall into Mrs. Ashkettle’s room. English freshman year…a world without SOAPSTones. I would “always expect the worst” and because Ms. Serensky “has never, not once, taught me to expect anything different” I learned to come prepared for any challenge she had for us (196). We became more used to the workload as the year went on; although I often found myself thinking, “I’d like one of those for myself. A life,” as I browsed other people’s Facebook statuses about having fun while I continued to put off my work (186). Still, unbeknownst to us, we actually were becoming smarter, better writers. She is a sneaky one, that Ms. Serensky. As the year went on, the fear began to subside (well, a little) and we worked harder than ever before. The end was in site-the AP test- and more than anything, we wanted to conquer it. Eventually, we all realize that the lingering fear may never go away and we must learn to accept it. With that acceptance comes determination. We may not be able to change the class, but we can certainly change ourselves. You might know a feeling like that.

Your friend,
Kelly