The Secret Life of the American Teenager

The End of an Era

Oh, how I hate goodbyes. Mainly because I’m terribly awkward when the time comes to part ways, but a good chunk of my ill feelings come from a wistful remembrance of the good times I’ve had with whatever/whoever I’m saying goodbye to. Well…here goes nothin’.

Right now, I’m saying goodbye to HTV, that one extracurricular activity I took a part of (more or less) diligently throughout my high school career. Sports waved adios a while ago, and I never saw a point to Cabinet; that just seemed like a lot of work I’d rather have someone else do.

So, HTV was what I belonged to. The “West Wing” was my high school home, especially these last couple years. It’s been where I go during lunch, where I go to gain refuge from sweepers, and where I’ve spent many a late night trying to meet deadline. I’ve had great times in HTV….and some not-so-great times. But even the tough deadlines and crunch time (and the pain was usually self-inflicted, due to a bad procrastinating habit that permeates the way we operate) were good experiences. I learned more in HTV than most of my other classes combined. And even though I don’t plan on going into a broadcast journalism field, I’ll take the lessons I learned there with me wherever I go.

Here are just a few of the said lessons that I learned while under the tutelage of Coach Davis:

1. Strangers are not scary, and will not attack you on sight.

2. Being funny is much, much harder than you think.

3. Use headphones….and use them well.

4. WALLDO.

5. Don’t toot your own horn too much. Unless you really deserve it, of course.

6. Characters are everywhere.

7. Suck less. Win awards.

I’m going to miss the trips, the stories, and the staff. It’ll be weird being an “HTV alumni”, but at the same time I’m ready to take those lessons I’ve learned and see where they can take me. As sad as I am to leave, I’m just as excited to move ahead.