Yesterday I went to a 9th grade assembly at one of our schools (I work for the public school system). The speaker was an alumnus who is now a molecular biologist. A self-proclaimed nerd, he goes around to schools to speak to students, in a funny and self-deprecating way, about how hard it is to be an adolescent.
Listening to his stories made me flash back to my own gangly, awkward teen years. The themes of his stories -- loneliness, quest for acceptance, unrequited crushes -- were all too familiar to me.
When I got back to work, I told my boss' secretary about the presentation and said in an offhanded way, "I wouldn't go back to high school for a million dollars." It was a silly little comment at the time, a throw-away, but this morning as I walked the dogs I started to think about it again.
Would I really turn down $1 million if it meant I had to be 14 and go through the pain of high school again?
I think my answer is still yes.
What about you? A million dollars on the spot, but you have to turn back into a 14 year-old and relive the horror that is high school.
8 comments:
No, i would NOT go back. no way, no how.
Yes I would, invest that million is Apple stock and you would be reading how I am one of the most richest people to walk the earth.
I would go back and change things, of I was allowed to bring back what I know know compared to what I knew then, High School, I learned during my first week of college, was one of the easiest times of my life and my "struggles" were all superficial
Nope. Not a chance. Happiness is much more important that a giant wad of cash, and there was not much happiness for me in high school.
At first I thought no way because of the unpleasant adolescent aspect but after re-thinking it, I would do things a lot different. I spent time on the wrongs things in a lot of cases and wasn't really the best person I could have been.
At first, the answer was an easy yes. High school was fine for me. Good friends and a lot of fun. I was lucky, I suppose...
So at first blush - yeah. I'd live healthier, and I'd invest in yahoo or something and be a gazillionairre.
But -- I am really, really happy where I am. I don't like my job, but I wouldn't trade my life for anything. Not any amount of money.
If it put that at risk, then the answer is simple. No way.
Does it make a difference if I add this caveat? You wouldn't be going back to 1980 (in my case) and repeating high school with the knowledge you've gained since. You'd be, simply, a high school student again. In today's world, with today's challenges. Does that make a difference?
Although I have to admit I love the idea of going back and investing in Apple or Google!
I can completely understand why young women would not back to high school, but I would KILL for the opportunity. I was lucky enough to be "okay" at sports, and for some stupid reason, people in small towns really respond to that. I felt like a celebrity at times! So heck yeah I would!!! As an adult I'm a nobody! ha.
Heck yeah, I would go back in a second. I would like to change how I was at that age, shy and nervous. I have changed a lot since then, learned a lot. I would like another shot.
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