July 6, 2001
11:20am

Summer is the time the student center is fulled with minors. There's the Kent for Kids summer camp, cheerleading camps, sporting camps, and band camps. The kids are loud and messy, but that's to be expected. The most annoying group is the young teenagers.

They talk loudly about things no one cares about and seem unable to giggle, laugh, or chortle within a reasonable decibel level. They shout down hallways because they apparently haven't grasped the concept of going to the person they wish to speak with. They leave junk all around the student center like their mothers never taught them how to pick up after themselves. They drive me nuts!

Was I ever that annoying when I was their age? Lord help me, I was. I have never been a loud person, so I didn't shout down hallways. I did think the stupidest things were life and death matters. Why can't I get the new Filas? How much allowance do I have to save to get a Tommy Hillfiger outfit? Where can I learn the newest dance? Who's dating whom? These things were in my head all the time and shaped my life. The only things that were in at the time that I absolutely hated were beepers and "The Jerry Springer Show."

I went through two years of teenage angst during junior high, and I was lucky. Most people have to suffer that sort of thing well into their high school days. Even popular kids do, though I didn't realize it at the time.

Amazingly enough, I was mildly popular. My name was always on the announcements for some academic achievement, writing award, or art award. I was really surprised when people I didn't know started to greet me in the hallway. It wasn't too shabby for a girl who never spoke. However, I wasn't really popular. I wasn't invited to many parties. I think they considered me too much of a "nice quiet girl" to be there, and I probably was.

There were some good things to come out of junior high, though. I met the people who would become my core group of friends for the next six years. It's also when Susan became my best friend. By the end of seventh grade I realized that I really liked my own friends and no longer wanted to be popular. I was through with the stress and drama of trying to be noticed and settled into my lot in life.

When I look back I wonder how my mother managed not to kill me. I was mouthy, secretive, and thought I was grown. Her managing not to wring my neck is a testament to her strength. I'm not looking forward to parenting my future children through such difficult times.

A long time ago someone asked me if I could start my life over again right this moment, would I do it. I thought about how nice it would be to be a kid again and not worry about the things I have to worry about now. However, I ultimately answered,"Not if I have to go through junior high again."