Live for what you believe

She looks frazzled.  Undocumented receipts protrude from her wallet as she scrambles for plastic to cover the cost of an overpriced caffè mocha with an extra shot of espresso. The duties of a barista aren’t elaborate, but essential – by the looks of it, this poor girl could desperately use an energy boost. I prepare the drink with ease and expertise, then slide a zarf onto the sizable venti cup. Before questions are raised, you know those disposable cardboard sleeves that proudly announce the Starbucks emblem? – those are zarfs. Anyhow, I scribble “Abby” onto the cup and speak her name above the noise consisting of patrons’ friendly chatter and business garble, along with the faint humming of Iron and Wine in the background. She picks up the drink and grabs a couple napkins before walking out the door. When outside and away from the chaos, she chooses a table and pulls out an enormous textbook and an infamous Texas Instrument from her tote. I periodically glance at her through the window for the next hour or so as she fingers her way through the book and methodically sips her coffee every few pages. Her furrowed look has slightly softened and she appears more relaxed, despite the bulging backpack lying on the ground next to her, with book corners jutting against the seams, beckoning the zipper to part its teeth. Being end of semester, I imagine she’s studying for finals, cramming every underlined phrase and bold word into the little available space left in her memory capacity. I commend students for their labor – regurgitating facts and understanding foreign material is no easy task. Judging by the time lapse and disregarded cup no longer in reach, it is safe to assume her beverage has been depleted. My shift ends in five minutes, so I quickly make another sweet mocha and generously froth whipped cream over the steaming dark liquid. On the side of the cup, I quote Erdos: “A mathematician is a device for turning coffee into theorems.”  I place the drink on her table and give a cordial nod before walking to my car. The product I endorse serves as comfort for those long, studious nights – and the possibility of free drinks, a motivation. 

At five years old, I hardly understood

The tragedy that had just occurred.

I vaguely remember my kindergarten teacher

Frantically racing from one room to another

Desperately trying to gather information

And hold back emotions that would worry the children.

At that time, I knew nothing of terrorism;

I couldn’t understand why such men

Would harm our country in the name of religion.

Shame be to those individuals’ poisonous decisions,

But we can now reflect on 9/11

And applaud the citizens who showed great heroism.

I commend the emergency personnel who blared their sirens,  

And all those who took control of the chaotic situation.

During this time, Americans supported each other

And prayers were recited with somber demeanor.

But despite the devastation, many found comfort in God’s word,

For we do know that all things work together for good. 

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When one door closes, another opens.

It’s a cliché statement, but it couldn’t be more true, especially at this point in my life. Senior year is going to fly by, and the next major step of my life will begin: college. I plan to go to Columbia College Chicago and study journalism; writing is my passion, and although I realize that it’s difficult to break into the industry, I’m confident that my work ethic and skill will appeal to employers and I WILL find a job. Despite the number of times I get criticized by my peers and authority figures for my “poor career choice,” I honestly can’t see myself pursuing a different profession.

To refer back to the six words I chose, I understand fully that artist are often rejected by employers, critics, audiences of various sorts, and so on. But when one door closes, another opens – a lost opportunity isn’t a disappointment, but a growing experience. I believe that the key to success in any profession is persistence and motivation; rejection allows one to access their work and correct imperfections in style, which increases one’s skill and probability of employment. In other words, the correct response to denial will always lead to alternative opportunities.

I’m not always the most positive person – I would definitely describe myself as a realist more than anything. However, I find comfort in my ambition. I may be speaking from the stance of a young and inexperienced teenager, but I genuinely believe that one should enjoy the career he chooses. Authorities’ and peers’ opinions may be a factor, money may be the American dream, but the pursuit of happiness is everyone’s ultimate goal. Choose a profession for the experience and personal satisfaction it provides, no matter how difficult the path to success may be. In the future, doors will close for me. But if I react with an appropriate response that builds rather than defeats, I’m confident that new opportunities will show themselves available. 

skipped out on volleyball practice today because i'm currently suffering from a terrible migraine. however, i can't leave school until 5:30 because i have to wait for my ma to come pick me up - why can't private schools have bus service? or better yet, why can't i have a car to drive myself home at times like this.