WORK

Ah the feeling of your first job.  You get this sense of euphoria.  When you find out you're schedule you get even more excited!  You can't wait to start and everything is wonderful.  Then you get to the night before you start your first job and you start to panic.  What happens to all my free time?  Am I going to know anyone there?  Will they be nice to me?  What if I mess up an order?  What happens when I get yelled at?  How mean are the bosses?  Will I do a good job?  Will I be terrible?  You wake up and are in a state of anxiety, stress, and worry.  You dread when your shift starts.  You wish you could go back and stop it from happening.  Sadly the time comes for your first shift to begin.  You enter the building with no idea where to go or what to do.  Someone soon finds you and shows you around.  You nod your head and try not to look to nervous in front of the boss.  Then they assign someone to help you and you say hi and wait in silence.  While other employees chat among themselves you stay in your own spot looking out for customers and get familiar with all the different buttons and functions of the machine in front of you.  Customers come and you put on a smile and a happy go lucky attitude. You sound like a broken record after a while and soon you're going through the motions.  You keep looking at the clock wanting nothing more then for time to go faster.  After what seems like forever it is finally time to count your till and get out.  Someone helps you with your till and shows you what to do with it.  You begin to smile saying to yourself how it wasn't so bad for a first day.  You say goodnight to fellow employees and they say goodnight as well.  You go on home and feel good to get that first day over with.  You count on doing better when you go back.  You get back home smelling of fries and grease and you collapse on a comfortable chair glad to have work over with for the day.

GETTING OLD

You know that feeling you get when you realize the music, shows, or clothes you like are out of style or now classics.  I have to admit I have had that feeling.  The other day I was thinking of all the old shows I used to watch.  Now don't laugh, I know I'm a geek and a nerd but here are some old shows that are no longer on: Chip and Dale Rescue Rangers, Rugrats, Goof Troop, Sonic X, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Tale Spin, and Ozzy and Drix.  If some of these sound familiar then that means your just as old as me.  Looking back they were really good shows, good morals nice story lines and just plain awesome.  Some of the cartoons now are filled with so much junk and nonsense.  One day I was talking to a friend before class.  She was talking about how she was talking to her friend about Rugrats when her little nephew walks in and asks, "What's Rugrats?"  That was when she realized she was truly old.  Along with songs, do you remember when Nsync, Backstreet Boys,and Brittany Spears were all popular?  Again, your getting old.  All those great things that happened in the 90's with all their great music and such.  I'm a 90's kid and proud of it! That is also helping me to admit that I am getting older.  It's a part of life, but I guess when life moves quickly so does your age.  One of the hardships of life is dealing with getting old.  

FAMILY

Ah family can't live with them and can't live without them.  How that works I actually get.  As a teen the last place I want to be is stuck with my family.  I know I'm not the only one who feels this way.  However when I am with them, I am glad.  Most of the time I do end up having fun.  I do have some bad attitudes when I am supposed to be there.  I say how I would rather be anywhere else, but with my family.  In all honesty when I am away at girls camp, home is where I want to be.  I miss that feeling you have with them.  You don't notice it until it's gone.  Some may say that's never happend to me, or I never get homesick.  Well either you are lying or you mean it.  If you truly mean it I suggest spending time with your family.  Doing something fun like a movie or picnic.  They may not be fun for the moment, but when you go back to it you realize it was rather one of the funnest times of your life.  Almost all of your happy childhood memories will happen at home.  Notice how I say almost.  Since eventually everyone leaves the nest and moves far off or somewhere close, your family will never be as close again.  When you move off to college you'll realize, I miss Mom's cooking or how she would do the laundry.  You will reminise and remember what you learned and give it to your own kids.  Fact is, family is more important then realize and most of the time we take them for granted.  We should take some time and thank our parents and, yes, even siblings and say, "Thanks for being my family.  I really do love you."  Sure some may say they know I love them I don't need to say it to them.  Let me tell you those words take on a whole new meaning when you say them with real sincerity to those who love you, and who you love as well.  It will really mean allot weither you can tell or not. 

GROWING UP

When you're a little kid all you want to do is be older.  You want to be like Mom and Dad or your older siblings.  You put on their clothes and make up and acting like you are so grown up.  It is all fun and games tell you realize what its all really about.  All the hard work, responsability and stress.  I have to admit there are days and I'm sure many more to come where I want to go back to that time of ignorance.  Not knowing what was ahead, and being carefree.  I'm nearly, very nearly, 16 and I have to admit that I am a little scared of growing up.  I'm going to be getting my license and driving to work.  I'm going to start looking at college's and professional work.  What do I want to do?  Where do I want to go?  These are all pretty scary questions.  I'm sure once I'll get there I will know, but for now I am having mini panic attacks.  I keep thinking I only have a few years left of being in my house before I am going to be kicked out.  Tell I need to start paying bills and taking care of myself.  Growing up is fun when you think of freedom and all, but when it comes to the responsability part no one wants to grow up anymore.  So enjoy the time at home now.  Of not having so much responsability.  Soon that's all going to end, and you will have to start growing up. 

DREAM LIFE

 While watching cartoons today Looney Tunes came on.  While watching that show I couldn't help but imagine how great life would be as a looney tune.  After all, you wouldn't ever need to be in a hospital  or visit a doctor for that matter.  You would always be goofing off with friends and not having any responsabilities.  Also, one of the more fun things to do, you get to blow things up!  You can drop a piano, anvil, or airplane on someone and they would still be okay.  Be a great way to get rid of some stress in my opinion.  Oh man, being a looney tune would be the best job in the world and would definatley be part of my dream life. 

STRESS

Stress means means many things.  It can be caused by deadlines, tests, homework, work, interviews, friends, family, relationships, the list is endless.  Most stress, when thought through logically, can be easily preventable.  Stress can be prevented by being prepared, not thinking about it too much, letting it solve itself if possible, preparing, not letting it bug you, and a million other things.  I know it's easier said then done, but if we think about it, it shouldn't be all that hard.  Stress is needed in some circumstances, but it's so overly exaggerated people get freaked out.  Yes, I am guilty of this, but it would be easier if people wouldn't stress over every little thing.  It's not worth it!  Plus it's summer!  Stop stressing and start relaxing!

SUMMER

Summer is a season.  Summer is a time for kids and teens to catch up on sleep and relax from the homework.  Summer is also a time to work on your tans, or recover from sunburns (speaking from experience now).  Teens get jobs and are driving around to work, friends, and out to everywhere and anywhere.  Summer is a new sense of freedom.  Seniors getting packed for college, Juniors are getting ready for their relaxing year as a Seniors, and finally Sophmores.  Sophmores are getting ready for the fun that is Junior year.  We enjoy the time we have free as we dread going back to school.  Summer is also one of the shortest seasons.  I know, not really, but it feels like the shortest season ever.  That's why everyone must make their summers last and very memorable.  Once they're gone, they're gone.  Enjoy the time you have free this summer!  Make it last, before time runs out.