Work Now, Play Later by Althea Barnes

I had fun just thinking about being in the 9th grade. When I got to Cedar Shoals, I thought it was play-time. I started off doing my work until I was filled with boredom. By that point, I got way off-task. I would talk and walk the hallways. Even when asked to be quiet, I would curse and carry-on. I got into fights and disturbed others. I went to ISS so much, I got use to it.

When I started to see that my mother and administrators were tired of seeing me in trouble, I changed my ways. I felt bad that I was disturbing others who just wanted to learn. It seemed to me that I thought I had to get special privileges, but that’s not how it works.

After my destructive year, I changed my ways and buckled down. I even got Honor Roll my 10th grade year. I listened more than I talked. Every time someone asked me to do a non-academic event, I told them I couldn’t. I stopped hanging with those crowds that wanted to be unsuccessful. It made me feel good to be out of trouble through that year.

My mom really gave me a wake up call. She made me understand that if I don’t do what I have to now, I won’t be able to support myself in the future. Without education, you really won’t get too far, and that’s the truth. Now I see it for myself. When you listen to the people who want to help you, you can get you farther.

Through all of this, I learned that it takes more than a high school diploma to get through life. It’s definitely too rough for us to just get out there and make it without an education. I see that all the grown people who work at fast-food restaurants are the ones who fooled around and didn’t do what was best for them. So, if you want to work somewhere like that you can continue your bad lifestyle. It will only put you in a place you don’t want to be.

To all freshmen, do your best to the fullest because when you let all this free education pass by you, you will struggle from that day on. Wouldn’t you like to take care of your mom one day? I know you will make someone proud of you. It feels good when someone tells you “good job” or “congratulations." Doing what you can now will make your future so much easier.