When Mrs. D. went from being an elementary school teacher to a high school counselor, she found herself in a whole new world. The teenagers she dealt with often felt alone, misunderstood, and shunned. Some were suicidal. She wrote this book to show adolescents going through tough times that they are not alone-and to also help parents, guardians, and teachers understand what high school students confront on a daily basis. Part one features the stories of sixty students that explore a variety of topics. Some of the stories were written during peaceful times; asterisks denote that a story was written during a time of crisis. After each story, readers get the chance to draw what they're feeling and are invited to write journal entries to delve even deeper into what they're thinking. Part two encourages readers to engage in further self-reflection with additional writing exercises, and part three contains poetry and prose that encourages students, parents/guardians, and educators to do the best they can during difficult times. Whether you're a parent/adult, educator or teenager, you'll have a much easier time making sense of high school with this candid and inspiring collection of reflections. Tell Me a Story about This Crazy World Called High School A Survival Guide for Adolescence By Mrs. D, Tara Balboa iUniverse Copyright © 2016 Mrs. D. All rights reserved. ISBN: 978-1-4917-8891-2 Contents Preface, vii, Introduction, ix, Part 1 - High School: A World unto Itself, 1, Freshman Year: Lend Me a Hand, 6, Sophomore Year: Hold on Tight, 24, Junior Year: Ticket to Freedom!, 56, Senior Year: Ready for Takeoff!, 106, Graduates: Reflect on Yesterday, 158, Part 2 - A Survival Guide for Adolescents, Parents/Guardians, and Teachers., 179, Surviving Adolescence, 181, Life's Toughest Questions, 194, Introspection, 213, Part 3 - Afterthoughts: Words Written from the Heart, 235, Reflections, 253, About the Author, 255, About the Illustrator, 255, Works Cited, 257, Resources, 259, Recommended Readings, 261, Index, 263, CHAPTER 1 High School: A World unto Itself A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. — Lao Tzu Initially, Tell Me a Story about This Crazy World Called High School contained a collection of "Dear Me" stories written by adolescents, ages thirteen through eighteen, who were engulfed in the throes of what to them were the most serious crises of the day. (Think back to your adolescent years. Remember those feelings!) Each person sat in the same chair in my office, facing the same wall, crying the same tears, and feeling the same desperation. Each one was searching for hope, love, the meaning of life, or happiness. As a counselor, I listened empathetically, without judgment. I silently sorted out the array of emotions that were so overpowering. Inevitably, someone would knock on my door at the most crucial moment. I would grab a piece of paper and a pencil and ask the tearful teen to write exactly what was going on in his or her mind. Several of the writings that follow were written during times of crisis. An asterisk at the beginning of a writing piece denotes that it was written with tears. The passages portray students' innermost thoughts and feelings buried deep within. Names have been changed, but the heartfelt words remain intact. As time went on, hundreds of adolescents continued to sit in that same chair, facing that same wall, but something was different. There were no tears. There was no crisis (at the moment). There was no pain (at the moment). They were happy and smiling (at the moment), yet I heard them speak of the same struggles. They were searching for love, the meaning of life, or happiness. They were living in this crazy world called adolescence. How were they surviving? What were they thinking and feeling? What were their coping skills? I asked them if they would share their stories. Within a day, a week, or a month, I graciously received their personal writings: essays, poetry, and journals. These writings were done in the comfort of their own homes — peacefully and quietly. They contained their innermost thoughts and feelings. I am forever grateful to all those who have chosen to write. Your words may just be what another teen needs to hear. Freshman Year Lend Me a Hand Tell Me Your Story ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ *Freshman Girl Feeling Upset This beautiful young girl came crying to my office. She wanted to stay strong. A boy's words were trying to destroy her, but would they? Dear Me, I am really hurt by this boy. I feel like a girl who has no friends to protect her. I feel upset because someone is letting me down when I'm feeling good about myself. I just want a friend by my side. This person is not nice. I ask him nicely to stop, but he keeps going on about how I am using people. I feel really mad