The Second Week

Buddies Day! 

     Though it greatly limited the amount of time I actually spent in class, it seemed to be a huge success for all those involved. The freshmen were welcomed officially to Burlingame High School and shown that they will have strong moral support for any endeavor they choose throughout their four years as a panther. They also learned that the Buddies, though we are made up of "frightening" upperclassmen and sophomores, were relatable to them in more ways than just being panthers. The guest speaker, Keith Hawkins, had we Buddies stand up if certain life events applied to us; namely if we had a broken family, financial problems, or even had to leave home because our home lives "got too bad."

     I know that I was not the only one surprised to see so many others affected by these issues; we live in a society today where we tend to believe that we are the only one in the entire world that is struggling this way and that there cannot possibly be anyone else that can empathize.

Clearly, we are wrong.

     This issue brings me around to "Richard Cory", the poem we read in class about a man who seemingly has everything that anyone has ever wanted, and yet commits suicide in the last line. The townspeople's ability to see the reality beneath the facade is nonexistent, oftentimes like how so many can attend school each day and not even know that their best friend is suffering. One must look beneath the surface of the smile, clothes, and demeanor to see the goings on of the world around us, or we risk losing mentors, friends, and perfect strangers.

"I want so much to open your eyes, 'cuz I need you to look into mine." Snow Patrol, Open Your Eyes