‘It wasn’t that bad’, or was it?

Note To Self

As recent ventures grow into distant memories people’s opinions can often become delusional or distorted with nostalgia, choosing to only remember the ‘good times’, this can too be the case when reflecting upon school years. Whilst it is evident that everyone’s experiences of their particular educational institution differ greatly depending on social skills, academic ability and work ethic, I aim to give an honest reflection on my time at school, albeit mostly from my typically negative perspective.

As an attendant of a Catholic High School, I was surrounded by good morals and harmless individuals, granted this did make for tedious lunchtimes and monotonous mass services. Nevertheless, this was undoubtedly a major positive in enabling an intense focus on a successful education without the looming threat of being stabbed present a mere few miles away in Bartley Green… Moving on from Bartley Green, swiftly, although I spent a lot of time at my school alone, listening to Tame Impala, I did make some fun memories. Maybe one day I’ll look back through rose-tinted glasses fondly thinking back on them as the good ol’ days with the same manufactured, artificial positivity as others. Or perhaps that’s just fear the future could get worse. The nonsensical nature of school life is summed up by the importance of cliques, your inclusion, if you are to preserve any sanity, seems paramount.

Choose wisely though, they’re more set in stone than the date of Christmas day! Being made the victim of authority in the dictator-like system present at school becomes a familiar feeling with the few who challenge it being swept aside seamlessly. Permanently locked gates and patrolling security guards on the perimeters makes my school sound perilously similar to area 51! This lack of freedom can become quite soul-crushing over the course of 7 years. I remember once dropping one of my PE socks in a puddle and subsequently cowering away at the rear of the boys changing rooms dreading my inexorable fate.

When I eventually plucked up the courage to ask our astounding head of PE for a replacement, I was inevitably met with not one, but two lunchtime detentions. Don’t worry guys, I like writing lines anyway… From promising your teacher you forgot to press complete on mymaths, to the elation of a cover teacher the day of your groups class presentation. The horror of discovering there’s an essay due for the next day at 11pm on a Sunday evening to the realisation you’d forgot to get your planner signed every, single, Tuesday morning. The mischievousness of an untucked shirt to the excitement of a lunchtime food fight. My school years proved to be both mind-numbing and enlightening concurrently. Over the past 14 years, I have been taught endless life lessons, got a few useful qualifications and have made a handful of friends but I’m relieved to say my time at school has come to an end.

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