High School, arguably life's worst years for children (and their parents), have always been something of crime scene. For parents it's an unsolved mystery, endlessly examined for clues with which to guide our children.
But now it's in their past as well.
"What if I peaked in high school" the youngest exclaims into her Cheerios one morning, with graduation around the corner.
Those 4 short years imprint so much on our psyche, from the fear of Freshman year, the false sense of being a Sophomore, the suffering of Junior year and knowing that "this counts" and then the waiting, oh the waiting, of Senior year.
Some of my strongest memories of songs, movies, concerts, tastes and smells are from those 4 short years that make up nary seven percent of my life.
Yet every time we hear about a child not getting invited, a friend of theirs who ends up sick in the toilet, or a car that comes home with a dented fender, we feel sixteen again.
When we say we understand how they feel, we really mean it. But the words sound hollow, even to us.
In the 1984 movie Sixteen Candles Sam is turning 16 but her family forgets as they are caught up in her older sister's wedding, the new in-laws, the arrival of the grandparents and Long Duk Dong.
Last week my wife asked what I wanted to do.
“For what?” I asked.
There was prom, final swim meets, graduation, and the mass coordination of people, parties and plans.
In January I was back in the classroom. A week of Executive Education to "think big" as they say in Cambridge. I walk through the courtyard and up the steps to the cafeteria where I fill my tray. Standing under the archway I stare out at 20 tables filled with CEOs eating lunch and in rapt conversation on everything from Bitcoin to Blockchain.
I stand there looking for an open spot. There are jackets and sweaters saving seats. I slalom through the tables to an empty seat and I ask if it's free. An open smile welcomes me into the conversation.
High School never ends.
In January I was back in the classroom. A week of Executive Education to "think big" as they say in Cambridge. I walk through the courtyard and up the steps to the cafeteria where I fill my tray. Standing under the archway I stare out at 20 tables filled with CEOs eating lunch and in rapt conversation on everything from Bitcoin to Blockchain.I stand there looking for an open spot. There are jackets and sweaters saving seats. I slalom through the tables to an empty seat and I ask if it's free. An open smile welcomes me into the conversation.
High School never ends.
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