THE ECHO

by Simone Bender

I still remember my first day of high school- bright-eyed, eager, and set for the next four years of my life. I followed the sidewalk in from the bus parking lot, a brand-new set of gel pens in my backpack, ready to take on the world. I hesitated as I got to the door, surrounded by other new students and letting the fear momentarily take over, but as I remembered the opportunities ahead, I let it go, a smile on my face. So I took a step forward, into my future, and as my foot came down, ready to meet the ground of Avon High School, I lost my balance… and fell… and fell… and fell.

High school has been, well… an experience, to say the least.

From cooky pipe-smoking caterpillars that briefly resemble my different teachers to the screeches of different queens to fall in line behind the rest of the playing card drones, I’ve certainly had my fair share of dread here at AHS. It can be difficult to find your comfort zone in a place so unfamiliar and foreign, especially when everyone in that place seems to be… well, mad.

I’ve found myself staring blankly at different Tweedledees and Tweedledums over the years- sometimes I think I’ve even been the Tweedle trying to find some sort of stability in logic and coming up blank.

I’ve known what it’s like to be a pawn on the biggest chessboard you’ve ever seen, tripping around the AP exams, overpacked schedules, and unrealistic expectations that disguise themselves as other pieces as you try over and over again to find a way to checkmate.

When you’re just a little blonde girl spinning in circles, trying to find your way home on a path where you don’t know if you’re supposed to go “this way” or “that way,” Wonderland can seem like far too much. How could anyone ever think a place like this did anyone any good? How?

But it’s as you’re sitting there in the middle of the path crying, gel pens long forgotten, that a cheshire cat with the biggest smile will come up behind you and softly ask, “where is it that you want to go?”

And all of a sudden, as you’re waving goodbye when you’ve finally found your way in the right direction, you’ll find it’s not the scary parts, but the unforgettable memories that come to mind.

It’s laying among the choir of tiger lilies at ISSMA state finals and hearing your name called, taking in the music of the flower bed and knowing you’ve never heard a sweeter song.

It’s the hours spent sitting around the Mad Hatter’s tea table in the newspaper office, sharing bits of writing and laughing over the chaos of all its different characters.

It’s looking around and seeing all the people you’ve decided to surround yourself with– Mock Turtles, White Rabbits, and even a Dormouse— and smiling at them, because even though they may all be mad, so are you, and there’s something beautiful about finding that connection.

So, yes, my time at Avon High School was like falling (… and falling) down a rabbit hole.  At first it may seem scary, but as you take the time to look at it, it turns out that maybe Wonderland has something to offer when you learn to embrace it.

So, if you find yourself falling, like I did so many times, don’t let yourself wallow and drown in your own tears, learn to swim and I guarantee, if you keep at it, you’ll learn to really appreciate what you find. And, besides, who would want to live a life of pity when you could believe as many as six impossible things before breakfast?