The Return of an Idiot

Relief. Sweet…sweet relief. I just got home from taking the AP Chemistry exam. For AP Chem, Mr. Portis essentially decides that the hour and a half class period planned in the school’s schedule for our final exams isn’t enough…and he makes an exam that requires an we chop down an entire forest to print it. So, he allows students to come in after school to finish the exam. The rules are: Testing stops when you’re done, when you need to eat, when you need to drink, or when you need to go to the bathroom. I wimped out before most, though. A good chunk of the class was still in there testing when I left. But my brain has never been so fried. I figured: Anything I put down at this point will probably be wrong. I also felt unbelievably hungry. It doesn’t make a ton of sense because we had a little bit of time in between the end of school and the time we could go back into the exam room and I had some food…Maybe it was the fact that I knew I couldn’t have food if I wanted it that made me so hungry…In any case, I’m happy with how the exam went. I’m even more happy that it’s over.

And I’m happy to be back writing. It’s the Return of an Idiot.

Now I’m going to try and give you a very quick update on the last two weeks…

Thanksgiving

I hope everyone had an awesome Thanksgiving. I know I did. Just a few family members over, some good food…and, of course, games. We always play some kind of game (usually Cranium) after dinner. And Aunt Kathleen always gets really…really competitive. I’m not so sure that my Mom’s side of the family can handle losing…

The Acceptance Letter

The day after Thanksgiving, I received this little beauty. Unfortunately, I was in Wisconsin when it arrived. (I’ll explain that in a second.) So, I didn’t have the pleasure of ripping open the letter. But I’m ecstatic. College applications can only be described as one thing: Stressful. Getting that response, that confirmation…it lifts this immense weight off my chest. Now I know, without a doubt, that I’m college bound. I’m not sure where I’ll go yet…but Hope is certainly up there in the rankings.

The Midwest Regional Footlocker Invitational

 

The Friday after Thanksgiving, I woke up around 9:20 and grabbed a quick shower before driving off to the school. I got to the school at…10:01. Coach Portis teased me for a second about being a minute late before we both hopped into Coach Flynn’s van. Ben, Sam S, Coco, Henry, and I were all signed up to race at the Midwest Regional Footlocker Invite in Kenosha, WI. Every year, this meet is offered by our Coaches to any runner willing to train a few extra weeks. This was my third year going and my third year of having a blast. The ride there was filled with light conversation about Thanksgiving. When we got to Kenosha, the five runners went and toured the race course. That night, we made a stop at the local mall before going to see Lincoln, a movie about the passing of the 13th Amendment and the abolition of slavery. (The weird thing about that movie is that I was on the edge of my seat the whole movie like: “Is it going to pass?!” And it took me almost half-way through the movie to think: “What am I talking about? Obviously it passes.”) The next day, we went and raced. I ran what may be my last competitive Cross Country race ever. And I ran the whole thing with Ben by my side. I’m not sure that I would have it any other way. Ben and I have generally (with some exceptions) been really close in our High School races.

And I’m glad we saw that tradition through to the end.

Audition Preparation

Most recently, I received two e-mails confirming that I would be auditioning for the Theatre programs at both Western Michigan University and the University of Michigan. So, that means I’ve got to start working on some monologues. Right now, I’m toying with a few pieces from Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead by Tom Stoppard and Fortress by Michael Scanlan. Who knows, though? Western’s website said the monologues that you audition with should define you…they should be like a calling card. So, I’m gonna take my time with picking the right monologues. It’s just…exciting.

Anyway, not the most connected post…in fact, it was really all over the place. But I’m just glad to be back. I’m glad to be writing again. I’m glad to be done with exams. I’m glad I don’t have to take a huge stack of books home every night.

So, I’ll raise a glass to the last trimester. And I’ll turn to face the new one.

Because my Senior Year is only just getting started. With cold weather comes so many exciting things…PAC…Christmas…New Years…Glitter…College Letters…Winter Break…Snow Days…and I can’t wait to document it all.

It’s all part of my Senior Year. It’s all part of the Life of an Idiot.

-Brian Wiegand (An Idiot, A Superman in training)