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Get a life plan 2007
Hey Menewsha! It's my 16th bday today and I find myself a bit lost. Ever since third grade, my parents took up a food court restaurant(they own it) at a mall that was 45 minutes drive from where I lived. We moved closer to the mall before I entered sixth grade(middle school). They thought the transition would be easier. Well, even with that move, my parents still worked at the mall, and they are, as they are chinese, HARD WORKERS. To the Extreme. They work 362 days (the mall is closed on Thanksgiving, Xmas, and Easter) from morning to night. My dad developed stress issues (can't sleep well and make good judgements) and my mom complains she's lost her looks (I still think she's beautiful). I had to put up with it since that's where the money comes in. This summer, I planned to get my permit, but they lost another worker and I spent most of my summer working for them. The reason I'm disappointed is that since third grade I couldn't stay after school for clubs, I couldn't go to school dances/events, I couldn't hang out with my friends outside of school (I always feel left out), I couldn't even go anywhere fun unless it was open after mall hours. ----- My dad reassured me that I will get a life when I get my license. But I calculated, and if I get my license in one year from now, I would only have my senior year to hang out with my friends and do all those things I missed out on. Have I missed a lot? I spent the last seven years spending almost all my days at home with my lil sister since we aren't allowed outside the house, except for, as I said, the three days a year my parents have a day off, to go and have fun for one day at orlando or downtown. Most of my days are spent online. I don't even know where the nearest park is near my home. Can anyone give me advice on what I should do (I can't get a ride from friends... I don't like bothering people with stuff) so I can add an extra year to my "get a life" plan this year, when I still don't have a permit, and I'm a junior at school? Any things I should do before I enter college and say goodbye to childhood forever? My parents is planning to leave the restaurant in three months, I might get a life after that if their next job is more flexible... should I be hoping that they lose their current job so I can get a life? |
Happy birthday! Hope it's a good one. ^^
Since your parents are Chinese, I'm going to assume that they want you to go to a good college - and from what I remember most colleges care about social activities on top of academic achievements. I'm fairly certain it's what got me into UCSD with a crappy GPA in fact - I was in several clubs as well as track and swim team. You could potentially use that as an argument to get out of the house more often. (I know I did.) It's really hard to say what you may or may not have missed out on. I know I took care of a lot of my own stupid antics in high school so I wouldn't feel the need to cut loose in college, but it goes the other way too. In fact, I'm fairly certain that a lot of my friends claim college as the better times than high school because they were far from home and family. I didn't get a car til I was... 20? 21? Learned how to get around on rollerblades and public transportation. So there's always that if you want to get to areas that aren't just in walking distance. But yeah, I think it differs for everyone. There's no real "must do" checklist for high school or whatever, just as long as you have no regrets about anything you personally wanted to do but passed up. |
First of all.. you have missed a thing, darling. I'm going to be a senior next year as well, and I've done just about as much as you have socially, although I don't have a job.
You really, really haven't missed much. Middle school and high school are nothing. The people who say "High school will be the greatest four years of your life" are either lying, or they currently live in a trailer with 13 kids. High school means nothing. You'll lose the friends you make in high school, and forget almost everyone. Seriously, don't worry about it. I think it's a good thing you "missed out" on all that. You've been working, and you've been raised to have a good ethic. Look at the kids at your school :[ They're probably lazy pathetic excuses for human life. And you.. you're grade A material. Even if you had your drivers license/permit, you wouldn't be able to experience the world while you're in high school. You can't go far, and there's probably not alot to experience in your area. Once you're out of high school, you'll be able to truly figure out who you are and what you like, and you'll be able to go out and experience those things to the fullest. I don't hang out with anyone after school, ever. But I maintain a healthy social life. Don't be afraid to ask for rides. Some people don't mind, especially if they want you there. Going out was never really my forté, but if it's something you enjoy.. go for it. Unless you're entering Harvard, college wont be some strict, serious environment. You don't have to say goodbye to childhood just because you're older, or go to college. I know plenty of childish (not in an immature way) people that go to college. Also, don't feel bad because you hope they lose their current job. You said yourself that it's caused all of you some issues, so losing the jobs should be a good thing. I hope all goes well :] And don't worry. |
@akanekum - I gave up sports(track in 4th grade) when I knew my parents could NEVER be there for me to cheer me on. I think I just lost the drive. But I know colleges look at activities, so I convinced my dad to pick me up for chess club and NJHS in exchange that I work for them that day. You can understand why I didn't want to add an extra day of the week that I had to help out (I work every weekend for them and fridays). So I joined clubs that coincided with the days I had to work anyways. Chess club, I chose and stayed because all my friends were able to make it and hung out with me there.
I really want to drive because where I live, you can't get around any other way. (I live pretty far from the main city) My parents won't let me either. T_T @Nathuram - I always regarded college as a new transition in life, which is why I said goodbye childhood. @both - Wow. People always tell me their high school years were the best, which I don't feel right now, and I thought it was because I probably missed something. Thank you both, I hope I do not regret when I look back at my high school years. |
Nah, high school years aren't the best. Personally, my high school years have been the worst years of my life thus far.. and they will probably be the worse for quite some time. I go to a school with a population of around 500, so there's not much good things that could come close to balancing out the bad. :[ I can't wait until I graduate next year.
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^ ^ my school has a population of ~3100 students. Too much going on for me. But still, I wish I could be part of it all a little.
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I'm sure your senior year will prove to be your best. :] I know mine will be. What with all the freshies and sophmores fearing me,and my in-depth knowledge of the school and teachers.
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I used track as an excuse to stay out late XD I still have no idea how I managed to maintain my grades and do everything else I did because I really don't remember doing homework. Well, like Nathuram said, it sounds like you have a solid work ethic, which is a lot more useful than hanging out til 2am before your SAT IIs. (true story for me)
Just as long as it doesn't stop you from taking risks when you're in college is all that matters. ^^ Calculated risks, that is. And yeah, hopefully your senior will be fun and you won't get hit by senioritis too hard. I'm about to graduate college, and while I wouldn't say my experience within the college has been that great, everything I've done on my own and outside of it has been fantastic. So you have a lot to look forward to. (college definitely doesn't equate to maturity, you'll find that people do even dumber things when they're on their own.) |
Life.
Wow, I think that's pretty awful. You really shouldn't worry about bothering people for rides - most people really don't mind it. Especially if your friends just got their license or car, they'd probably be happy and excited to be able to drive you somewhere. If not, maybe their parents would? I've had people ask me for rides before and I don't mind it one bit. I've also asked people to give me rides and they don't mind. Sometimes I offer to pay for gas money. Just give them five bucks or something if you feel bad about asking for a ride. If they're your friends they'd probably want to give you a ride if it meant you could hang out with them. But either way, you won't have missed out entirely. You'll still have college to meet people and go places and stuff, and the rest of your life too. There isn't always a whole lot for high schoolers to do anyways, I know this after going through high school. Oh and you live in Orlando? I do too. *Wonders if your parents work at one of the malls I shop at*. XD
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@Vickicat - No... sadly I don't live at Orlando. I live in Palm Beach. But my parents feel guilty about not spending enough time with my lil sis and I so they bring us to either Disney parks/Universal or downtown Miami to make up for it on the days they have off.
@akanekun - O.o all my track practices back then were 6 in the morning. Lol @Nathuram - My school is too big for me to have any advantage over freshies. I still get lost by going to the wrong building all the time! I hope my senior year would be my best... because I could drive was the reason I thought that before, but it seems there's more to my senior year than just that ^ ^ |
Life.
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I say get your license!
You can still do a lot in your senior year. You'll have a lot of freedom too. And don't worry about all those days you missed with friends, I'm sure [from what my brother has told me] college makes up for all those days! Oh and happy birthday! |
Happy belated birthday! <3
The only thing I can say is this: You have the rest of your life ahead of you. It sounds like a very simple statement, but it's true. I was ill for most of my high school years, so I missed out. It's all about what you'll do with the time of your senior year and through college (if you choose to go that path). You still have plenty of time to make memories. And, I'm a firm believer that hard work pays off. I think in the near future something good will come of all the sacrifices you've had to make. No one that young should have had to. :/ |
@Vickicat - Yep. Only on three days: Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Easter. My parents will treat my sister and I like spoiled kids and take us around Florida the past seven years. ^ ^
@Quaint Sheep - Seems like everyone's opinion is that my college years will still allow me to live the high school life I envy for. @Chiairen Hoshino - Wow, deep. But I'll keep it in mind. I hope it'll look good on a resume in the future ^ ^; Also, yes, I am planning on college. It is supposedly the reason my parents work so hard. I don't want to disappoint them. |
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