“We ain’t got no principles………We can’t even think of a word that rhymes!!”
(Gruesome Twosome Tour is coming to Charlotte this month so pardon me if I’ve got Alice Cooper on my mind)

But it’s fitting, school really is winding down and for me, it’s the end of an era – the final days of high school – forever. I won’t have to came back here next year and half of these people I will never see again – and suddenly I want to know them.

I spent my years here as a recluse, content on my island. (island, LOST, what?) I made little effort to reach out to others (the others, LOST, what?!) and was presented with failed attempts when I did try to connect, finding that we had almost nothing in common. I didn’t mind though.

But now, the impending end gives me the feeling of so much freedom. Freedom to make awkward attempts to talk to my classmates or to be myself no matter the possibility of embarrassing consequences. Nothing is holding me back now because I have nothing to fear (that which is an irrational fear in the first place.)

It’s a liberating feeling, the thought of finally being released from these shackles of homework, mindgames and the complete other reality that high school is, combined with the feeling that I can be whoever I want today.

So much of people’s  selves spend their days in hiding, conditioning their personalities to match the atmosphere. While to a degree that should hold true in the concept known as ‘manners’ but when does holding back as a courtesy become hindering your true self from shining?

Why can’t we live every day like it’s our last day of high school?

Take Conan’s last days as the host of the Tonight Show. These were the best of his time there. For six months, he ws trying to be the “acceptable, likeable Tonight Show host,” and it was just unnatural. When he knew he was canceled, he broke out old Late Night Conan from storage and it was beautiful. He didn’t worry, because he had nothing to lose. That’s a mind set we should all adopt. Why are we so afraid?

Life is too short, so love the one you got. ‘Cause you might get run over or you might get shot.

Here to play us out (whatever that means) is a fitting song, the Sublime classic “What I Got”