Thirty-Six... An End And A New Beginning

 

    It’s hard to believe that in only 36 days we are going to be walking across the stage in our caps and gowns! When I think about college and my future there, I’ll admit I get kind of scared. My elementary, middle, and high schools have all been situated on the pleasant, tree-lined street that we call Northfield Parkway, but in a few months I will have to move away from this comfort and into the unknown. 

    Although college is a slightly frightening opportunity for me, it is also an opportunity for me to learn about what interests me the most, which sounds pretty exciting. One of the most important things that my secondary education has taught me is that life is full of opportunities, both big and small, to learn and grow. I’ve also learned that when you find an opportunity that scares you a little, then you most definitely have to pursue it, because this is the force that will push you outside of your comfort zone and into a great adventure. 

When I was a freshman, I was presented with an opportunity that simultaneously exhilarated me and made me extremely nervous. I had loved being in student government ever since elementary school, but at this particular point at the end of freshman year I had the chance to run for a position as a Class Officer for the next school year. The idea of campaigning and interviewing was unsettling, but I felt the reward was worth it. I ended up running but not being elected. The same thing happened to me when I ran for a position at the end of my sophomore year as well. When the spring of my junior year rolled around, I ran for a position again, and I had a lot of fun doing it. Over the years, campaigning became less of a burden and more of an excitement, and I actually began to look forward to it. When I found out that I was elected, the strongest feeling of excitement and relief washed over me, and I couldn’t stop smiling for the rest of the day. That’s another thing high school taught me about opportunities: they are not always going to be easy, and more often than not success won’t come until the end of a long, uphill battle. But that’s okay, because the views from halfway up the mountain look pretty good too. 

Exploring all of these opportunities is fun and rewarding, but having a strong family foundation in life is also important. This is a lesson that the pandemic has taught me. Although the world outside my house seemed to be shaky, the people inside my home steadied it for me, which helped me to realize just how much I depend on them. In my opinion, there is nothing more important in life than family. 

We only have thirty-six more days before we walk across the stage in our caps and gowns.  My high school education is not over yet, and these days are a chance for me to make the most of my time here at Troy High. This is an opportunity that I definitely intend to take.

Absurdism on the Stage and Canvas

After only a few minutes of watching Didi and Gogo talk in illogical spirals, it became very clear that the play Waiting for Godot was going to be an intellectual experience like no other. I did some research on the absurdist movement, and I eventually stumbled upon absurdist art. Despite the obvious differences in the mode of expression, I discovered that there are many similarities between the Theatre of the Absurd and absurdist art. 

The piece of absurdist artwork that I will compare to Waiting For Godot is included above. Artist Michael Cheval, who often depicts an upturned side of reality in his works, created this piece. One of the dominant features in this painting is the translucent cow (which is partly made out of hedges) and the completed statues of cows that are located towards the back of the scene. This aspect of the painting gives a feeling of uncertainty as the mind cannot perfectly grasp the image. This quality of elusiveness is also prominent in Waiting for Godot in the way that Didi and Gogo’s memories seem to always be just out of reach.

Another interesting feature in this artwork is the expansive maze. Mazes are often associated with disorientation which is definitely found in the Theatre of the Absurd. In the play, Didi and Gogo are found in a bleak, deserted area with no other buildings or landmarks in sight.  With this lack of direction and visual stimulation, one could easily get lost, both physically and mentally. Didi and Gogo seem to become mentally disoriented in this place where they have no other way to pass their time but to relate every disorganized thought they have. 

Lastly, there are many elements of the painting that seem unexpected or out of place. For example, there is a ballerina seeming to perform in the middle of the maze. She is accompanied by three kittens and their balls of yarn as well as the cow that I mentioned before. It is unlikely that such a scene would be found in daily life, just like the image of Pozzo and Lucky connected by a rope. Furthermore, even though the Boy Godot sent to Didi and Gogo does not seem physically out of place in the play, he is clearly mentally and emotionally uncomfortable in the situation he finds himself in.  

I wonder what other interesting things will happen as we wait for Godot!