Pork bellies
A shrieking alarm clock, to many high school pupils, serves only to terrify someone who is sleep deprived. This is a distorted view of the issue, held by those who are misinformed. To be sure, the early birds who squint their eyes and search in vain for the source of that ear-splitting cacophony are irritated. Why?
It's not because they only want a few extra hours of sleep, as many people think. No, the reason these students are drowsy and agitated is that they are dreading another dull day at school. On a Saturday morning, if one of these naive Sallys or Joes were in bed, I might imagine a different outcome. They may wake up to a delicious breakfast of eggs, hash browns, and other delectables already prepared in their own kitchens. Bacon, stacked high and ready for the taking, would be the most delectable treat of all. The wafting, wonderful fragrance of bacon would awaken darling, sweet Sally from her sleep before an alarm clock could even ring.
Pork bellies, oh pork bellies, how I love thee! I'm a huge fan of the crispy, crunchy, and well seasoned strips of succulence. I am in ecstasy at the notion of getting a plate of bacon every day, perhaps even every school day!
Many others, I'm sure, would extol the virtues of this delightful breakfast fare. There are, however, only a few people who share this enthusiasm for learning. As a result, I can confidently declare that both are of great importance to me. Every morning, I am greeted with the sweet melody of my alarm clock, a broad grin on my face, and a burning desire to learn new things.
Monday through Friday, it's still pitch black outside when I get on my school bus. In the middle of a thirty-minute diatribe about how the day hasn't even gotten started, I simply chuckle as the bus heads north. Choosing to attend a Magnet school that is located a long distance away does have its advantages. When we're all in the same room, we adopt the "bacon attitude," even if we don't like waking up early. I am able to choose from a wide variety of classes and look forward to a new Spanish History lesson each day—taught to me in Spanish for the first time. There is a Middle Eastern History class in our Magnet program for students interested in learning more about a specific area of study. Teachers are inspired to create new classes for advanced students who have completed AP Spanish Literature and still want to learn more. Even after the AP exams were over, my English Language class did an extensive literature study where we laughed at Yossarian in Catch-22 and grew close to Jay Gatsby. To my mind, The Great Gatsby and my quest of bacon are very similar. I've become a voracious consumer of fresh information, eagerly savoring every morsel like a bacon strip.
But six classes a year simply aren't enough to satisfy my thirst for learning. As I eat bacon for breakfast, lunch, and dinner (when possible), I try to learn something new every day. Instead of going to the movies on the weekend, I prefer to spend my time reading or discussing economics with my pals. However, high school is starting to smell stale to me, and I'd rather to learn something brand new and crisp instead. A renowned professor's book isn't enough for me: I want to hear him speak in person. In anticipation of all the new experiences that await me in university, I am raring to go! As soon as I take this last bite of my breakfast, I'll be heading out the door to school.
