Okay. This is the first and last time I’m ever writing an article for The Howler. It’s May 9 9:53 AM, I don’t even know how many days I have before this article’s deadline and I really don’t have a lot to say about high school that somebody else hasn’t said already. Yes I’ll miss it, yes it was a great four years and yes, I did scroll through Instagram reels through a good half of it. When I really think about it, what got me through high school were the different forms of art I consumed in between the moments of chaos. Think of this list as an extensive summer “reading” list.
“Severance”
Ever heard of a work-life balance? The workers at Lumon have. “Severance” solves the issues of anyone struggling with their work-life balance by taking it to the extreme: a sketchy brain surgery that creates separate personas for work and your outside life – called “innies”(inside work) and “outies”(outside work). Focusing on the workers in a department called “Macrodata Refinement,” “Severance” explores personal identity in a corporate workplace under maximum stakes. I’m not entirely sure what you can get from this in terms of applying it to your high school experience, maybe the impending sense of doom in every scene if we’re being pessimistic, but what I will say is that it makes a great conversation starter, even for those who haven’t watched the show.
My Cava order
“Blablablabla Maddy Cava isn’t even a form of art what are you talking about” is probably what some of you are saying right now. My counterargument is that you haven’t seen my Cava order. Plus, it got me through several closing shifts at a part-time job. Bowl, all romaine, with hummus, tzatziki and eggplant. Proteins are grilled chicken and roasted vegetables. Corn, cabbage slaw, cucumbers and tahini caesar. Probably doesn’t beat anemia-induced lightheadedness, but it makes me feel in control of my health.
The entirety of the “Cars” soundtrack
I’ll say it: country music gets way too much hate. The “Cars 1” soundtrack has country hits outside of the generally negative stereotype that comes with the genre, so I recommend it for anyone who claims they hate country music. You might find something you like! I’m not a particularly fast driver, but when I got my driver’s license in junior year this soundtrack and “Fast Car” by Tracy Chapman had me wanting to speed into the California sunset (at speed limit). This is a childhood staple for me, and I will not spend my word count defending “Cars 1” over “Cars 2.” “Cars 1” is better, and that’s all I have to say on the matter.
“Stroke” by Nucleus Medical Media
I think high school is prime time to realize that you, and everyone around you, will die one day. Which is, admittedly, kind of morbid, but factually true. A fun fact about me is that I live in constant fear of getting a stroke. If I had to list my top three fears, it would be scoliosis, cavities and strokes. That being said, this Youtube video that I would normally skip over popped up on my recommended feed one day and made me feel a little bit better about the whole mortality situation I was having. Something about a woman’s robotic voiceover to a detailed model of what happens in the brain when a stroke occurs made it easier to sleep at night. If anything, this video made me realize that learning about things that terrify me and how they happen slightly alleviates the overwhelming feeling of existential dread I’ve felt all my life.
“Educated” by Tara Westover
Shoutout to Mr. Pang for recommending this one to me. “Educated” details Tara Westover’s experience in a survivalist family living in the Idaho mountains. More specifically, Westover writes about the importance of education in her life after a childhood, or lack thereof. Even the idea of college in her household was controversial, and her first attempt at taking the SAT started with her asking how to fill in the answer sheet. Westover looks back on her childhood as something completely normal to her in the moment, but most likely concerning to the general non-survivalist population in hindsight. High school may feel exhausting right now, but you’ll learn to appreciate your education when you read Westover’s experiences, from learning what the Holocaust was for the first time in college to never washing her hands with soap as a child.
Moral of the story is that you’ll survive high school whether you like it or not. Maybe watch some TV while you’re at it.
