Chapter and verse

The story of a life is the story of home

April 16, 2009

I like to think of life as a novel, with each person composing and narrating his or her own story. Through every chapter, a person gradually grows, matures, and learns from his experiences. Each chapter tells its own story, revealing more and more about the narrator’s life and personality.

I’m currently composing mine by living through it day by day; I handle each chapter by chapter, and have learned to enjoy moments rather than constantly look toward the future.

My latest chapter spans over four very crucial years in my teenage life, the experience of high school. I attend Rae Kushner Yeshiva High School and spend more time in school than anyplace else.

Every morning when I enter the building, I feel as if I have never left my home because Kushner is my second home. Similar to how each room in a house signifies a specific memory and is sentimental, each room in the school tells its own account in relation to the encounters I experienced there.

The gym is located in the center of the school and is the center of my life in school.

I’m currently the captain of the Junior Varsity Basketball Team and my time solely revolves around the basketball season.

On December 10, 2008, my team played against Frisch, another Jewish high school and our school’s archrival. They are the biggest challenge in our division.

Throughout the day, I could not stop thinking about the game, how I would play, and the final score. As I jumped for possession of the basketball, my qualms suddenly disappeared and I instantly realized that I was at home in my gym. As a result, my team won the game by one point. The absolute thrill and intensity of the game reminded me why I love the sport of basketball so much.

Since Kushner is like my home, I know everyone and everything about the school.

The relationships among teachers and students is similar to those of siblings; a student is able to approach a teacher for anything and everything, whether it’s a school or private conflict.

Last year, my mother became extremely ill and I felt that if I vented to a family member, it would simply add to the person’s already burdened mind.

I confided in one of my teachers instead and she helped me overcome my difficult situation.

Additionally, she helped me realize that avoiding and neglecting my emotions will just cause them to grow even more. So I became comfortable talking about my problems with my friends as well.

Because of everyone’s prayers, God answered with a miracle and eased my mother’s pain. The fact that I was able to connect with a teacher on such a personal level is so rare and difficult to find in another high school.

As each chapter of my life passes by, I try to make the most of my opportunities. With each chapter comes responsibility and learning from my mistakes.

From basketball to confiding in teachers, I have learned so many different characteristics and aspects of myself, such as determination and overachieving.

However, once I finish a chapter, I examine its occurrences and seek out my faults; it’s my responsibility to learn.

“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

Carly Mayer, 15, attends Rae Kushner Yeshiva High School.