Forever Young by Emily B.
At one point during your life, you’ll play with your best friends one last time without
knowing it. You might be recreating a pirate movie scene with weapons and fake eye
patches while yelling shanties at each other from across a fallen log. Or, you might be
swaddling your pet cat like a baby and yelling at your friend to ‘put the kids to sleep’
while playing house. Then after the sun dips down and the macaroni and cheese is all
eaten, you’ll get back into your parents’ car and head home, promising your friend to
pick up playtime next time you come over. Yet, between school, lack of time, and family
concerns, you never do get to finish that playtime session.
I remember when I was younger with my best friend; we would always be playing
games and acting like animals. We were so adventurous and could be found with the
wildest imaginations. One would go over to the other’s house and play from dawn until
dusk. We would come back in and chug juice boxes and fight over the Goldfish
crackers. Yet one day, it all changed. As I was leaving my friend’s house, I remembered
how my older sister would tease me for acting so immature for almost being a seventh-grader.
How I would play in the grass and scrape my knee just so I could feel like a cat
was such an idiotic thought to her. And, I thought she was right. I was getting too old to
be rolling down hills and hiding in hay bales. I stopped in the driveway and turned to my
friend. I remember telling her, “We’re going into seventh grade, we need to stop playing.
We’re getting too old for that.”
That was the last time I went outside with her and used our imagination. I gave
up my wanderlust in order to fit in with everyone else. Looking back on it, I wonder why I
had done that. I collapsed to peer pressure and let what I enjoyed slip away from me. I
allowed myself to think that giving up what I truly found entertaining would make me
more mature and fit in with my peers, even if that meant ditching creative activities with
my best friend.
I believe that being young is important and should not be taken for granted. I
believe that being yourself is important to everyone's individuality. I believe that we need
to ignore social norms. When you are young, you should not care what your interests
are or how you look or dress. Enjoy each hour, and spend your days with not a childish
mindset, but a youthful one. Laugh at dumb jokes, play card games with your buddies,
and also remember truly who you are.
