Out of the blue today, a boy in the grade six class: "Is it true what they say about life basically sucking once you get out of school?" I was truly taken back but it got me thinking...
What is life like once you become an adult? It is sort of like the fourth installment of the Indiana Jones series. You wait for nearly twenty years for it to happen; you dream; you imagine. You are so excited about what is in store that you are impatient for it to begin. You picture grand adventures, a ruggedly handsome man, romance, answers to great mysteries and an ending that leaves you satisfied. And then it arrives...
At first, you are impressed with the adventure - maybe not what you imagined but an adventure nonetheless. There is travel and the ruggedly handsome man. Perhaps he's not quite how you imagined but he is there. There is conflict but it is part of the adventure, the mystery. What the heck? What would life be like if there wasn't conflict? As the adventure continues, you start to wonder: really? You begin to look around at the others in the theatre - those people who have also spent twenty years waiting for this moment in time - and you wonder if they are beginning to have doubts just like you. You wait and you wait. Your doubt grows and now you're feeling a little confused. It all seems a little too farfetched and definitely NOT what you had waited for. You start to shake your head at the absurdity of it but, you look around, and everyone else seems to be enjoying themselves. Only later will you find out that their smiles were only masking their growing concern over the nonesense they were witnessing. In the end the fanstasy is shattered - you are not happy; you stand and scream "REWRITE." You leave the theatre dazed and confused and feel extremely let down by the creator - not what you had imagined and not what you believe you were promised. The ruggedly handsome man is just old, the adventure is lame and there are these foreign beings thrown in just to confuse the hell out of you (as a woman you realize that these foreign beings are just men in gowns).
But do I say anything of this to little Billy who is looking for reassurance to a question that is obviously troubling him? Of course not, you continue with your adult duty to reassure and distract the youth - to perpetuate the myth that adulthood will be this wonderful kingdom full of safe adventure and the people of our dreams.
Instead I say, "Funny you should ask that. I'm currently working with teenagers to help them make decisions about their life after high school that will assist them in reaching their long-term goals once they are adults. I begin by asking them: What is worse? Going to school for six months to a few years to increase your earning potential and help make all your dreams come true or to wake up one day, at 25, and realize you still work at Dairy Queen?"
He sighs relief and responds: "I'm so glad you said that. That is what my dad says. He is an electrician and makes a lot of money."
I smile my teacher smile: "I'm happy that I was able to answer your question. And now I have one for you... is your dad single?"
Rewrites are always possible; you just have to realize the crap when you see it and refuse to accept it.
