By CARA SPEEGLE / Guest Columnist

The Publix employees scurried around trying to keep the bread and milk shelves stocked, a common scene on Jan. 9, 2011.

The shoppers filled their baskets, for we would be snowed in for a month.

Alright, so that’s an exaggeration, but an outside observer would have thought we were preparing for an apocalypse.

Come that weekend, all we got in my neck of the woods, also known as Pelham, was some sleet and temperatures that could chill to the bone.

You could call it a disappointment, being stuck in the house but having nothing to show for it.
Ever since I can remember, teachers have always given warnings concerning our future teachers.

For example, in elementary school teachers warned, “In intermediate school, if you don’t have your name on your paper, they will crumple it and throw it away! They won’t care!”

I am here to say, I’m in 12th grade, and teachers still give slack on this issue.  In my new “I’m a senior, time to think about life” point of view, of course I’ve attempted to relate this to the whole graduation experience.

I’ve had friends who graduate and say things like, “It wasn’t as big of a deal as I made it.”

But of course they can only say that because the change was good, and they felt prepared and ready for something different.

Maybe it’s true that teachers, parents, friends and our own over-analyzation take a collaborative part in building up the hype over life-changes.

Even if I look back and think it was silly to cry, laugh, reminisce and over-think every detail, it’s all part of the process of moving on, even if the move is to something bigger and better.

After all, when the blizzard comes, you’ll be glad you went to Publix, and I don’t think I’ll test the college professors, I’ll just put my name on my paper!  I’d say it’s better safe than sorry.

Cara Speegle is a senior at Pelham High School.