Losing my marbles

Deadlines. Why does everything have to have deadlines? Do this by Friday, have that done by Wednesday. Don't put it off. Life seems to be an unending cycle of rushing to get things done. This year, as a senior at Notre Dame Regional High School, my life seems to be flying by. I am realizing that my time as a "kid" is dwindling very quickly. Soon I will be off to college, living on my own, making my own decisions, managing my own budget and tackling all of this with no help from my family. I sometimes wish I was a freshman again, walking through the big glass doors at Notre Dame on my first day of school, excited and scared all at once for what might lie ahead of me.

In our very first Theology IV class this year, we had a prayer service in the chapel. I expected to hear the same message I had heard every year: "As you young people mature, it's up to you to be good examples to the underclassmen. Your responsibilities are increasing even more this year." The lecture started off exactly that way, but took a turn that drastically changed my outlook on my last year of high school.

My teacher, Miss Strohmeyer, pointed to a small jar on the altar that was about half full of marbles. She then explained to my class that the marbles in the jar represented how many days we had left until graduation, including weekends. Astonished faces stared at the small jar in disbelief. "There's no way!" I said aloud. She assured me it was the correct number of marbles. Whispers filled the chapel. No one could believe that this was correct. It looked like such an insignificant amount of days.

My teacher calmed us down and told us to get out a piece of paper. She then asked us to write down all the goals that we wanted to accomplish by the end of our senior year.

I frantically began scribbling down my goals: Get many scholarships, go to state in softball, move up in class rank. ... The list increased quickly. I got to the bottom of the piece of paper and turned it over. I then realized that I'd better get started making these goals, because by the looks of that jar of marbles I didn't have much time left.

Now, in every theology class, our teacher pulls another marble out each day. We are all watching our time in high school decrease quickly. The jar is a constant reminder that our deadlines are fast approaching. Now is the time to forgive old grudges, rekindle old friendships and bond together with the ones we are closest to. Our days are numbered and we must reach our goals before the deadline.

In a way, no matter how old, we are all like seniors in high school -- rushing to get things done. The only difference is not everyone can see each day in a jar. Act now! Reach your goals and spend time with those you love before time runs out, because no one can truly see their own deadline.

Hannah Davis of Scott City is a senior at Notre Dame Regional High School.