Madeline+O’s+OpEd+Article



All I really want to do is finish reading Anna Karenina. But I can’t. I have an extensive to-do list, and unfortunately reading for pleasure is way down at the bottom of that list. School alone takes up a l arge amount of my time, but it doesn't stop there. I have ballet classes to go to, cello music to practice, various music rehearsals to go to, and the SAT and ACT to prepare for. I never questioned that I was doing too much until this year. I've always been busy, but now I am starting to realize that you can’t keep working all the time, or eventually you will run out of steam. I’m told that I need to take AP classes, do community service, play a sport, or an instrument, or both, and so I do, but what people often fail to mention is that you also need time to just relax. I enjoy staying busy with all these activities, but eventually you need a break. Everyone needs to have time to just do what they want every once in a while. It’s not even like I want tons of time to go to parties or whatever people that actually have time for a social life do. I just want to have time to read a book. Especially at Foothill, it seems we tend to glorify those who do the most, those who are always busy with school and sports and community service. We see them as the best, the smartest. We even envy them as the ones that will ultimately get into the best colleges. Right now, the people that I envy are the ones that are keeping up with school and whatever other activities they do, but still leave time to read a book once in a while. Books are good for you. We have been taught the value of reading ever since kindergarten. They improve your vocabulary and writing skills and whatnot, perfect for the all-important SAT or AP tests. I just wish I had time to partake in such a highly beneficial activity.

P.S. Everyone should go read Anna Karenina (when you have time) it's really good