Ten Crucial Moments

1) Attempted Suicide
In sixth grade I attempted suicide, in a way. I was distraught, confused, and irrational. I hated my dad, I hated how school was going, I had no friends, I was just unable to deal with all the bad treatment I was getting. It just didn’t seem fair in my eyes. Sixth and seventh grade were the only times in my life when I truly prayed to God. The comfort I found was minimal and didn’t help the situation. In the end I didn’t follow through with my cowardly act, which at the time made me think I was really a coward for not doing it. Alas, that knife was not to be stained red with my blood, there was not to be a gaping wound in my chest, and my brother’s resolve was not to be tested (my brother hates me, has always hated me, and looking back I doubt he would have called 911 if he found me with a knife protruding from my heart and blood seeping from the wound).

2) I Met Maureen Davis
In eighth grade I moved to my current town of residence with my family. My family life had not improved, but I was going to a new school. One of the first people I met was Maureen Davis. She was kind, caring, and my first girlfriend at this new school. And in retrospect my first real girlfriend. You can’t really count girlfriends before eighth or ninth grade; you’re just not mature enough, in my opinion. So there I was, on the eighth grade field trip to the roller-skate rink. I had a great time making a fool of myself. But at this point I was slowly realizing that I didn’t care what other people thought of me anymore. At the end of the trip Maureen had lost one of her shoes. I was the only one that stayed with her and helped her find it. And I did find it. I got a huge hug. To say the least I was pleased. Within a month we were dating, but that only lasted like two weeks. I was immature and way to touchy feely. Lesson number one learned: listen when your girlfriend says stop. Don’t laugh, I was what… 13? Jeeze, you people are unforgiving. Anyway. But the greatest part is that I am still friends with Maureen to this day. I will always be her friend, or until I buy the pony I promised her. I should start saving up for that. It is because of Maureen that I learned what true companionship really is.

3) I Met Mr. Chester
Don’t get me started on Mr. Chester. Too late. Mr. Chester was my freshman homeroom teacher, running coach, and biology teacher. Mr. Chester wouldn’t stop trying to get me to come out for cross-country and track. He must of thought I had some talent, HAHA. What a laugh that is. I have zero athletic ability, not because I am over weight or lazy, it’s just not in my “jeans.” Ba dum cha. I crack myself up. So I did eventually run for Mr. Chester. The first time was outdoor track freshman year. He told another student, right in front of me, “Like Emmet, he will probably never score a varsity point for me, but he is here everyday and does exactly what I tell him to.” And before that he basically told me to go find another sport. But did I quit? No. I kept on. I gave Mr. Chester 100% for two and a half years. Regretfully it doesn’t look like I will be running for him my senior year. Alas I do not need to spend the time around him because he has already impacted my life more than he will ever know. From Mr. Chester I learned to be a champion, even though I wasn’t one of his running stars. I learned that in order to get what you want you need to put forth effort and time. Without effort and time you get nowhere.

4) I Met Mrs. Hackett
Mrs. Hackett was my freshman English teacher. Freshman year I was in general level English, not even college prep. Coming out of eighth grade I wanted to go into math and science and didn’t think I needed English. Oh contrar. Thanks to Mrs. Hackett I am now the writer I am today. Before her class I occasionally picked up a pen and wrote some of Dragon Song. But when she asked to read it, well lets just say it was the day my writing began its long journey to the somewhat mature level it is today. There isn’t much I can say about detail. All I remember is that she returned my story with a ton of red ink on it. I had a problem with proper nouns. Like with Mr. Chester later that year, I did not give up. Nor was I mad. I decided that I was going to be better. I was going to strive to become perfect in that field.

5) Started Dragon Song
I cannot remember where I came up with the idea for Dragon Song, nor when it was. It had to be sometime after sixth grade, because in sixth grade I remember starting a spin off of Harry Potter and always getting made fun of for it. Dragon Song is a complicated story and has undergone four rewrites. And still has yet to be completed. The first version and second version are very similar, the second version is longer and has a lot more detail. The third version is about six pages and has a totally different beginning. Then sophomore year I tried again and rewrote the beginning and that attempt became the longest version, next to the second one. The final version is about 76 pages long and encompasses 5 chapters. It is not a total loss though, one day I will go back and find the time to edit it. I just need to set it aside for a while.

6) Started Eternity
Eternity is my second attempt at a novel and unfortunately I have not found the time to write it since the summer. I also have gone back and reread it and think it needs some serious editing. It reminds me of a Dan Brown novel in that it all happens in the span of 3 days. And it’s not even done yet. I am such a failure. Okay I know I’m not, but still. I get very frustrated sometimes. The good news is that everyone, except Maureen, has loved this story. I am constantly being pestered for more and more as I write. Yeah I know I shouldn’t have let it out in the first place, I was just wanted to see what a couple people thought. Then a couple people became six and now five of those six won’t leave me with a moments rest.

7) Moved to Griswold
So I moved and that was a big help. I was able to start over, make new friends, and finally escape all the wild rumors and stories about me. It was also a big turning point in that I finally finished the foundation to my new logic and rational views.

8) Stopped Listening to Stupid People
This is semi-redundant I know, but important nonetheless. I laid out my foundation and finally employed my new philosophy. I no longer care what other people think of me. And to accentuate that point when someone doesn’t like me I go out of my way to bother and pester him or her. It is quite comical actually.

9) I Met Chelsea Bliven
Another ex-girlfriend, just this one doesn’t have a happy ending. From Chelsea I learned how horrible and manipulative some people could be. Chelsea has taught me that I am a pushover and that I need to be more assertive. I am working on my timid nature, but alas I fear that I am doomed to spend the rest of my life under the shadow of some person or another. I am also a very trusting and open person. Chelsea showed me that I need to be a bit more careful with who I trust and how open I am. I may get burned in the end. So far nothing extremely bad has happened and therefore I feel no need to rush changing my ways, but in my infinite foresight I believe I will regret it in the future. You may ask about that infinite foresight but read the last crucial moment first.

10) Founded My Own Philosophy/ Religion
Well this is the only thing that I could come up with. I do not have many crucial moments. And this might be a hair repetitive again. I often refer to myself as a god, and all that bull crap. I have very little self-confidence, but I can come across as a total jacka$$ sometimes. But I am over it, because through my elaborate façade I have been able to surmount my fear of rejection and triumph over my tyrannical father. Therefore I am grateful that I appear cocky and arrogant, or optimistic and over enthusiastic.


Well there ya go. All ten. Two or three are really bad, but as a whole the list comes together quite nicely if I may say so.

~ET