Every year, aspiring mountain climbers tackle one of the world�s most challenging peaks. Mount Everest is a challenge, to be sure, and those accepting the challenge face a great number of obstacles, including sherpa rental and equipment fees.

One of these obstacles is a medical condition called cerebral edema. Climbers with this condition sit frozen, knowing that if they don�t move they�ll freeze to death, but they don�t move because their brain isn�t giving them enough oxygen to care. Many climbers have died from this condition.

In a way, high school is like climbing Mount Everest. It�s a challenge and there are many obstacles, including locker rental and graduation fees.

One of these is a medical condition called senioritis. Students with this condition sit frozen, knowing if they don�t turn in assignments they�ll fail, but they don�t do anything more than the bare minimum because their brain isn�t giving them enough oxygen to care. Many students have dropped out because of this condition.

The rest of us must brave the last few tortuous months in this prison we have come to know over the last four years. It is truly a challenge to get up every day and face the same old routine, knowing that the end is in sight, but secretly suspecting that the light at the end of the tunnel needs a new bulb.

Maybe this is good experience for us. Maybe we need the downtime just as much as we need advanced courses and study tips to prepare us for college. Maybe all the sitting around staring blankly at walls is good practice for a lifetime of boring meetings, lounging in waiting rooms at the doctor�s office, tapping your foot impatiently in line at the bank, plotting the assassination of the woman in front of you at the post office who is mailing seventeen packages of various shapes to her cousin in Uzbekistan, waiting for them to open another register at the supermarket � well, you get the point.

Is there a life lesson in this, or do I just have too much time on my hands?

Who was it that said there are three things you need to be happy: someone to love, something to do, and something to look forward to? It was someone famous, I promise.

It�s true, though. That may only be three things, but those three things should keep you busy most of the time, and when they don�t, you�ve always got your friends.

Or do you? While we�re learning valuable life lessons instead of valuable algebra lessons, know that there are only three guarantees in this life: death, taxes, and Law & Order. I know, I sound like your grandmother, but if you don�t believe me, look at the Sue Schmitz story.

Mrs. Schmitz has been a teacher for thirty-seven years and a state representative for the last four. Politics is politics, sure, but Mrs. Schmitz knew what she was doing and did the best she could to remain at Sparkman, but no one can work for free forever.

Mrs. Schmitz is as much a part of senior year at Sparkman as graduation, but things change, don�t they?

And so, we wait.

For now, our �something to do� is finishing high school. Our �something to look forward to� is graduation. You can figure out �someone to love� on your own time. Good luck. Seriously.

***

The last couple times I've been to the mall, the DDR machine has been gone. At first, I wondered if they just rearranged all their stupid crap, but yesterday I went and asked the guy that wanders around in there. He told me that they moved it to another store. I wonder what that means, philosophically. Maybe I should start questioning the existence of, say, UPN.