What I Learned From You | Teen Ink

What I Learned From You

April 9, 2014
By TaraEmily BRONZE, McLean, Virginia
TaraEmily BRONZE, McLean, Virginia
2 articles 0 photos 0 comments

I learned from you to play music too loudly.

Growing up, I almost never wore earbuds because I was nervous about ruining my hearing. Whenever I thought my hearing was getting worse, I wouldn't listen to music for days because I wanted to preserve the sensitivity of my ears.

You changed that. "I'm blowing out my brains with music," you told me. I was horrified. "Don't do that," I implored. "You want your ears. You want your brains." You laughed then, as though you were years older than me, and told me I had a lot to learn.

I suppose you were right. I did learn a lot from you. I used to sip at hot drinks and now I gulp them down and relish the scalding feeling in my throat. I used to dip my toes in freezing-cold pools and now I jump in with my eyes closed and my teeth clenched and tell myself that I have conquered the cold. I used to smile at boys and feel genuinely vulnerable when they'd smile back. Now I smile with a hardened heart and feel nothing but fleeting regret when they smile back.

I used to look left, right, and left again before crossing the street. Now I step out into the road and then look, a half-hearted attempt to pretend I'm still trying.



Similar Articles

JOIN THE DISCUSSION

This article has 1 comment.


JRaye PLATINUM said...
on Apr. 12 2014 at 8:16 pm
JRaye PLATINUM, Dorr, Michigan
43 articles 10 photos 523 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;If you build your house far enough away from Trouble, then Trouble will never find you.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Have you ever looked fear in the face and said, &#039;I just don&#039;t care.&#039;?&quot;

I love the idea of people changing us for the better, and I feel like everyone can relate to it. Your writing is also very simple but smart at the same time, which is aweseome - gives the narator an honest voice. I also love how although the girl has changed a lot because this person touched her life, she never lost herself - she's still a little scared of what's coming next, still a little vunerable. That's how we all should live, taking risks constantly but still be aware of being scared. Fearless. I'm not sure if I overthought this piece entirely or you meant for a reaction like this, but yeah....That's what I got from this. I also see that this is the first piece you've uploaded and I'm happy to be your first comment! Welcome to Teenink! :D