As the school year settles in, the inevitable thoughts of what the future will hold swarm the minds of many. Unwilling to bear the thought of the future, we resort to things like making Friday plans on a Monday.
When the going gets tough, it’s natural for most people to resort to changing their perspective on time as a way of grounding themselves. Looking to the future instills a sense of hope and excitement for what is soon to come. With college application deadlines, upcoming elections, and many ‘lasts’ from senior year, there is a world full of changes and uncertainty to look forward to.
Fear of change is more than natural for many, oftentimes, bringing a sense of security and a fight for stability when we resist the idea of impermanence.
I turn 18 soon, a milestone idolized by many. Living a simpler life as a kid, I probably thought by now I’d be living on my own with endless clothes and free time. I’ve realized how peaceful being naive allows us to be, and yet at the same time, we constantly question and challenge all that we know when we are young.
It’s easy to find peace in the idea that what we know can’t hurt us, but I believe it’s better to feel the weight of knowing rather than face the weight of living in a fantasy. Immense power comes with knowledge and understanding of the world and those around us, as we learn more about ourselves and each other, we unlock the ability to be better friends, neighbors, students, and family members.
Arlingtonian is here to serve as a productive and insightful escape. I encourage you to lose yourself in the issue, converse with your lunch table, inform your grandparents, and connect with each other over shared common grounds or unsettled differences.
Endless hours will be poured into each issue of Arlingtonian this year, most of them spent surrounded by twinkle-lights and happy tunes inside our newsroom on the first floor. For now, take the time to escape and enjoy our first issue. Peek through the window or open the doors to room W1307 during sixth period to see our staff hard at work. During other periods throughout the day, you’ll find future journalists practicing and preparing for when it’s time for their names to be in print. Educate yourself as much as you are able, use your voice when you can and let the rest unfold.
