I thought it would seem to be aberrant of me to send this letter, but I overcame that fear, for how could a letter of praise be received poorly? Many ways I suppose, but I will go on… When I finally leave this wretched town in the middle of nowhere in pursuit of actual LIFE… I would most like to emulate your lifestyle…it seems ideal attending law school, running a fashion line, writing novels, traveling abroad, and possessing a kitty-cat. Thank you for being a living inspiration.

-Samantha

Dear Samantha,

1990s flashback! Your experience sounds so much like mine in high school. Every day, this little Goth’s eyes rolled to the back of her head at the sight of her Lip-Smackered classmates. How I longed to find fellow darklings and fly away… (Photos above are of me at age 16!)

It’s funny to look at my classmates’ faces on Facebook a decade later: people don’t change much. Their photos reveal tanning in Cabo, cosmos with the girls before a Britney concert, grinding with jock boys… while mine are of, um, Gothic pallor parties in Tokyo, mad tea with the cosplayers prior to Moi dix Mois, and rope suspensions with transsexuals…

1) If you are anything like me, life will be superb after high school! Patience, my dear; you won’t be in a small town with small minds for much longer. Until then, do the absolute best you can in class – because with a strong academic record, you have a greater choice of colleges, work options, and places to live. Then apply to the best colleges; being around smart people never hurts. The worst thing you can do is squander your education now and be stuck in Smallville forever.

I have no doubt that with your many interests and fierce individuality, you’ll soon be living the life you want to lead! But remember to be patient… it took me 6 years (from the start of college to now) to be where I am now – and I have so much more to work for.

2) Opportunities rarely arise… you must chase them down and stab them with your pitchfork! Every gig I’ve ever had came from approaching someone and pleading my case. It’s not going to be easy; I’ve gotten a good share of rejection letters. But the more you stab in a certain direction, the more likely you are to draw blood. Approach people you admire; send out emails; apply for internships; propose collaborations; save money so you can spend the summer in Tokyo. It’s up to you – meaning that if you put in a good effort, opportunity will rear its head.

3) When I was in my teens, my dream job was to work for MuchMusic (the Canadian MTV) or a big record company. How times have changed; music labels/TV stations are now gasping their last breaths. The same may be the case for blogs – which is why my current path may not be the one for you. I encourage you to explore blogging and social networks, but keep in mind that most opportunities have yet be created. In a few years, you’ll be ready to pounce on the next wave, whatever it may be.

4) You must fight assimilation tooth and nail, and never let down your guard. It is ridiculously easy to take the steady path; to get off where the sign reads “content” instead of hacking through the jungle towards “sublime”. After college, many people take the adequate paycheck, telling themselves that they can pursue their dreams later on. But before they realize it, inertia sets in – and these dreams aren’t worth the effort of getting off the couch.

Fight mellowness to the death, with the help of your comrades. My closest friends will give me a good spanking if I exhibit any sign of “settling for less”. I’m certain that you too will find allies in the years after high school. Again, patience – and you’ll soon be overwhelmed by opportunities. Gambatte!

PS: I don’t possess the cat – Basil Farrow possesses me! (He came into my life of his own accord, as you may recall from this profile.)

What were your experiences with high school? Do you have any thoughts for Samantha? I invite you to email me questions and I’ll do my best to answer them in this blog feature.