It’s that time of year again boys and girls! Time to return to the hallowed halls of learning. School is back in session!

A part of me is nostalgic for those days–the nervous excitement as I waited in line to get my class schedule (please let me get lunch period with my friends) and locker assignment (pleeeeease don’t let me get a bottom locker underneath the fat guy with a flatulence problem). And another part of me is silently going “Thank God that’s over. I clawed my way out of the 9th circle of hell and lived to tell about it.”

Dramatic much, you say?

Mmmm…maybe, but I don’t think so. In fact, according to a recent study by the I’mtotallymakingthisup Institute, if forced to choose between returning to high school or being locked in a small room with Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag for  24 hours, 98% of high school graduates would opt for Speidi.

My friends, if that doesn’t prove high school can cause some serious trauma, I don’t know what does.

There are refugees who would rather go back to their war torn homelands than be in a small enclosed space with these . . . people? (Has anybody confirmed that Heidi and Spencer are actual humans? Because I’m not entirely convinced they aren’t sophisticated Japanese robots.)

So yes, high school can and does suck. Sometimes a lot. Mean girls, mean boys, idiot teachers, bullies, guys who break your heart–or worse–don’t notice you exist, cliques, homework, peer pressure–it’s all there. Anybody who tries to tell you different is lying. Or was homeschooled. 

On the flip side, though, high school can also be awesome. For all the usual reasons, but sometimes in a weird way its suckiness is what makes it awesome. You and your friends are all in it together, for better or worse. You know, like prison, or forced labor camp.

It’s hard to express the exact sentiment in a blog. So your homework assignment for this week is to obtain a copy of  The Breakfast Club, otherwise known as the best high school movie of all time, and watch it. Sure, it’s over 20 years old, but I promise you–it’s still relevant and you won’t be sorry. Plus, there will be a pop quiz on Monday.