Watching the movie “The Breakfast Club” was eye-opening as it reminded me of my high school days. My high school years were not without drama. Just like Brian Johnson, I encountered friends of unique characters. I would turn out to be “The Brain” during my school life mostly because I had unrelenting pressure from my parents to perform. I would note my character as that of a person who used his wits to set others for mischievous activities. My parents are professional teachers, and my father doubled up as a disciplinarian. Being the first born in a family of five, there were certain expectations to lead by example. This came with a lot of pressure as my teenage years pushed me to experiment with what I thought were more “interesting” activities with friends. Despite the urge to try out new things, I maintained a low profile in class and tried as much as I could to obey rules. I remember my father would always try to find out every little detail of my life in school. My parents were relentless in controlling my life both at home and at school to the extent that it almost became unbearable. My father would sometime pay me random visits just to make sure I was “in line” with what was expected. I admired the easy-going nature of my friends. Although my academic work in high school was remarkable, I always felt as if my social life was lacking. Some of the most vivid memories in my mind are those that involved run-ins with the school authority.
My attention to detail and dedication ensured I was always at the top of my class. However, my colleagues would ask me to do their homework occasionally. I was reluctant to complete their responsibilities until a “brilliant” idea came up. I decided I would charge them according to their “abilities.” In most cases, money was the incentive I demanded for my services. If some of my colleagues could not afford that, I would ensure they “pay” in terms of favors such as being protected from the bullies. This trend went on for about two weeks until several teachers became suspicious of our plan. One of the tell-tale signs was my poor grades, and my teachers could not help but wonder what was wrong with my studies. My colleagues convinced me to lie that I was sick to evade the punishment that would follow if our little secret came out. The lie seemed to work out for some time until my parents learned that my grades were suddenly poor. They accused me of being cheeky and tried to investigate further. Eventually, a jealous colleague gave up our secret, and I was suspended. I was always the person sought after to come up with amazing ideas when someone wanted to break the school rules and get away with it, but at other times I could not even save myself. These types of activities summed up my character in high school.
My character in high school could be termed as that of a hypocrite due to the two different personalities I presented at home and school. Being “The Brain,” it was easier to perform in my academic work, but challenging not to express myself as a teenager. This is where my mischievous character originated to make up for the part I lacked.