(MetroCreative/Graphic Illustration)

STUDENT INTRO: School of Thought is pleased to welcome the first student submission, ‘Reconstruction,’ written by Jackson Gorrell. In this piece, Jackson shares both his journey through reconstruction as well as motivation for others who might find themselves in the same situation. Jackson is a sophomore at Parkersburg South High School where he is also a member of the football team. Jackson’s hobbies include lifting weights, adding to his versatile shoe collection, and most recently, trying to regain his confidence and reconstruct himself into the person he wants to be.

***

Reconstruction. According to Oxford Online Dictionary, reconstruction is the action or process of reconstructing or being reconstructed.

Reconstruction is needed for growth, and at some point, we all find ourselves needing some improvement. The decisions I make are molding my character and reputation, and when I found myself making bad ones, I knew it was time to reconstruct. For example, lying. Lie after lie after lie gets you nowhere, and I would lie to everyone: My parents. My teachers. My grandparents, as though I was invisible.

For me, 2022 was the worst year, yet it taught me so much about myself. The part where I needed to reconstruct the most is lacking confidence. I listen too much to what people say and I let that take me down. The beginning of the process is learning to not care what all people think and to focus on ourselves, and what we can be.

Everyone makes mistakes. As children, we make mistakes, and we learn from them. That’s another example of reconstruction — when you learn from your mistakes and grow from it. I have done a lot of things this year that I shouldn’t have. For example, skipping class and letting my grades go. This was one of the biggest mistakes I have ever made. I learned from this because I want to achieve something other people can’t. I want to focus on having a promising future in my grasp and being at the top, instead of putting so much weight on others and what they think. This is the beginning of my reconstruction process. Confidence.

By the end of this year, I hope to finally have my confidence back and keep the motivation to get my grades where they need to be like I am doing right now. I want to be able to go out and enjoy things again (instead of being stuck in a room, grounded for something I did, that I shouldn’t have done in the first place.) So far, as a confidence gain, I have started to listen to the ones closest to me. The ones that knew what I was going through in this game called life. My parents. These people are the main reason I believe I can be better, and the ones who tell me I need to be better. Most importantly, they help me learn from the mistakes I make.

My best advice for anyone that needs to reconstruct themselves would be to listen to the people who care about you, and really put some thought into what they have to say. Most of the people who are saying negative stuff to or about you aren’t the people that really matter. They have no bearing on what you can be or do.

My next step would be to dig deep into your friends and what they are to you. I bet there are some people in your life that you need to cut out because they aren’t really your friends and don’t have your best interests at heart.

Finally, I recommend trying to find your “thing.” If you need some motivation, try to find something to do that you like and makes you calm. For me, it is lifting weights- it’s the one thing that lets me get the anger out. This Christmas, I got a squatting rack so I can lift, and this has helped me let out the anger I have for this cruel world. Lifting has made me feel calmer and more relaxed as a person. For you, this motivation could be reading or meditation.

We all need to find something in our lives that helps us to reconstruct, to grow. We also need people to be there for us (and keep us accountable.) Find support from the people that love you, the friends that love you, and forget all those who just use you and put you down.

For the people who need it, and for the people who are reading this: If you are in a bad spot and you know it — It’s time. Truly find yourself and focus on who you want to be. Begin your journey to reconstruction.

If I can do it, anybody can do it.