Beginner's Mind, Part 4

by Aria von Elbe

March 1, 2004

Geometry, Computer Science, Biology, Spanish, English, US History: my school courses, and this week, my exams. February is always the busiest month of the entire year, with exam review and the school musical making that a written-in-stone fact that’s forced me to forego playing go for two long weeks. 

I swear, if Diet Coke isn't the death of me ("It causes cancer!" according to my friends), then school definitely will be. It seems like my teachers have only just realized that we have exams at the end of every trimester and decided to subject us to test upon test and assignment upon assignment to prove it. Tie that in with musical practice which made me miss classes for an entire week and I'm officially going to die during exams. But between Internet go and my school's "laptops for all" policy you'd think I'd at least have some time to play those people I meet in Seattle. Think again.

But I haven't let the enforced layoff get me down. I've still had some time to go online and review the latest game from the Kisei or review a few problems here and there. And it's not like I've just let my club sit in limbo. The Constitution and Petition have been handed in: 23 (!) people in all, and they weren't forced to join (though I did start to think about it) and they all know go! I'll even have enough supplies, thanks to the AGA and a certain kind soul. School club and Miami Club, music and exams. I just keep telling myself "only 3 more months", and then I'll be able to finally sit down and study a subject I really care about. 

-15-year-old Aria von Elbe is a 10th-grader in Miami, Florida. 

Back to Columns