Shelby Blanke

The Realization

I can't believe I stopped him! Why did I stop him?! I was in the clear! "Uh......have a nice rest of your day!" I said in panic. "Oh, thanks! You too!" He replied, walking away. I took a deep breath of relief. Thank god he is gone. I made my way to Photography. Photography.....Photography......where the heck is Photography?! I looked around for a map. Nope. I looked in my stuff for a map. Yes! Of course it's with registration! Gosh Shelby, way to be a doof! I scan the map key for Photography. Ah, yes! Photography; Room 102. I look at the map for room 102. It was just around the corner. I walk quickly around the corner. Room 102! I rush down the hall to the class. Just in time I take my seat right as the bell rings. The teacher started calling roll. "Taylor Bentley, Garroth Mundreck, Yvette Rosselle...." My name was in the B's, yet it hadn't been called yet. The teacher finished taking roll. "Anyone's name I didn't call?" She called out. I raised my hand. "Name?" She asked. "Shelby Blanke." I said. She scanned her list and looked at a sticky note on her desk. "Oh! Shelby Blanke! Yes, yes! So sorry dear you were a last minute transfer to the class." She said in forgiveness. "It's alright, no worries." I replied. She stood from her desk. "Alright class! Welcome to Photography! I am your teacher, Mrs. Johnston. Now for some of you, I am well aware that this is just a class to fill in your last elective, or just to get you through passing as an "Easy A." Well, this class is not exactly easy, but it sure is fun! For others of you though, this class is the first day of the rest of your life, cause if you are good enough at it, photography is a great profession! Now, since it is our first day, and we all need to get to know each other, I am going to take a picture of you with my camera for your first assignment. I will call you up to take your photo, do a pose that fits your personality! I will print the photos and you will make a project board about yourself! Make it creative, it is photography after all! Oh, and the more photos you have, beside the photo I'm taking of course, unless you lose it, which is points off, the more photos you have, the more points! Organize your board like it's your brain, either, organized, or scattered! I really hope you enjoy the project! Have fun!" Said Mrs. Johnston. My brain was whizzing with about a million different emotions right now, and my head couldn't seem to get anything straight. I felt like I was going to puke. It's only been 30 mins and I have already proved that high school is the worst, and it wasn't even the worst of it. I held back my queasiness and tried to focus on the project. I could feel the vomit building but I forced it back with everything I had. Suddenly, she called my name. "Shelby Blanke!" She shouted out. I stood up from my chair and walked up to the photo area. I felt like puking even more now. I sat in the chair in front of the photo screen. She explained, "Alright, just relax and and make a face that describes you ok? 3..2..1" Right as she snapped the photo, with perfect timing, I puked my guts out. I ran to the bathroom and shut the stall door. I leaned over the toilet ready to vomit, but that was it. My nerves had gotten the best of me and I knew that forever on I would be known as "Puke Girl." I washed my face in the sink and patted it dry with a paper towel. I slowly made my way back to class. I walked into the classroom to find everyone had moved away from the puke-pile. The janitor was now mopping it up and my classmates watched. Finally they noticed my return. No one laughed. A couple rushed over to ask if I was alright, including Mrs. Johnston. "I'm ok, just first day nerves I guess..." They smiled and patted me on the back. Some offered to hang after school. I declined, but said I would take a rain check. That was the first time I realized that high school might not be a complete hell. I returned to my seat and started to work on my project board. My nerves had floated away thanks to the support from my peers. But if one thing was for sure, this had been a crazy morning.