On a trip to New York City, my mom and I went to Bloomingdale’s to purchase white pants for graduation. I had my backpack with me, containing my laptop, wallet, and other valuables. If I spotted a potential pair of pants and tried them on in the fitting room, I’d leave my backpack unattended on one of those conveniently placed velvet chairs. It hadn’t occurred to me that it wouldn’t be safe unattended.
I’ve gotten used to leaving my bag everywhere. I’ll toss it to the side of the Dining Hall foyer or drop it outside Dana. Two nights ago, I left it in Main overnight, and in the morning, it was right where I left it. Aside from leaving out a plethora of valuable belongings, I also never lock my dorm room. (I probably shouldn’t announce it to the whole school, but I’m leaving today, so it’s too late to rob me now!)
My eighth-grade self, who came to Hotchkiss after fourteen years in New York City, would be appalled by my backpack behavior. Yet my backpack is perfectly safe at Hotchkiss. If anyone were to steal something, it would be as benign as a piece of gum.
The opportunity to attend high school in an environment with this sense of utopian security is something I’ve been thinking about as I prepare to reenter the real world. It’s certainly better to go about one’s life hoping for the best, rather than assuming the worst. At the same time, the innocence I’ve been imbued with by Hotchkiss concerns me. I worry my naivety will make me an easy target. What will I do next year without my mom’s reminders to be wary? For a while, the pressure of this question made me dread leaving.
A couple of days after returning from the city, there was a bear
in Bissell Quad. I joined a small crowd outside the science building to watch the bear high up in a tree in front of Redlich. There were hundreds of feet between me and the tree, but after I got there, Security arrived and ordered us inside.
At that moment, Hotchkiss’ safety felt stifling. I realized I look forward to the freedom afforded by leaving this place. It’s the ideal environment to attend high school in, and I worry about transitioning out of it. But there’s something rewarding, to living with the understanding that every decision you make has consequences, positive or negative. I’m ready to see the bear from closer up.
