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Roseburg High School is scrolling a “Word of the Week” across its reader board on Harvard Avenue. I drive by it every day and am encouraged to see posted such words as “dichotomy,” a word, I must admit, I didn't know the meaning of until college. Apparently, the students are encouraged to not only know what the word means, but also use it in a sentence that week. As a word nerd, I applaud this idea profusely (adv: pouring forth liberally; exhibiting great abundance).
When I was in high school I knew the definitions of many words, but I didn't really understand what the words meant until I had some experience and maturity under my belt.
I suspected I wasn't alone, so I asked a number of friends what one word they wished they truly understood when they were teenagers. Their responses make up this virtual reader board.
• “Happiness. I wish I knew then just how much control we really have over our state of happiness.” Robert, Richmond, Va.
• “Prudence. Making and weighing decisions in light of where it will likely end.” Steve, Roseburg.
• “Courage. I always knew what it meant, but never knew how much of it I had in me.” Paul, Camp Lejuene, N.C. (ready to be re-deployed to Afghanistan)
• “Virtue.” Ross, Roseburg.
• “Quandary. You can't really understand what a quandary is until you face one.” Kjersten, Boston.
• “Character. I was asked to give a speech to the whole student body about character and really didn't know what it meant. Boy, do I know now! I have lots of character now.” Karen, Roseburg.
• “Perspicacity - Keenness of mental perception and understanding; discernment; penetration.” Mary Lou, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio (my mom)
• “I'm sorry. How to say it without limitations. ‘Sorry dude, my bad' doesn't really cut it in the real world.” Stacey, Roseburg.
• “Infallible. I learned the true meaning when I found out that a beloved teacher was very fallible.” Colleen, Phoenix.
• “Communication. My idea of communication as a teenager was speaking my own mind, expressing myself through theater and art, and dealing with the typical tension between a teenage girl and her parents. I understand now that it also involves truly listening, even listening to what people aren't saying. Communication is more than words and expression — it is the lifeline to healthy relationships.” Ursula, Portland, Ore.
• “Delayed gratification.” Andy, Roseburg.
• “Grace. Redemption.” Kathie, Bloomington, Ind.
• “Homemaker. I never knew the depth of that job title. I came to find out that it isn't about going to the gym, getting your nails done and taking FiFi to the groomers.” Melinda, Myrtle Creek.
• “Limits. I hated them and didn't understand them as a teen, but now I know they were for the best.” Raellen, Stow, Ohio
• “Maturity. I couldn't figure out how a kid was supposed to have it or get it.” Mark, Roseburg.
• “Loss.” Dawn, Riddle.
• “I wish I understood ‘funny.' Turns out that the things I found funny then turned out to be cruel.” Joe, Portland, Ore.
• “Girls. Well I guess some things never change.” Chuck, Winona Lake, Ind.
• “Gratitude. I knew what it meant and thought I understood it, but now I know I really had no idea what it meant to be grateful.” Becky, Akron, Ohio
• “Blessings. I used to roll my eyes as a kid when adults would tell me how blessed I was. I'm ashamed of myself when I think of that, because I sure know NOW how blessed I was, and am, to live where and how I do, and to have the people in my life that I have. I say ‘thank you' every single day now for the blessings I've been fortunate enough to enjoy and try to give back to deserve them.” Kristen, Toronto, Ontario
• “Sacrifice. I thought I was doing it as a teenager, but now I really know the truth.” Kasia, Chicago.
• “Peace, time, love.” Jared, Roseburg.
I'm thinking of tacking this list on my kids' dorm room walls when they go away to school. I know they'll be learning some incredible things in college, but I want to remind them that there are some words you can only learn by living through them.
Eileen Burmeister lives and works in Roseburg as a freelance writer. She can be reached at burmeistereileen@gmail.com.
When I was in high school I knew the definitions of many words, but I didn't really understand what the words meant until I had some experience and maturity under my belt.
I suspected I wasn't alone, so I asked a number of friends what one word they wished they truly understood when they were teenagers. Their responses make up this virtual reader board.
• “Happiness. I wish I knew then just how much control we really have over our state of happiness.” Robert, Richmond, Va.
• “Prudence. Making and weighing decisions in light of where it will likely end.” Steve, Roseburg.
• “Courage. I always knew what it meant, but never knew how much of it I had in me.” Paul, Camp Lejuene, N.C. (ready to be re-deployed to Afghanistan)
• “Virtue.” Ross, Roseburg.
• “Quandary. You can't really understand what a quandary is until you face one.” Kjersten, Boston.
• “Character. I was asked to give a speech to the whole student body about character and really didn't know what it meant. Boy, do I know now! I have lots of character now.” Karen, Roseburg.
• “Perspicacity - Keenness of mental perception and understanding; discernment; penetration.” Mary Lou, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio (my mom)
• “I'm sorry. How to say it without limitations. ‘Sorry dude, my bad' doesn't really cut it in the real world.” Stacey, Roseburg.
• “Infallible. I learned the true meaning when I found out that a beloved teacher was very fallible.” Colleen, Phoenix.
• “Communication. My idea of communication as a teenager was speaking my own mind, expressing myself through theater and art, and dealing with the typical tension between a teenage girl and her parents. I understand now that it also involves truly listening, even listening to what people aren't saying. Communication is more than words and expression — it is the lifeline to healthy relationships.” Ursula, Portland, Ore.
• “Delayed gratification.” Andy, Roseburg.
• “Grace. Redemption.” Kathie, Bloomington, Ind.
• “Homemaker. I never knew the depth of that job title. I came to find out that it isn't about going to the gym, getting your nails done and taking FiFi to the groomers.” Melinda, Myrtle Creek.
• “Limits. I hated them and didn't understand them as a teen, but now I know they were for the best.” Raellen, Stow, Ohio
• “Maturity. I couldn't figure out how a kid was supposed to have it or get it.” Mark, Roseburg.
• “Loss.” Dawn, Riddle.
• “I wish I understood ‘funny.' Turns out that the things I found funny then turned out to be cruel.” Joe, Portland, Ore.
• “Girls. Well I guess some things never change.” Chuck, Winona Lake, Ind.
• “Gratitude. I knew what it meant and thought I understood it, but now I know I really had no idea what it meant to be grateful.” Becky, Akron, Ohio
• “Blessings. I used to roll my eyes as a kid when adults would tell me how blessed I was. I'm ashamed of myself when I think of that, because I sure know NOW how blessed I was, and am, to live where and how I do, and to have the people in my life that I have. I say ‘thank you' every single day now for the blessings I've been fortunate enough to enjoy and try to give back to deserve them.” Kristen, Toronto, Ontario
• “Sacrifice. I thought I was doing it as a teenager, but now I really know the truth.” Kasia, Chicago.
• “Peace, time, love.” Jared, Roseburg.
I'm thinking of tacking this list on my kids' dorm room walls when they go away to school. I know they'll be learning some incredible things in college, but I want to remind them that there are some words you can only learn by living through them.
Eileen Burmeister lives and works in Roseburg as a freelance writer. She can be reached at burmeistereileen@gmail.com.
