"Eighth Grade" is the Cringiest, Most relatable movie if you've ever been in middle School

"Eighth Grade" is the Cringiest, Most relatable movie if you've ever been in middle School

No one is immune to the awkwardness of being thirteen.

Kortni Carico
Kortni Carico Aug 6, 2018
53
views

So last night, I went and saw the movie "Eighth Grade" that premieres this weekend (August 3!) and I still have not recovered. Without spoiling a very vague but meaningful plot-line, basically, this movie is about the true life of an eighth-grade girl, Kayla, not like the ones on TV or in movies. It is filled with angsty back talking, cell-phone obsessed, self-critical, GenZ teens. Although the movie is rated R and nearly every actual eighth-grader won't be watching this anytime soon, literally, everyone was once thirteen and can relate, especially for those with current middle school aged relatives.

First, you could not pay me $1 million to go back to middle school. I'm partially convinced this movie is a near replica of my days as a thirteen-year-old girl, and it took me a little too far back, forcing me to remember all of my most embarrassing moments. From peeing my pants in the seventh-grade band for being too scared of my band teacher to crying almost every day in ninth grade (yes, still middle school in my hometown), it's safe to say I'm still not over it and I'm sorry if you knew the thirteen-year-old me... This movie made me cringe because I knew what she was about to do, but you were rooting that she'd not make it awkward. I was wrong every time I thought she'd pull through.

While this movie points out the horrors of middle-school boys and girls asking permission to be seen, it is someone empowering. When you are the thirteen-year-old girl that is living the eighth-grade nightmare every day, you don't realize change over time. I can proudly say that I survived that time in my life, and so did everyone watching the movie with me in the theater that night (except for the trolly dad who brought his middle schooler son - yikes for him when they talk about blow-jobs).

This movie is a sign that, yes, it does get better, and as you grow up your priorities change. I think every single person related to the awkwardness of this movie, and the message to be kind to everyone. You have no idea what goes through someone's mind before they speak or what they do.

I thought this movie was going to be a dud or "Little Miss Sunshine" wannabe, but I was pleasantly surprised by the authentic performance by Elsie Fisher. I love how this movie exaggerated that she was just average. The average in every person is what we all think about ourselves, and not the uniqueness that other people see around us.

Lastly, make sure to knock really loudly before entering a room where a young teen might be... they frighten easily.

Kortni Carico
Kortni Carico Aug 6, 2018
At Creighton University

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To the guy that shot my brother...

Sarah Corley
Sarah Corley Jan 20, 2019
3905
views

To the guy that shot my brother,

On January 9, 2019 my families entire life changed with one phone call. The phone call that my little brother had been shot in the face, no other details. We didn't need any other details. The woman on the phone who called us in full panic told us where he was so we went, as soon as possible. I don't think it helped that not even 10 min prior I talked to Zach on the phone.. kind of irritated with him, and the ONE TIME I didn't say 'I love you' as we hung up. Could've been the last time we ever spoke.. I remember pulling up to the hospital thinking 'this can't be real' 'it's not our Zach' 'this is just a dream Sarah, WAKE UP' I'd close my eyes really tight just to open them, I was still in the hospital emergency parking lot. I could still hear the ambulance sirens coming. It was all real.

The day our life's changed was definitely a test of faith. A test of how strong we were, as a family. I sat in that waiting room ready to see the damage that has been done to my sweet baby brother. Because at that point we had no idea how lucky he got. That glimpse of seeing Zach will haunt me forever. How helpless I felt in that exact moment frequently wakes me up from these horrific dreams I've been having ever since that day. That is a moment burned into my me and families brain forever.

You always hear about these things in the movies or on the news, a house being shot up, someone shooting another innocent person, not to care if they died on your watch. But we found ourselves on the news.. We have been confined to the hospital since that day. Running on barely any sleep, taking shifts of sleep so we don't make ourselves sick taking care of Zach. Watching him suffer. Undergoing surgeries, to repair the damage you did.

Before I proceed let me tell you a little something about the man you shot.

Zachary Keith Wright. A blonde hair blue eyed boy. Who could potentially be the most annoying human on the planet (possibly coming from his sister). A man who loves his God first, loves his family second. Perfect by no means, but almost perfect to me. A 19 year old who was to graduate high school this month. After graduation he was prepping to leave for Marine boot camp in the summer.. being in the military has been Zach's dream since he could talk. Literally. Running around, playing war with underwear on our heads, and finger guns. Some would say we looked like natural born assassins.. growing up he has been a country boy. Let me tell ya country to the core. He loves this country like he loves his family. He believes in helping people, taking charge in what's right, and never leaving a brother behind. He's lived by that his whole life. Until now....

The day you shot him. The day not only did you change my brothers life, you changed his families life too. The day you almost ripped my brother out of this world... for what? A misunderstanding? Because you've let something take ahold of your life that you can't let go you're willing to kill someone innocent over? Luckily for him, his guardian angels were protecting him in your time of cowardice. There were 3 times that day he should've died, the time you shot him, the time you tried to shoot him again as he stared you directly in the face, (even tho he couldn't talk I know you could read his eyes, and he still intimidated you. That's why you tried to pull the trigger again) and the time he was running out of the house. But he lived. A man who was shot in the face, didn't lay there helpless, didn't scream in agony. That MAN walked to the neighbors to get help. Why? Because he's a MAN, and because he's on this earth for a reason.

It's gonna sound a little strange not only to you, but the audience who is reading this. I must say thank you. Even in this situation, this was the best outcome we could get. He gets to live. He will make a full recovery. He will graduate. And he will go off into the Marines. You united my family together. Closer than ever. Thank you. You tested our faith and brought us closer to our God. Thank you. Because of your moment of weakness, you showed us what prayer could do. Heal anything. Thank you. This was a bump in the road, and a helluva way to kick off our year of 2019. But here we are.. all laying in the hospital. I'm looking around as mom is sleeping in her recliner chair exhasted but still here, Zach his awake playing his xbox all hooked up to machines, fighting to heal and get better. And of course I'm writing this letter to you.

See you in trial,

From the girl whose brother you shot.

'Fight the good fight' - 1 Tim 6:12 🤟🏼💙

Sarah Corley
Sarah Corley Jan 20, 2019

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Justice For All?

There's always an injustice in the justice system. ALWAYS.

Chau Tang
Chau Tang Jan 17, 2019
491
views

Cynotia Brown serves a life sentence in prison for killing a man who bought her for sex when she was 16, and CNN said she could still be freed soon.

The Tennessee Supreme Court said Brown would have to serve at least 51 years in prison for killing the man in 2004.

From what I've read, she was dating someone who was verbally, physically and emotionally abusive. He told her some girls were meant to be whores so at least be a good one. He was referred to as "Cut Throat" and was 24 years old. He forced her into prostitution.

I can only imagine what she went through. She went through a lot of abuse so she might have been vulnerable and not confident. She must have been scared because she felt like she had no way out of prostitution.

She could not just up and leave because "Cut Throat" pulled a gun on her multiple times and he even choked her so hard she passed out. This as all before he forced her into prostitution so what makes you think she can leave easily. She probably did not want to be in prostitution in the first place, hence the word force.

Nowhere did I read about Cut Throat being prosecuted for forcing her into prostitution. But I suppose they used to date so it doesn't matter. But of course it matters. It's unfair that Brown is being prosecuted for not only defending herself but getting the courage to do something about it.

She was probably tired of being used and thought that killing would be the only way out of it. If you think about it, how would you get out of the prostitution scene after being forced into it after having a rough childhood? Your mindset might have been so fragile it didn't seem possible to leave.

The judges did not see it as Brown defending herself because the man did not have a weapon on him. For that, judges thought it was killing in cold-blood. When really, they should be focusing on prosecuting Cut Throat because he is the one who got her into this mess in the first place. But of course, the judges said she was not a victim because after she killed him, she took his money.

Well, of course she took the money, she had to show Cut Throat she had the money or else who knows what he would have done to her. She was scared yet no one seemed to care. Especially, not the justice system since they want to give her at least 51 years in prison.

Realistically, since she killed a man, she could have been sentenced to 6 months at best. 51 years is too excessive, especially for someone in her situation. Ideally, she should be given bail so she can resume her life and start over. One of the emotions judges lack is compassion for others. They want to see the crime at hand but no one wants to prosecute what happened before to make her have that mindset.

Chau Tang
Chau Tang Jan 17, 2019
At Cleveland State University

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