Enter your email Address

ENTROPY
  • About
    • About
    • Masthead
    • Advertising
    • Submission Guidelines
    • Info on Book Reviews
  • Essays
    • All Introspection
      Creative Nonfiction / Essay

      Tales From the End of the Bus Line: Aging Ungraciously

      January 18, 2021

      Creative Nonfiction / Essay

      Salt and Sleep

      January 15, 2021

      Creative Nonfiction / Essay

      Revolution for Covid

      January 14, 2021

      Creative Nonfiction / Essay

      WOVEN: My Precious: On Leaving My Abusive Ex-Husband and Being Left with the Ring

      January 13, 2021

      Introspection

      The Birds: A Special Providence in the Fall of a Sparrow

      January 2, 2020

      Introspection

      Returning Home with Ross McElwee

      December 13, 2019

      Introspection

      The Birds: In Our Piety

      November 14, 2019

      Introspection

      Variations: Landslide

      June 12, 2019

  • Fiction
    • Fiction

      The Birds: Little Birds

      December 11, 2020

      Fiction

      The Birds: Perdix and a Pear Tree

      December 9, 2020

      Fiction

      The Birds: A Glimmer of Blue

      November 23, 2020

      Fiction

      The Birds: Circling for Home

      November 13, 2020

      Fiction

      The Birds: The Guest

      November 9, 2020

  • Reviews
    • All Collaborative Review Video Review
      Review

      Review: Shrapnel Maps by Philip Metres

      January 18, 2021

      Review

      Perceived Realities: A Review of M-Theory by Tiffany Cates

      January 14, 2021

      Review

      Review: Danger Days by Catherine Pierce

      January 11, 2021

      Review

      Review – : once teeth bones coral : by Kimberly Alidio

      January 7, 2021

      Collaborative Review

      Attention to the Real: A Conversation

      September 3, 2020

      Collaborative Review

      A Street Car Named Whatever

      February 22, 2016

      Collaborative Review

      Black Gum: A Conversational Review

      August 7, 2015

      Collaborative Review

      Lords of Waterdeep in Conversation

      February 25, 2015

      Video Review

      Entropy’s Super Mario Level

      September 15, 2015

      Video Review

      Flash Portraits of Link: Part 7 – In Weakness, Find Strength

      January 2, 2015

      Video Review

      Basal Ganglia by Matthew Revert

      March 31, 2014

      Video Review

      The Desert Places by Amber Sparks and Robert Kloss, Illustrated by Matt Kish

      March 21, 2014

  • Small Press
    • Small Press

      Gordon Hill Press

      December 8, 2020

      Small Press

      Evidence House

      November 24, 2020

      Small Press

      death of workers whilst building skyscrapers

      November 10, 2020

      Small Press

      Slate Roof Press

      September 15, 2020

      Small Press

      Ellipsis Press

      September 1, 2020

  • Where to Submit
  • More
    • Poetry
    • Interviews
    • Games
      • All Board Games Video Games
        Creative Nonfiction / Essay

        How Zelda Saved Me: The Inspiration, Feminism, and Empowerment of Hyrule

        November 2, 2020

        Board Games

        Session Report: Victoriana and Optimism

        December 14, 2019

        Games

        Best of 2019: Video Games

        December 13, 2019

        Games

        Hunt A Killer, Earthbreak, and Empty Faces: Escapism for the Post-Truth Era

        September 21, 2019

        Board Games

        Session Report: Victoriana and Optimism

        December 14, 2019

        Board Games

        Ludic Writing: Lady of the West

        July 27, 2019

        Board Games

        Session Report: Paperback and Anomia

        July 27, 2019

        Board Games

        Ludic Writing: The Real Leeds Part 12 (Once in a Lifetime)

        November 10, 2018

        Video Games

        How Zelda Saved Me: The Inspiration, Feminism, and Empowerment of Hyrule

        November 2, 2020

        Video Games

        Best of 2019: Video Games

        December 13, 2019

        Video Games

        Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is the Spirit of Generosity

        December 31, 2018

        Video Games

        Best of 2018: Video Games

        December 17, 2018

    • Food
    • Small Press Releases
    • Film
    • Music
    • Paranormal
    • Travel
    • Art
    • Graphic Novels
    • Comics
    • Current Events
    • Astrology
    • Random
  • RESOURCES
  • The Accomplices
    • THE ACCOMPLICES
    • Enclave
    • Trumpwatch

ENTROPY

  • About
    • About
    • Masthead
    • Advertising
    • Submission Guidelines
    • Info on Book Reviews
  • Essays
    • All Introspection
      Creative Nonfiction / Essay

      Tales From the End of the Bus Line: Aging Ungraciously

      January 18, 2021

      Creative Nonfiction / Essay

      Salt and Sleep

      January 15, 2021

      Creative Nonfiction / Essay

      Revolution for Covid

      January 14, 2021

      Creative Nonfiction / Essay

      WOVEN: My Precious: On Leaving My Abusive Ex-Husband and Being Left with the Ring

      January 13, 2021

      Introspection

      The Birds: A Special Providence in the Fall of a Sparrow

      January 2, 2020

      Introspection

      Returning Home with Ross McElwee

      December 13, 2019

      Introspection

      The Birds: In Our Piety

      November 14, 2019

      Introspection

      Variations: Landslide

      June 12, 2019

  • Fiction
    • Fiction

      The Birds: Little Birds

      December 11, 2020

      Fiction

      The Birds: Perdix and a Pear Tree

      December 9, 2020

      Fiction

      The Birds: A Glimmer of Blue

      November 23, 2020

      Fiction

      The Birds: Circling for Home

      November 13, 2020

      Fiction

      The Birds: The Guest

      November 9, 2020

  • Reviews
    • All Collaborative Review Video Review
      Review

      Review: Shrapnel Maps by Philip Metres

      January 18, 2021

      Review

      Perceived Realities: A Review of M-Theory by Tiffany Cates

      January 14, 2021

      Review

      Review: Danger Days by Catherine Pierce

      January 11, 2021

      Review

      Review – : once teeth bones coral : by Kimberly Alidio

      January 7, 2021

      Collaborative Review

      Attention to the Real: A Conversation

      September 3, 2020

      Collaborative Review

      A Street Car Named Whatever

      February 22, 2016

      Collaborative Review

      Black Gum: A Conversational Review

      August 7, 2015

      Collaborative Review

      Lords of Waterdeep in Conversation

      February 25, 2015

      Video Review

      Entropy’s Super Mario Level

      September 15, 2015

      Video Review

      Flash Portraits of Link: Part 7 – In Weakness, Find Strength

      January 2, 2015

      Video Review

      Basal Ganglia by Matthew Revert

      March 31, 2014

      Video Review

      The Desert Places by Amber Sparks and Robert Kloss, Illustrated by Matt Kish

      March 21, 2014

  • Small Press
    • Small Press

      Gordon Hill Press

      December 8, 2020

      Small Press

      Evidence House

      November 24, 2020

      Small Press

      death of workers whilst building skyscrapers

      November 10, 2020

      Small Press

      Slate Roof Press

      September 15, 2020

      Small Press

      Ellipsis Press

      September 1, 2020

  • Where to Submit
  • More
    • Poetry
    • Interviews
    • Games
      • All Board Games Video Games
        Creative Nonfiction / Essay

        How Zelda Saved Me: The Inspiration, Feminism, and Empowerment of Hyrule

        November 2, 2020

        Board Games

        Session Report: Victoriana and Optimism

        December 14, 2019

        Games

        Best of 2019: Video Games

        December 13, 2019

        Games

        Hunt A Killer, Earthbreak, and Empty Faces: Escapism for the Post-Truth Era

        September 21, 2019

        Board Games

        Session Report: Victoriana and Optimism

        December 14, 2019

        Board Games

        Ludic Writing: Lady of the West

        July 27, 2019

        Board Games

        Session Report: Paperback and Anomia

        July 27, 2019

        Board Games

        Ludic Writing: The Real Leeds Part 12 (Once in a Lifetime)

        November 10, 2018

        Video Games

        How Zelda Saved Me: The Inspiration, Feminism, and Empowerment of Hyrule

        November 2, 2020

        Video Games

        Best of 2019: Video Games

        December 13, 2019

        Video Games

        Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is the Spirit of Generosity

        December 31, 2018

        Video Games

        Best of 2018: Video Games

        December 17, 2018

    • Food
    • Small Press Releases
    • Film
    • Music
    • Paranormal
    • Travel
    • Art
    • Graphic Novels
    • Comics
    • Current Events
    • Astrology
    • Random
  • RESOURCES
  • The Accomplices
    • THE ACCOMPLICES
    • Enclave
    • Trumpwatch
Creative Nonfiction / EssayCultureCurrent Events

18: Introduction and Transience

written by Guest Contributor March 23, 2016

Introduction by Nathan Hansen:

I’m about as far from prolific as a writer can get, slowly dwindling the amount of my writing more and more as time goes on. This decrease in publications over the years, from daily newspaper articles to weekly columns to monthly magazine features to a novella or chapbook annually, may be a natural response to the increase in hours of instruction I’ve taken on. To me, it’s a just sacrifice.
Mentoring youth through their literature studies, to include analysis and composition, means a lot to me. I’ve discovered a way to connect with teens by discussing relevant stories, and I’ve taken an interest in assisting them develop their own stories, because frankly, we, as adults, tend to forget what it’s like to be a teen. We rely on memory, reading each other’s memoirs dated decades back. We create fictional teenagers in imaginative worlds. We take liberty at trying to mesh our past with another generation’s present. We’re essentially do our jobs, yet we’re doing so irresponsibly. We’re not citing proper references, checking in with the real authorities. In essence, what I’m really saying is, “How the fuck do we know?”
For far too long, I’ve fielded questions about my own writing, or writing I honor and appreciate, with students who aren’t encouraged enough to write for themselves. Until now. This year I’ve come across a young man who, like most teens, has a story to tell. What makes this young man different is that he’s ready. He’s stripped himself of ego. He’s not out to impress, nor is he the least self-conscious. He’s simply interested in letting people in on another perspective we so often try to emulate. As much as I prod him, he may never write anything again. He’s thinking of becoming an engineer. Until then, he’ll be writing a column every couple weeks. A column that reveals much of what a teenager is going through these days.
Justin Case‘s column “18” is important as it completes a diversity all artists are seeking. It rounds out all the voices we have, allowing us firsthand account of what youth is like – now. The writing is young, as it should be. However, it’s honest and informed. More so, it’s a chance for a young artist. A leg up. We have enough engineers, don’t you think?
Yes, we all have dreams of writing. But there comes a time when we must rest our hands from our own projects and lend them to potential peers, despite any age. Time away for me is time engaged with another. In this case, it’s for Justin Case, and for you to read about what it’s like to be “18.” Enjoy.

Transience

I’ve been moving around most of my life, the only time I’ve ever been settled was before the divorce of my parents. They split when I was 3. Since then, I’ve been shuffled between households and school districts more times than I care to count. Transience had become a mantra. In never staying in the same place for long, I was never able to create a close knit group of friends that I had always dreamed of, dreams instilled in me by movies like “The Goonies”, or “The Sandlot”. However, I never really had time for close friends due to my troubled relationship with my family, especially my father.

I am a liar. It’s something I’ve realized and accepted about myself, but it never went over well with my father, a stern utilitarian-type. Forever looking for what was missing in the picture. This never rolled with me and as a result we had a troubled relationship, nights filled with yelling and tears and threats of sending me away, until it finally came to an ultimatum. Move out or go to military school. I chose to move out. I went to live with my mom the next day, which wouldn’t have been horrible, but as an impressionable child I was programmed to believe that she was a horrible person. She was often used as an example by my father of exactly the kind of person you don’t want to be. I was always cautious to share myself with her and it wasn’t until I began smoking weed that I really began to let her into my life. Oddly enough, I like to believe it helped me to see things for the way they were. I realized that I had been a raised a privileged child who was no more than a parrot of his fathers ideals. That my mother was living in the poorer part of Houston struggling to take care of me and my sister. These sudden revelations hit me hard. I wasn’t accustomed to change. The movement. I went into a depression that lasted several years.

Two years later, and after overcoming my pride, I re-established contact with my father. He decided to give me another chance. I moved back in with him the following summer, and began my junior year at a college prep school. Everything was great. Smooth sailing. Until my dad caught me smoking, then came the shit storm of fury. I was grounded for several months. Over the course of the year, more incidents occurred, grades, staying out late, but nothing too unusual for a teenager. However, anything less than flawless wasn’t good enough for my father, and he decided that the only way to salvage my future was to send me away to someone who could “fix” me. An idea that seems to plague today’s society.

I was woken up at around six in the morning on a Saturday to the promise of a surprise. My father tells me to get in the car. He tells we’re going somewhere. We drive for about an hour, stopping for breakfast along the way, and arrive at the airport. He says we’re taking a vacation for the day to Seattle and that we should be back in time for lunch. Being the easy-going, gullible guy that I am, I actually believed that. We get on the plane and arrive in Seattle within a few hours. Soon after landing we are greeted by two guides for a wilderness program, a program for youth where “at risk” kids will spend anywhere between 6-10 weeks camping in the woods. I was given a bag with boots, a few pairs of underwear and handed off to the guides.

Their names were Michael and Emma, and after my nine-and-a-half weeks in the woods, I had come to love them, along with several other guides, like a family and acquire a profound respect for nature and everything in it. During my time in the woods, I also exchanged letters with my real family back home, it was meant to help rebuild familial bonds, but for me it crashed and burned. My letters went nowhere, and when it was time for me to go home, nothing had been resolved.

I was sent to a boarding school for my final year before college. I was all for it, I wouldn’t have to deal with my parents, and they wouldn’t have to deal with me, but about halfway through the school year, I was caught messing around with drugs again. Having had enough, I was cut off from the family in a brief phone call from my dad, in which he wasted no breath on an explanation. A sudden schism in my life, it shattered me, but what was odd was that what broke me wasn’t being exiled from my own home, it was the thought of possibly leaving the friends I had become so close to at my new school.

After a while, I realized that being cut off from my family wasn’t the end of the world, in fact, it was just the start of my transition into adulthood. The way I see it, it’s the same as a bird leaving its nest to learn to fly, except I was pushed. I am still attending the same boarding school in Arizona, and I plan to graduate in May, after which I will work over the summer to hopefully raise some college money to supplement scholarships and financial aid, and while I’ve got a lot more cut out for me, it’s a little exciting. My life is, for the first time, entirely in my own hands. Every choice has been given to me, and it up to me to make them.


Justin Case is an eighteen-year old senior at Oak Creek Ranch School in Sedona, Arizona. He will attend Northern Arizona University in the fall. Currently, he’s conquering his fears one at a time, serenading bystanders with a ukulele. This is his first writing appearance.


18: Introduction and Transience was last modified: March 23rd, 2016 by Guest Contributor
18
0 comment
3
Facebook Twitter Google + Pinterest
Avatar
Guest Contributor

Entropy posts are often submitted to us by our fantastic readers & guest contributors. We'd love to receive a contribution from you too. Submission Guidelines.

previous post
Wednesday Entropy Roundup
next post
Who Cares if They Listen: Milton Babbitt’s Legacy

You may also like

WANDERING MINDS

August 3, 2016

The Poetics of Spaces: Night Ocean

July 16, 2014

PERRINE

May 12, 2016

Reading Sickness

November 20, 2018
Facebook Twitter Instagram

Recent Comments

  • Lei Yu wow so beautifully written!

    Review – : once teeth bones coral : by Kimberly Alidio ·  January 18, 2021

  • Lisa S Thank you so much for your kind words and your feedback. I can only hope my story is able to help someone who needs it.

    WOVEN: This isn’t love ·  January 8, 2021

  • Ann Guy Thank you, Josh. And glad you didn’t get tetanus at band camp on that misguided day.

    A Way Back Home ·  December 24, 2020

Featured Columns & Series

  • The Birds
  • Dinnerview
  • WOVEN
  • Variations on a Theme
  • BLACKCACKLE
  • Literacy Narrative
  • COVID-19
  • Mini-Syllabus
  • Their Days Are Numbered
  • On Weather
  • Disarticulations
  • The Waters
  • Session Report series
  • Birdwolf
  • Comics I've Been Geeking Out On
  • Small Press Releases
  • Books I Hate (and Also Some I Like)
  • The Poetics of Spaces
  • Fog or a Cloud
  • Tales From the End of the Bus Line
  • 30 Years of Ghibli
  • Cooking Origin Stories
  • YOU MAKE ME FEEL
  • Ludic Writing
  • Best of 2019
  • The Talking Cure
  • Stars to Stories
  • DRAGONS ARE REAL OR THEY ARE DEAD
  • Foster Care
  • Food and Covid-19
  • LEAKY CULTURE
  • Jem and the Holographic Feminisms
  • D&D with Entropy

Find Us On Facebook

Entropy
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram

©2014-2020 The Accomplices LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Read our updated Privacy Policy.


Back To Top