Last Names Don't Help Witcofski's by Allison

Last Names Don't Help Witcofski's by Allison - January 2015 Scholarship Essay

Imagine being a bright eyed, bushy tailed freshman about to enter the magical realm of high school. Pencils are sharpened to a point, notebooks gleam with no impurities, and erasers smell factory fresh. Upon entering your first class, you cannot help but beam at the front row desks before you, open for the taking. Settling down into one of the closest desks, you wait as others file in behind you. Nothing can possibly ruin my first day, let alone my first class! Right? Wrong. The teacher alphabetizes you by last name, and guess what? You are in the back. No mans’ land. The place of no return.

For all of you A’s through D’s, I applaud you. Always getting those front desks, always getting the best seat in the house. However, look at it from my perspective. Witcofski. How many last names follow that? I will tell you: not many. Always, I am stuck in the back of the room, grasping for knowledge as I squint at the board and strain to hear what the teacher is relaying. I promise you, always being stuck in the back gets tiring. It is not fun. Not at all.

The biggest advice I can give teachers is to be considerate of the last names. It does not help Witcofski’s. Let the students decide where they want to sit. Perhaps those A’s and B’s are tired of being picked on constantly in the front. Perhaps the M’s through R’s hate being jostled around in the middle. Teachers should give the students the choice of their seats to give them a break from the monotonous line ups that are their last names.

For me, I am last in everything. From Graduation to lockers, I am constantly thrown in the back where the lights are dimmer and the names before me continue to multiply. After all, Witcofski is pretty far down in the alphabet, am I right Ybarra’s and Wolfe’s? Give us a chance to lead the pack for once. I promise, you will not be disappointed.

So teachers, next time you consider alphabetizing the lineup, please refrain. I promise you will not be disappointed. Sure, you will have those students who need to be moved around to get them to focus, but, in the end, you will rest assured knowing that those like the Witcofski’s will thank you for your consideration. You just gave them a light at the end of their tunnel.