Progress to Seniorality

By Keenan W.

Note: This is an allegorical story of growing up, moving from childhood to adulthood, and being a senior. The piece is inspired by John Bunyan’s “Pilgrim Progress.” This is part of my NSA Story. 

As I dreamt, I saw, and I looked upon the journey of life. I viewed this dream through a hazy film, but suddenly it cleared. I was transported into warm darkness. Behold! I saw the path from darkness to light (Genesis 1). Wailing, I broke through and saw a glaring light. Arms held me as I viewed the road ahead. The road was eighteen years long. From the child's grappling scream of birth to adulthood. The road sign said to continue upon the path no matter what. Time could not be halted. And so, I walked upon the road.

The path tumbled into the road of toddlerism and childhood. Color, butterflies, and birds surrounded me. The sun shone and I felt happy. There on yonder, I saw three figures approach. They halted before me as I drew near. Flowery fields stood on either side of us. The first figure was clad in purple, the second in yellow, and the third in white. The figure in purple spoke and said, “Hello Child! Welcome to the road of toddlerism and childhood. I am Imagination, and with me is Fun and Innocence. Where are you going?”

Child: Well to the end of the road I assume. I’m on some sort of pilgrimage. 

Fun: Oh that doesn’t sound fun! Won’t you stop for a moment to play with us instead?

Child: I don’t think I should…

Innocence: Nonsense! Just come along and smell the flowers. There’s nothing wrong with having fun. 

Child: I guess I could for just a moment perhaps.

For eleven days and eleven nights, I played with Imagination, Fun, and Innocence in the nostalgic flowery fields of toddlerism and we slept under the stars of childhood. In the evening of the eleventh day, as I lay under the night, an urgent whispering breezed towards me. “You must continue on,” it whispered, “you must continue on.” And when I awoke in the morning, I made haste to continue on the road. Imagination, Fun, and Innocence tried to stop me, to grab at me. “Stay with us,” they yelled. I wish I could. But I was pushed on by an invisible force. “I can’t,” I replied back, as I refocused my eyes on the path. 

The road turned into the highway of adolescence. Many other pilgrims flocked upon the path, all heading forward in the same direction as myself. On the side of the highway, there was a pit stop, and well veered off the path to step inside a quaint tea shop. Sitting at the bar, a clerk served me my food and drink before I could order. A label marked each item. There was a cake labeled the “Separation of Imagination”. A bright red strawberry milkshake stood, labeled as the “Devastation of Menstruation”. An egg salad sandwich was labeled the “Desolation of Preparation”. I ate it all.

Finally, when I finished, the clerk came back with a checkbook. Inside was a contract titled the “Destination of Education”. It asked for my name to be signed at the bottom, along with my “College of Choice”, whatever that meant. Things had escalated quickly. Out of confusion, I asked the clerk.

Clerk: Since you’ve come this far with your pilgrimage, and reached an age of 16 moons, you have to declare what college you’re going to. 

Child: College? What’s that?

Clerk: It’s a money-eating debt-ensuing prison where you go to learn your chosen career. 

Child: But I don’t know what I want to do yet!

Clerk: That hardly matters. You have to choose and go to college.

My heart palpated as this seemingly life-altering decision about which college I don’t want to go to the least sat before me. Time clicked and clocked on. I don’t even know what I want to do! As I weighed my choices, an old stranger sat down next to me. He leaned in and whispered to me with a drawl, a dusty old cowboy hat sitting atop his head, “Take it from me, kid, you don’t want to sign your life away with this here contract.” I whispered back…

Child: I’m sorry, who are you?

Gap: I’m Gap Year.

Child: Oh… so what should I do then instead of signing the contract?
Gap: Well it’s tough, but as soon as the clerk turns around, I suggest you run off the establishment and hurry back down the road. You’re a Senior now, kid, but you still have a bit of time left. Use it. 

Senior: What if they catch me?
Gap: They won’t if you run fast enough. 

Gap winked and whispered a breathy exciting “Now!” as the clerk turned his back to us behind the bar. I balked and sprinted as fast as I could. Running speedily down the highway, I passed the hallmarks of high school. I passed by exits of SATS, applications, dances, and parties. I passed the celebration of eighteen. Some of it looked fun, but I did not stop or pause to stay. I ran until the highway met a crossroad. There was no further instruction of where to go, yet the beating drums of time banged on in earnest spurring. Desperately I thought about what to do. I crouched down and crawled within myself. I was so tired of this pilgrimage already. What was this life? Salty tears trickled down my cheeks but I made no move to remove them. Without a sound, I felt a loving caress on the top of my head. I looked up to behold a face covered in light, angel-looking being.

Senior: Who are you?

Unknown: That hardly matters. Dry your tears, my dear. Take my hand and let’s continue down the path. 

Senior: But I don’t know which one to take. 

Unknown: Well down the Liberation of Graduation road, of course.

I stood as this stranger led me towards the right road. “What will I do from here?” I asked. “You’ll find your way, don’t worry,” the stranger replied as she held my cheek within her palm. “Go on now,” she urged as she kissed me goodbye on the forehead. I turned towards the new road ahead, with a little more peace behind my back.
And so life and time continued as my pilgrimage went on. 

Keenan W. is in 12th Grade and has been with NSA since 2019. She lives in Houston, Texas, with her family after moving from South Africa. Keenan plays both the piano and the mandolin. She is also an avid reader, loves music, and enjoys watching 2000s movies. Some of her interests include psychology, criminal justice, international relations, business, leadership, and politics. She hopes to help and serve others through whatever her career may be.

🗞️Staff StoriesEIC NSA2022-2023, May 2023 Publication