Billy Joel's "You're Only Human" received frequent radio airplay in the Summer and Fall of 1985. Every time I heard it, I'd have conflicting thoughts.
"I'm going into (or I'm now in) my first year of high school," I thought 40 years ago. "My class is at the bottom of the pecking order, so this won't be one of the best years of my life. By default, it can't be. There will be bright spots, but the best aspects of this place for me will likely happen in later years. Still, as Joel's lyrics remind me, even though I won't always be the most graceful or comfortable version of myself this year, it won't last forever. I'll learn how to navigate this place successfully the longer I'm here."
Sure enough, that's how it panned out. By senior year, freshman year was a distant memory--and it was hard to believe I'd ever found the school intimidating.
