Christopher’s Angle – July 2024
THIS IS MY LAST article for the Jacksonville Review. I was given the honor of writing the student column four years ago, yet it feels like yesterday. Now, having just graduated from St. Mary’s High School, a new chapter of my life will begin at the University of Southern California. I have lived here in Southern Oregon for 14 years, yet I am still sad to leave.
My experience in Jacksonville mostly began at Jacksonville Elementary. I met my current best friend, Caleb Johnson, before starting kindergarten. That school has brought me the fondest of memories. I have mentioned a bit of my experience at the school in past articles, but then again, the stories are infinite. There were a couple of components that made Jacksonville Elementary unforgettable: my friends, my teachers, and my love for writing. Truly, I would not be sitting down to write this article had it not been for Jacksonville Elementary’s emphasis on writing.
Caleb and I always have had a passion for writing stories. From kindergarten to 5th-grade, we wrote stories together. Recently, I ran into Principal Inman, who actually had a copy of one of our first stories. She was our 2nd-grade teacher at the time of its creation. It was titled “Snakezilla,” written by Chris and Caleb. This short book explored the story of a mad scientist who created a massive snake with arms and legs who roamed the city, knocking down buildings. The protagonists of the story were, obviously, the authors themselves. That was just the beginning. Caleb and I went on to write countless more stories: “The Good Hair Stealer,” “The Common Twins,” (featuring Butter the guinea pig, “Bat Moose,” “Iron Toast,” and “Flying in Space.” I wish I could remember the countless other stories as well.
From middle school until now, I have continued as a passionate writer at St. Mary’s. Even though I have gone to school in Medford, I have stayed closely connected with Jacksonville and its identity. This was especially true with the addition of our family’s toy store in Jacksonville: Happy Alpaca Toys and Supply. I have mentioned the store in several of my articles, but I want to focus on how the community has supported the store and my family. Every event we hosted at the store was well attended by people from Jacksonville. The times I have worked at the store have brought me wonderful interactions with the citizens of our small town, as well. The store has brought me so much joy, and the people of Jacksonville are a huge part of that.
It does not seem right to end my time at the Jacksonville Review without saying thanks. I cannot express how amazing it is that people actually read my articles, and I have appreciated each and every person who has. It truly makes some high school kid feel on top of the world. I want to thank my family for constantly giving me ideas for each article and allowing me to read them a thousand times. It would not have been possible without them. Lastly, I want to thank the Jacksonville Review (especially Whit Parker) for giving me this opportunity in the first place. It has brought so many incredible memories that I will cherish for the rest of my life.
Editors Note: This is Chris’ last article for the Review until he becomes world-famous and pens a guest column in the not-so-distant-future! On behalf of your grateful editor, best wishes at USC this fall!
Christopher just graduated from St. Mary’s High School and is off to USC this fall. He’s an accomplished musical theater student, a dedicated, multi-sport athlete, a big and little brother and has been writing this column for four years and composing creative stories since he could hold a pencil.