News from the Elevator

The high-tech elevators in the building where I work have these small TV screens that display interesting little news blurbs. It gives you something to do while you’re ascending to the 83rd floor, thus alleviating that horrible quandary of where to look while you’re in a crowded elevator.

Today’s blurb was about a 33 year old mother who posed as her 15 year old daughter. Apparently, the mother stole the daughter’s identity so that she could capture her lost childhood and be a high school cheerleader.

"The defendant stated she wanted to get her high school degree and be a cheerleader because she had no childhood and was trying to regain a part of her life she missed," according to the complaint. She allegedly attended cheerleading practices before school started, received a cheerleader's locker and went to a pool party at the cheerleading coach's house.

Now, isn’t that just the saddest thing you’ve ever heard? What’s really pathetic is that high school cheerleading has been elevated to such a level that a 33 year old mom would commit felonious activities in order be a cheerleader.

That tells you a lot about what’s wrong with our public school system and where priorities lie.

I doubt you’d ever hear about someone doing this in order to be on the honor roll.

I, too, have regrets over things I didn't do in high school. I have often regretted that I never learned to play the cello. If I had the chance to return to high school, it would be to play the cello.

Now, that’s really pathetic.