I am a Beachwood student who is currently experiencing Beachwood problems: I have to attend school today.

Yes, it’s a Tuesday. Yes, I am supposed to be at school. Yes, I probably should stop complaining.

But I’m not going to.

I awoke this morning at 6:52am with a text from a friend who goes to Solon. “MAX I HAVE A SNOWDAY DO YOU?”

The answer was simple. “I go to Beachwood. You know very well that I do not.”

Through the sixteen-degree Fahrenheit (or negative-seven Celcius) weather, I charged through the snow in what has become my normal school attire: a Beachwood football t-shirt and a pair of gym shorts.

I passed Mr. Reed outside at 7:22 a.m. The normal “good mornings” and “how are ya’s?” stopped. He smirked at my stupidity. I did a little bit as well.

By 7:33, I had sent my email to Dr. Hardis. It read as follows:

“Dr. Hardis,

I would like to start off by saying thank you for all of the wonderful things you do for us and our school. I truly do appreciate it.

I am writing this email standing on the school premises wearing a t-shirt and shorts (my normal school garb) and at the verge of tears. Mentally, I am unprepared to learn today. Not because I didn’t complete my schoolwork, but because most of my friends (a majority of which go to other NEO academic districts) are unable to learn with me.

I ask you to maybe throw us a bone next time. Put aside the Beachwood reputation and PLEASE help me out.

Sincerely,

Max Alter

A very cold student”

This all may seem a little forward. That’s likely because it is. On a daily basis, I am at BHS for ten hours a day, from 7:30 am until 5:30 pm. I work part-time, have additional extracurricular responsibilities out of the high school, and balance my family and personal commitments as well. School dominates my lifestyle.

I need a break.

So does Beachwood High School.

So do the teachers who drive daily from Lake County and Summit County and the West Side of Cleveland.

So does marketing teacher Greg Perry, who drives daily from Chardon, which took 105 minutes today as he faced lake-effect snow.

So does social studies teacher David Baker, who had to hire child care because his children in Twinsburg had no school.

We need a break.

I do not undervalue my education. I take AP and honors courses, similar to many Beachwood students. I work diligently to be the best student that I can be. Yet, I am upset that I am at school today. Not because I am a slacker, but because I firmly believe that a rejuvenated student body and faculty after an unexpected day off will do more in one day of learning than a drowsy and upset counterpart could do in two expected days.

Orange and Shaker and Mayfield and South Euclid and Shaker Heights and many, many others seem to agree.

They got a break.

Where’s ours?