REVISED Project 1 Final

Alain Mayo

ENC2135

Mat Wenzel

1 August 2017

Entering high school was a huge change for me. I was no longer in a small environment with familiar faces surrounding me. My high school was gargantuan, and my group of close friends split up throughout different schools. I was alone again in an unfamiliar atmosphere. I did recognize some acquaintances from middle school, and I forced myself to open up and get to know these people. It was hard for me at first, but my two close friends encouraged me to join the cross-country team in order for me to try to find my niche. As I pondered, I realized that this was an opportunity to create friends in an exciting environment.

Running cross-country was something I was totally not prepared for. However, as I suffered through torturing practices, I found myself beginning to actually look forward to them and my reason was a girl. I had started to develop feelings for my classmate and running mate, Bailey. As I found myself improving, my feelings were also growing stronger for her. Towards the end of my cross-country season, one of my friends recommended for me to watch a TV show called The Office. When I first began watching, I did not think much of the show other than it being a humorous and enjoyable sitcom. As I continued to watch, I started to connect with one of the main characters, Jim Halpert. Jim was just an employee of the paper supply company he worked at and just went to work because he had to make money. He did not have any true friends that he would hang out with outside of the office, similar to how I was with my classmates. I would personally only associate with the people around me in my classroom, similarly to how Jim will always prank his neighboring desk mate, Dwight Schrute. I would say that Dwight was one of Jim’s closer friends, even though he would always prank him, but every episode the two still tolerates each other. I feel the same way when my friends share the same class as me. I always try to sit close to my friends in class so we can make our time enjoyable, instead of having to sit silently during class. Deeper into the show, I developed a deeper and personal connection with Jim Halpert when I discovered his attraction towards the office’s receptionist, Pam Beesly. I could see and feel the attraction Jim has towards Pam, and that is what got me hooked onto the show. I wanted to see Jim’s next move. Pam in Jim’s life was the equivalent of Bailey in my life. In the show, Pam had a fiancé that worked at the office warehouse, which seemed to prevent Jim from expressing his attraction towards Pam. I felt the exact same way. I couldn’t just simply flirt with Bailey because she was in a long-term relationship that prevented me from doing so. I completely connected to the internal conflict Jim was facing. I felt that Jim was in love. Jim would always see Pam everyday and he enjoyed sitting where he sat because he had a perfect view of Pam. Jim and I knew that Pam’s fiancé was not the guy for Pam. I felt that Jim would be a far better match.

After watching multiple seasons through the long summer, I was looking for the moment when Pam would realize that Jim was her perfect match. I wanted Bailey to see that I was falling for her, but I did not know how show her. I relied on Jim to help me approach my conflict, so I continued to watch. Finally, Pam realizes that her fiancé was not the man she wanted to be with. Jim came together and told Pam how he felt after an office party. I wanted to do something similar with Bailey, however I was unaware if she was truly happy in her current relationship.

Near the end of summer break, out of the blue, I got a text from Bailey. It felt surreal. She was asking me for help, but it was not about homework like we would usually discuss. She was in a rough patch in her relationship, and it seemed like she wanted someone to talk to. I hoped Bailey would realize that her current boyfriend wasn’t the right match, much like I did. She realized she wasn’t in the best relationship, but I had not yet confessed my attraction. I did not want to abuse the situation by just telling her how I felt, I also wanted try to help her out and make her feel better. Similar to Jim, I wanted to wait until the moment was right and not jeopardize the friendship that we had created over the years. At one point, I built up my courage and told Bailey how I truly felt about her, and she acted surprised, but she replied she has been feeling the same way about me but was afraid to tell me. This was almost exactly what had happened in The Office! I completely felt like Jim after his real kiss with Pam; I felt whole. Jim became happier and so did I. The break-up was not easy for Bailey, and it was not easy for Pam, but I felt that Jim and Pam truly fell in love. I could say I feel the same way about Bailey, I was in love and I still am in love. After graduating high school, I still maintained my relationship with Bailey, just like Jim and Pam throughout the rest of the show.

At the beginning of the show, Jim confessed that he didn’t see a future working at his paper supply company. However, after Jim confesses his love for Pam and they are together, Jim’s perspective is skewed. Likewise, my life view was also changed after I got involved in my first real relationship with Bailey. She taught me about determination, trust, and most importantly, love.