In high school I was in the National Honors Society. For all of the work involved, it didn’t really amount to much. I don’t think it helped me get into college, and it definitely didn’t secure me any scholarships either. Now that I’m in the workforce like anyone else, it’s just a blip in my memory. But in high school it was a big deal to a lot of us, as our parents and teachers harped to us about the importance of being in the NHS. The grades weren’t difficult for me to maintain, but it wasn’t fun doing all of the volunteer work needed to stay in the program and graduate with honors. I had a paying job by the time I turned 15, so working for no money wasn’t my idea of having fun. After going over my options, I decided to work in the information booth at a historical museum in my hometown. It was a small insulated shack that was no larger than some tool sheds that you’d find on any average suburban street throughout the country. Thankfully that small shack had a window air conditioner inside. I was volunteering in the spring and early summer, the time when temperatures really start to climb in this climate. That shack was shaded by trees, but it still got really hot inside. I always had the a/c running because I was constantly opening the sliding glass window to give people in cars directions for where they can buy tickets for admission. Naturally, any sane person assumed that this shack was a ticket booth. That meant nearly all of the cars entering the facility stopped to talk to me first. I couldn’t stay cool with that tiny window air conditioner because the cold air escaped whenever I opened the window.